Reading the ESV Expository Commentary (Matthew–Luke)

I reach for a commentary almost daily.

Commentaries serve me for study, preaching, and reflection.

I preach at least twice a week at Water Street Mission, where I serve as Director of Pastoral Ministries among those experiencing homelessness. I also lead classes, small groups, devotionals, and regular one-on-one conversations, where difficult questions about Scripture naturally surface. Beyond that, I preach regularly in church settings and at River Corner Church, in addition to writing for my own website, Patheos, and my doctoral work at Kairos University. In many ways, I spend more time consulting commentaries than almost any other resource outside the scriptures themselves.

Over the years, I have learned to read commentaries broadly, regardless of my theological affiliation. I regularly consult commentaries across theological traditions—academic, pastoral, historical, critical, devotional, and practical—to wrestle with a passage as thoroughly and concretely as possible. Though I do not normally gravitate toward distinctly Reformed commentaries, I have benefited from writers such as Matthew Henry, R. C. Sproul, and many others from time to time. So when Crossway released the ESV Expository Commentary, I wanted to take a look. Thankfully, Crossway was willing to send me the ESV Expository Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew–Luke. When it arrived, I was both excited and curious. I opened it with appreciation, but also with caution and curiosity.

First Impressions and Design

I know that covers, fonts, and paper quality do not make a commentary good, but they do make a good commentary accessible. Physically, this is an exceptionally well-designed volume. The whole thing screams of quality. The hardback black cover with gold lettering feels sharp, professional, and academic without being overly ornate or flashy. The design is catchy, clear, and clean: the ESV logo, the words “Expository Commentary,” and the volume title are presented with simplicity. The spine is equally uncluttered and easy to identify on a shelf.

Inside, the paper quality of the pages is excellent. The pages are thick, the margins are generous, and the font appears to be around a comfortable 12-point size. Footnotes are readable without strain, and the typeface remains crisp throughout. Many academic commentaries compress enormous amounts of information into small print and dense formatting that becomes exhausting over time—especially for those of us using bifocals. However, this volume avoids that problem entirely. The open layout and readable text make sustained engagement possible without distraction or eye fatigue. Even the binding deserves mention; the spine relaxed quickly, allowing the book to lie flat after only a few pages of use. There is also a ribbon that allows you to bookmark the spot you are working.

The Contributors and Theological Perspective

The commentary itself is organized around narrative sections and connected themes in the passage before moving carefully verse by verse through the text. Volume VIII includes contributions from several scholars. Daniel M. Doriani handles Matthew, Hans F. Bayer works through Mark, and Thomas R. Schreiner covers Luke. The editorial team includes Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar. The contributors are broadly evangelical and substantially Reformed in theological orientation, something readers should know from the beginning.

Ordinarily, I prefer commentaries that are somewhat less sectarian in tone. Still, I appreciate strong expository work that remains faithful to the text’s social, cultural, historical, and political context. From what I encountered throughout this volume, the contributors consistently worked to handle those contexts responsibly while remaining practically and pastorally focused.

Strengths of the Commentary

As I examined passages I had recently preached, I was struck by how effectively this commentary synthesized material that I had previously gathered from multiple sources. It brought together historical insight, exegetical reflection, theological interpretation, and pastoral application in a remarkably clean and usable format. The interpretation remained thoughtful, careful, and academically responsible.

The format is particularly useful for pastors, teachers, students, and serious lay readers. Each section begins with a helpful overview of the passage and addresses significant exegetical tensions before moving into detailed exposition. The commentary consistently maintains a Christ-centered thread while paying attention to literary structure, historical setting, theological themes, and practical application. It does not merely explain grammar or context; it wrestles with pastoral implications and spiritual formation as well.

Readers from Reformed traditions will likely resonate strongly with the hermeneutical approach throughout the volume. Yet even readers outside those traditions will likely appreciate the commentary’s emphasis on Scripture interpreting Scripture, the centrality of Christ, the seriousness of grace, and the authority of the biblical text. There is a clear sense throughout the volume that Scripture is rich, unified, and worthy of careful attention.

Practical and Pastoral Gospel Advice

Dan Doriani offers a practical, pastoral, and scholarly treatment of Matthew. Matthew is my favorite Gospel—if I am allowed to have one—followed closely by Mark, so I tend to pay particular attention to how these two are handled.

