Meeting God in Matthew by Elaine Storkey

'Clearly written, clearly structured, but if one favours a safety-first approach to Matthew, then this will appeal'

Meeting God in Matthew
By Elaine Storkey
SPCK
ISBN978-0-281-08195-0
Reviewed by Robert Draycott

No prizes available but which of the four Gospels has Peter walking on water? This is one way into this review of Elaine Storkey's Meeting God in Matthew. Peter ventured out, he didn't stay where he was safe. For me this is a safe book, I felt that we stayed safely in the boat. On one level there is nothing wrong: it is clearly written, clearly structured, but it failed to engage me, it stuck to safe ground, no awkward questions, no venturing out into the waves of current divisions within the Christian Church.

After an introduction we have six sections all entitled Meeting God in:- fulfilment of prophecy; in preparation for ministry; in the teaching of the kingdom; on the journey to Jerusalem; in woes and warnings; in Christ's suffering and death. Then there are three brief appendices, preceded by questions for discussion. If one favours a safety-first approach to Matthew, then this will appeal.

Let's return to Peter and his sinking feeling. This and similar sayings and incidents unique to this Gospel were simply not mentioned, despite the light that they might be thought to shed on Matthew. One of the opening endorsements wrote that the author trod 'lightly on scholarship'. As an example, Markan priority is mentioned but no attempt is made to show how Matthew used this source. Light is shed on this by the final paragraph where Ralph Wilson (not referenced) is quoted approvingly 'My interest is in the words of Jesus that have come down to us in the New Testament canon' (in the context of 'feeling the need to posit a source for Jesus' sayings').

The reply can obviously be made that the author succeeds in her task as stated in the title. If this is granted then it is at an individualist level; the community aspect, as illustrated by chapter 18 on the Church - (only in this gospel) - with the need for forgiveness and reconciliation, seems to have been omitted. The inclusion of the Gentiles did not seem to feature - inclusion, ah, that is a rather stormy sea to venture out onto.

Answers are provided, I tend to think that the knowing the questions is more engaging and ultimately a more fruitful approach than staying safely in the boat.

Robert Draycott is a retired Baptist minister (various pastorates here and in Brazil), and a former chaplain of Eltham College

Baptist Times, 10/06/2023

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