Michael Card uses an economy of words to convey the
essential in Matthew’s gospel of identity.
Matthew: The Gospel of Identity
Author: Michael Card
Pages: 267
“Matthew’s Gospel is about identity, about discarding the
old, incomplete identities that enslave us and receiving a radical new identity.
It is not your Jewish or rabbinic self, or your tax-collecting self. You are
not defined by the old orthodoxy, but by the new reality. All of the old,
false, incomplete identities must go and be swallowed up in a new organizing
principle. It is about surrendering whatever citizenship you define your
identity by and becoming a citizen of the new kingdom, whose king is Jesus,”
(22) writes Michael Card introducing his third of four commentaries on the
gospels.
What Card has so meticulously done in his music, he
brings to the printed page. He points out that Matthew contains five large
blocks of Jesus’ sayings, which occasionally may seem unconnected. Through
background information, careful analysis and a sanctified use of imagination
Card helps readers not to lose sight of the story. It’s easy to miss the forest
when you focus too much on individual trees. I’m grateful that Card vividly brings
the text to life through engaging narrative.
In his concluding thoughts on Matthew chapter one, Card ties
the pertinent elements of the beginning story to the theme, “As the first
hearers of Matthew’s Gospel sat listening in the synagogue, once again the
theme has been touched upon that the Gentiles have a stake in the ministry of
Jesus from the very beginning. The magi, who had come so far risking their very
lives, are the first to recognize the dignity of Jesus and to offer him worship.
Though the priests and experts in the Law know the facts about where the
Messiah would be born, they missed out on the reality of who he was. Matthew’s
first hearers are being encouraged not to miss out on who Jesus is, even though
they, as Jews, know all the facts as well” (36).
Card succeeds in this and his other commentaries in
creating a series that is highly readable but also scholarly. His comments on
John the Baptist, are but one example of his consistent clarity: “His (John’s)
primary mission was to make the Israelites aware of their personal sin and to
urge them to respond in repentance and baptism. That is how one prepares the
way for the Lord.… He is clearly the fulfillment of Malachi’s closing promise
that in the last days Elijah would come (Mal 4:5-6)” (39).
Even in the foregoing one can see how he unpacks meaning
with a minimum of application, which can be a plus. An overemphasis on
application can come at the expense of meaning. The first priority is to
understand what the text teaches. Application then follows. Card leaves room
for readers to draw their own conclusions.
He gets at the heart of Matthew’s gospel, even if at
times one might like him to go further. In Matthew 24, for example, he divides
the text by two questions, “When will these things happen?” and “What is the
sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” In answer to the first
question, “From verse 15 to 25, Jesus prophesied the coming destruction of
Jerusalem, an event he will characterize primarily as something from which a
person can flee” (211). He broadly
summarizes the passage noting, “With verse 29, everything changes. The image is
no longer earthly—in fact, it becomes apocalyptic. Jesus opens his second
answer with two quotes from Isaiah (Is 13:10; 34:4). The signs are cosmic; they
involve the sun, moon and stars” (212). These summaries are apt, but if you
want to know something about the reference to “one will be taken and one left,”
you will need to turn to a reference that goes into more detail.
That goes beyond the scope of this book, which is to make
Matthew’s themes and teachings accessible to a broad audience. This, in part,
is written for those who never imagined reading a commentary. In their minds,
such an undertaking might be like reading through a dictionary. Fear not! This volume
is not a cure for insomnia. It won’t strike terror or generate loathing in
those who see reading as little more than weariness.
This is excellent at providing context and contrasting
the differences between the other gospels. It is a suitable companion for a
more exhaustive commentary that one can use to more fully explore individual verses.
If you have been a fan of his music, this is your chance
to become more of an admirer of Card’s way with words. For me, that’s what
makes his music so special. The same gift is in operation here, and it blossoms
as it does not have the same constraints as a three to four minute song. Card’s
music has always led to the text. Now listeners have a ready source to learn
more about it by availing themselves of this or one of his other fine written
works. If you have not noticed, Card has become a prolific author.
Rich Mullins may be right about songs being remembered
more than sermons, but writings can often more fully develop and expound on the
riches that are found in Christ. Card’s books are a natural extension of his
music, and hopefully, he will continue to encourage the body of Christ with
both expressions.
As with the other commentaries, Card has recorded a CD
that encompasses the content of this gospel. If I receive Matthew: The Penultimate Question from the publisher, I will review
it separately. However, on the basis of the previous CD releases in this
series, I can safely say that it will be worth having.
Look for John: The
Gospel of Wisdom in 2014.
