When journeying through a gospel, a wise companion is a blessing to have. While commentaries are no replacement for one’s own deep study of the text, they help check our work and point out insights that we may have missed. Below is a curated list of the top three commentaries for each of the Four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Each of these commentaries balances exegetical precision, theological fidelity, and pastoral usefulness. They are widely endorsed in conservative evangelical circles, and they reflect both technical depth and practical application.

While dozens of commentaries have been published on each of the gospels since the year 2000, we recommend these below because they have stood the test of time in an “evergreen” way. That said, the field of biblical theology—understanding the bible on its own terms and tracing the redemptive story of God across the sixty-six-book canon—has grown significantly in the past few decades. Older commentaries, with few exceptions, are not as sensitive to this unfolding storyline of Scripture. Thus, if one is using a commentary below for preaching or teaching on one of the gospels, we would recommend supplementing it with resources that are especially geared towards the types, allusions, and citations of Old Testament texts within these gospels. Christ Over All has sought to model this type of biblical-theological reading of texts in our April 2025 theme on the Cross in the Old Testament, and we plan to spend an entire month on the topic in October of 2025. Moreover, Progressive Covenantalism—the theological framework that sees a progressively developing sequence of covenants as undergirding the redemptive story of God that climaxes in Jesus—is undergirded by a biblical theological understanding of the Bible.

For more insight into these gospels, stay tuned for our articles on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John later this month. And for additional commentary ratings, you can check out the seventh edition of D.A. Carson’s New Testament Commentary Survey, along with bestcommentaries.com.

Matthew

1. D. A. Carson (Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Matthew 1–12 & 13–28) (1984)
   • Still highly regarded by many pastors and scholars as “indispensable” for preaching and exegesis on Matthew.
   • Balanced, conservative, and featuring the redemptive-historical tone of Matthew’s Gospel. Carson interacts with liberal scholarship fairly and thoroughly.
2. R. T. France (NICNT) (2007)
   • Frequently endorsed by leading evangelical scholars as a solid, accessible yet technical commentary.
   • Clear evangelical scholarship, especially strong on the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25) and theological contexts.
3. David L. Turner (BECNT) (2006)
   • A readily accessible, evangelical commentary on Matthew’s Gospel.
   • Well-suited for pastors and students who desire an exegetical commentary.

Mark

1. James R. Edwards (PNTC) (2002)
   • Readable, thoughtful, pastorally sensitive, with a focus on the “call to faith and discipleship.”
   • From the Pillar New Testament Commentary, edited by D. A. Carson, a commentary set —widely recommended for theological insight rather than dense syntax analysis.
2. William Lane (NICNT) (1974)
   • An indispensable classic commentary still frequently cited by outstanding Markan scholars.
   • Exhaustive, conservative, characteristically reliable.
3. Robert H. Stein (BECNT) (2008)
   • A well-regarded, more recent evangelical technical commentary with detailed Greek exegesis.
   • Ideal for pastors or seminarians needing robust exegetical foundations.

Luke

1. I. Howard Marshall (NIGTC) (1978)
   • Technically rigorous, long respected in evangelical scholarship.
   • Ideal for advanced users wanting Greek-critical engagement.
2. Robert Stein (NAC) (1993)
   • Often preferred by seminary professors for its rich literary-theological approach to Luke’s Gospel.
   • Integrates narrative theology and a socio-historical perspective with theological sensitivity.
3. Darrell L. Bock (BECNT, 2 vols.) (1994–1996)
   • Frequently cited by several scholars as a premier evangelical commentary on Luke’s Gospel.
   • Comprehensive, historically detailed, and engages scholarly debates while remaining practical.

John

1. D. A. Carson (PNTC) (1990)
   • Frequently named “the best commentary” on John by numerous Johannine scholars.
   • Blends theological depth, practical preaching helps, and sober interaction with scholarly criticism.
   • Exegetically insightful and accessible.
2. Leon Morris (NICNT) (1995)
   • A long-established evangelical favorite, praised for its clarity and scholarly restraint.
   • Technical discussions are mostly in footnotes, making it accessible without oversimplifying.
3. Craig S. Keener (ECC, 2 vols.) (2003)
   • A publication known for its scholarly depth, attention to historical and cultural background, and engagement with vast literature.
   • A go-to for richer reference work with detailed sourcing.