Monday, April 22, 2013

Book Review: Expository Thoughts on Matthew

Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Matthew. J.C. Ryle. 408 pages.

It took me almost four months to read J.C. Ryle's commentary or "exposition" on the gospel of Matthew. (I didn't read in it every week, of course. Other books had priority, for the most part.) I definitely enjoyed reading it however. I read the second half with more focus and concentration over the last few weeks of Lent. Reading this commentary reminded me of all the reasons I LOVE reading J.C. Ryle. I love his passion, his zeal, his boldness. I love his truthfulness. I love how he asks tough questions. Questions perhaps made even tougher by all the changes in society, in morality, from when he lived. He could be said to be a critic of his own time, of his own society! I love how Ryle isn't afraid to talk about sin and hell and the lostness of humanity. I also LOVE the focus on Christ. This is a gospel-rich commentary. Of course, it is focused on the first gospel, the book of Matthew, but I mean the GOOD NEWS, the preaching of the good news.

I shared two posts rich in quotes--part one focusing on Matthew 1-10 and part two focusing on Matthew 11-28.

Favorite quotes:
Happy is he who really comprehends that one principal qualification for coming to Christ is a deep sense of sin! ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
Men are sadly apt to forget, that it does not require great open sins to be sinned, in order to ruin a soul forever. They have only to go on hearing without believing, listening without repenting, going to Church without going to Christ, and by and bye they will find themselves in hell! We shall all be judged according to our light. We shall have to give account of our use of religious privileges. To hear of the "great salvation," and yet neglect it, is one of the worst sins man can commit. (John 16:9.) ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
The beginning of the way to heaven, is to feel that we are in the way to hell, and to be willing to be taught of the Spirit. ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
A sermon without application is like a letter posted without an address. It may be well written, rightly dated, and duly signed. But it is useless, because it never reaches its destination. ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
The heart must be the principal point to which we attend in all the relations between God and our souls. What is the first thing we need, in order to be Christians? A new heart. What is the sacrifice God asks us to bring to him? A broken and a contrite heart. What is the true circumcision? The circumcision of the heart. What is genuine obedience? To obey from the heart. What is saving faith? To believe with the heart. Where ought Christ to dwell? To dwell in our hearts by faith. What is the chief request that Wisdom makes to everyone? "My son, give me your heart." ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
The time of miracles is not yet past. Every conversion is a miracle. ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
Nothing does so much harm to the cause of religion as the quarrels of Christians. ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
Open sin may kill its thousands, but indifference and neglect of the Gospel kill their tens of thousands. ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew
Our sins may be many and great, but the payment made by our Great Substitute far outweighs them all.  ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Matthew

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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