Free Matthew/ Mark Commentary

I just read this in the Libronix Newsgroups and wanted to pass it on...

“Get a FREE commentary! For a limited time, the Matthew, Mark volume of the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary is available as a free download with coupon code CORNERSTONE. Place your order now, and spread the word! NOTE: If you are not currently a Libronix user, you will need to download the free Libronix engine first and create a Libronix Customer ID before downloading this title.
--Matthew, Mark Cornerstone Biblical Commentary

I like free, it's my favorite price. So I went through the simple steps and snagged a copy for my reading pleasure. After looking at it for only a brief spell I offer the following likewise brief review:

Each section begins with a few simple comments on the passage at hand which help you to get a grasp of the flow of the passage followed by brief interaction with some other commentaries. For instance in the section on Matthew 13 there is some discussion of the way that Davies and Allison (ICC:International Critical Commentary) and with Wenham (1979 The Structure of Matthew 13. New Testament Studies 25:516–522.) I was already familiar with the ICC (having read through it recently) and yet not so with Wenham's work. So I had to go strolling through the Bibliography in order to divine that it wasn't Gordon Wenham (who wrote the Genesis ICC commentary) but D. Wenham with whom I am not familiar. I tend to prefer commentaries more in the Bibliographical format of the Word Biblical Commentary which places the relevant Bibliography of a given section at the head of the chapter, but I confess it's a rather small difference. As long as there is a bibliography and I can find it I'm happy.

In the current section of Matthew 13 he addresses first a few cogent and not overly dense paragraphs relating to the interpretation of parables stating:

...Parables are indeed allegories, but they must not be allegorized. Their imagery must be understood in terms of their own ancient historical and literary conventions, not in terms of extraneous categories superimposed upon them by allegorizers. Since the imagery of Jesus’ parables is drawn from first-century Palestine, an understanding of the historical context is crucial. It is also important to note the literary context. At times, the preceding context provides the key since the parabolic imagery corresponds to key characters and issues in the narrative.
-- Philip Wesley Comfort, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 11, "With the Entire Text of the New Living Translation." (Carol Stream, Ill.: Tyndale House Publishers, 2005-c2006), 182.

Following that preparatory statement we have section of brief interpretation preceding the exposition of the section. Altogether the full commentary on a given pericope (section of scripture) is brief and easy to read. There is no (or very little Greek) embedded in the commentary according to my very brief perusal.

It is not an exegetical commentary but rather strives to live by it's purpose of

...helping teachers, pastors, students, and lay people understand everythought contained in the Bible.
--vii.

Overall it seems a good commentary if a little brief. But I believe that it fulfills it's purpose and strikes it target audience of the end user of scripture rather than the scholar. There are plenty of commentaries to be had out there some having more or less depth than others. This one at least doesn't waste it's brevity and succeeds in quickly answering the question, "What does this mean?"

For the time being you can get it free from Libronix right here.

If you want it in a dead tree version may I suggest: Amazon or CBD.