Expositions of Holy Scripture: Matthew 9-28

Expositions of Holy Scripture: Matthew 9-28 gathers Alexander Maclaren’s selected sermons from Matthew 9 through the end of the Gospel. The volume follows the growing revelation of Jesus Christ from His healing ministry and the sending of the Twelve through the kingdom parables, Peter’s confession, the journey to Jerusalem, the Olivet Discourse, the Passion, resurrection, and final gathering of the disciples. Maclaren does not comment on every verse; he selects passages that allow him to develop Christ’s identity, the kingdom of God, faith, discipleship, judgment, the Cross, and practical Christian life.

Matthew 9 opens with Christ forgiving and healing the paralytic, calling Matthew, receiving publicans and sinners, restoring the suffering, and responding to faith. Maclaren repeatedly places spiritual need before outward circumstance: forgiveness, trust, and personal response to Jesus matter more deeply than physical relief alone. The chapter also introduces a recurring concern with Christ’s compassion for people who are spiritually scattered and needy.

Matthew 10 develops Christian mission and discipleship through Christ’s charge to the Twelve. Maclaren considers the content of their message, their dependence upon God, opposition, courage, loyalty to Christ, and the cost of witness. The sayings about losing and finding life become direct teaching about wholehearted allegiance to Jesus. Matthew 11–12 then show varied responses to Christ, including John the Baptist’s questions, Christ’s invitation to the weary, Sabbath controversy, and growing religious opposition.

Matthew 13 receives a concentrated group of expositions on the kingdom parables. The sower, wheat and tares, leaven, treasure, and pearl are used to examine how the kingdom is received, how spiritual growth develops amid mixture, and why divine truth produces different results in different hearers. These sermons make the kingdom of God a major recurring framework rather than a single isolated topic.

Matthew 14–17 combines miracles, faith, and the deepening revelation of Christ. Maclaren treats the feeding of the multitude, Jesus walking on the sea, Peter’s wavering faith, the Canaanite woman, Peter’s confession, Christ’s first clear teaching concerning His suffering, and the transfiguration. Matthew 16:13–28 becomes a major turning point: Jesus is confessed as the Christ and Son of God, but His identity can be understood only together with the Cross and the disciple’s own call to self-denial.

Matthew 18–20 turns toward life within Christ’s kingdom. Humility, care for the little ones, the lost sheep, forgiveness, wealth, service, and ambition are developed through Christ’s teaching and parables. Maclaren repeatedly contrasts worldly ideas of greatness with the servant pattern established by Jesus, especially in Matthew 20:28, where the Son of Man gives His life as a ransom.

Matthew 21–23 follows Jesus into Jerusalem. The royal entry, temple action, parables of judgment, controversies with religious leaders, and Christ’s final denunciations develop His kingship and the consequences of rejecting God’s call. The kingdom is presented as both gracious invitation and searching judgment.

Matthew 24–25 receives substantial attention through watchfulness, endurance, the coming of the King, the ten virgins, the talents, and the judgment of the nations. Maclaren treats prophecy practically: future expectation is meant to produce readiness, faithfulness, service, and perseverance rather than curiosity alone.

Matthew 26–28 forms the volume’s climactic section. The anointing at Bethany, Lord’s Supper, Gethsemane, arrest, trial, crucifixion, torn veil, burial, empty tomb, risen Christ, and final meeting in Galilee receive sustained exposition. The Cross is presented as Christ’s deliberate self-giving work, while the resurrection transforms apparent defeat into victory and grounds the continuing mission of His followers.

The volume addresses readers seeking substantial exposition of Matthew 9–28 and especially the kingdom parables, Peter’s confession, costly discipleship, Matthew 24–25, the Lord’s Supper, Gethsemane, the Cross, resurrection, and the practical meaning of watching and serving until Christ returns.