Meditations on the Gospels: Matthew

Is it possible to strike a balance between Bible study and practical application? How can we convey the depth of the Gospel with simplicity through teaching, preaching, and personal testimony? Can we be faithful to doctrine and at the same time move hearts with the truth of Christ?

The Meditations on the Gospels collection comprises four books written by the renowned pastor, preacher, and theologian John Charles Ryle (1816–1900) that will help you answer these and other questions related to the study of the Gospels and their relevance for Christian life and ministry today.

If the best way to understand the Christian faith is to read the Gospels, it follows that the books that are next in order of importance must be those that help us better understand those Gospels.

Recognizing this need in his own congregation, J. C. Ryle wrote his Meditations on the Gospels, which have spread throughout the world for over a century without their popularity or usefulness diminishing.

Ryle's clear and direct words are also a great encouragement for reading the Bible. While his primary goal is to help the reader know Christ, he also has another idea in mind: he writes in such a way that his commentary on Matthew can be read aloud to others. Hence its importance not only for individual study but also for a community approach, whether in large congregations, evangelistic campaigns, discipleship courses, or small groups.

Unlike many authors, his work is as good when heard as when read. There are many other more extensive commentaries on the Gospels, but none are as fascinating to listen to, whether in families, in groups, or on the radio, as those by J. C. Ryle.