Doriani has served as a pastor and currently teaches biblical and systematic theology at Covenant Theological Seminary, where he has also served as academic dean and vice president. He has contributed to various Crossway publications as well as Presbyterian study and planning committees. That combination of pastoral ministry and academic leadership shows up clearly in his handling of Matthew. He brings a careful, pastorally aware approach to the text, especially in passages such as the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit and the nature of the unforgivable sin, where he manages to be both clear and measured.

Thomas R. Schreiner also handles his material with clarity and care. I believe I had him as an instructor in an online Acts course while studying at SBTS. Schreiner also serves as an editor in the New Testament Theology series, including the volume on James that I reviewed, Living Faith. A graduate of Fuller Seminary, he now serves as Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean of the School of Theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His treatment of Luke reflects his typical strengths: careful exegesis, theological depth, and sustained attention to the text.

I spent the most time in Mark, largely because I was not previously familiar with Hans F. Bayer. He also served as a professor of New Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary. So far, I have been impressed with his treatment of Mark. He handles well the heightened messianic expectations present in the Gospel, particularly the political dimensions of Jewish hopes for deliverance. While I do not know his work extensively, his commentary appears consistently attentive to both the pastoral and practical dimensions of Mark’s portrayal of Jesus, especially the way of discipleship shaped by Christ’s authority and suffering.

Final Thoughts

The publisher describes the series as “exegetically sound, broadly Reformed, biblical-theological, passage-by-passage commentary.” After spending time with the volume, the description is fair. There are certainly areas where readers outside the Reformed tradition may pause—particularly regarding certain perspectives on the work of the Spirit and certain social concerns related to poverty and justice. Those tensions are present. Yet they do not ultimately diminish the importance and usefulness of the work.

In fact, I found this series considerably more balanced and pastorally useful than some other Reformed commentary sets I have interacted with over the years. From what I can tell, the series delivers what it advertises: contributions from scholars and pastor-theologians that together create a useful commentary for serious readers of Scripture who want a layered, rich, and detailed verse-by-verse engagement with the text. While the primary biblical text used is the ESV, the contributors also engage other translations, such as the ASV, RSV, and NET, which offer alternative renderings that help illuminate the passage.

Overall, ESV Expository Commentary, Volume 8: Matthew–Luke succeeds in doing something difficult: it remains academically substantial while also serving the practical needs of pastors, teachers, and thoughtful readers of Scripture. Even where I disagreed with aspects of its theological framework, I consistently found myself helped by its clarity, organization, and pastoral usefulness. For readers willing to engage beyond their own theological tribe, this volume offers significant value.

The ESV Expository Commentary is Accessible

At Water Street Mission, I preach through the Gospel of Mark each year during one of our four weekly chapel services. We do some heavy explorations into the first three synoptic gospels at River Corner Church each year, too. Though I own an extensive commentary collection spanning diverse theological traditions, historical voices, and modern scholarship, the thoroughness, practicality, pastoral usefulness, and accessibility of this volume will likely have me returning to it again and again. And it is going to look good on the shelf in between uses.

What impressed me most is how effectively the commentary balances substance with readability. It is not technical in a way that becomes inaccessible to thoughtful lay readers, yet it still provides meaningful exegetical depth for pastors and teachers. In many ways, it seems to incorporate some of the strengths found in commentary series and writers such as NIV Application Commentary, Craig S. Keener’s The IVP Bible Background Commentary of the New Testament, and the Daily Study Bible Series by William Barclay while maintaining its own distinct pastoral and expositional voice.

You can purchase this volume directly from Crossway. From what I can tell, Crossway+ members receive 30% off many books, including this series. The series is available both as a complete 12-volume set or as individual volumes through Crossway and other retailers. The full set costs a little over $500, while individual volumes generally fall in the $50–60 range.

Thanks for stopping by. I am Jeff McLain, and I write about the Quiet Way—a life shaped by the Lord’s Prayer, spiritual disciplines, and sustaining habits. Much of my work explores theology at the intersections of everyday life and the invitation of the scriptures to lead a quiet life. If this post encouraged you, consider sharing it with a friend, leaving a thought in the comments, or subscribing so you don’t miss future reflections. You can also find more of my writing at the Lead a Quiet Life blog on Patheos, and you can listen to the Discovering God Podcast, where we explore the scriptures and the life of faith together. I genuinely enjoy conversation. If something here resonated with you, feel free to reach out by email or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.