J. Vernon McGee

Thru the Bible (5 volume set)

I can here state that Mr. McGee is an excellent companion to my search thru the Bible. It is not an exhaustive analysis of everything, it would be impossible, but it clarifies lots of subjects that can easily be misinterpreted. It is never boring; he never gets entangled in interpretation issues: he gives us his honest one forcefully when convinced of so, and when he doesn't know he also honestly states so and gives his humble opinion.

The author speaks from the vantage point of experience, in his life and what he has observed in the lives of many people who have looked to him for counsel. One of the valuable things that I learnt from his commentary is that there must be a lot of false teachers in our churches, so-called Christians (they call themselves Liberals) who are watering down the real faith. The same way as the scribes used to shoot questions at Jesus once, trying to get Him in trouble -definitely not searching for truth-, now we have many people among us who attack our faith from within. In Spain we have the old saying that goes: Tell me whom you go out with, and I'll tell you who you are. Well, we are save alright if we go out with Mr. McGee, after we've been first with the Gospel. Lucky me that I have found a church that preaches the real Word, and is not ashamed of one word in it. Mr. McGee is right in making us aware of the dangers that some phony Christians can create by their examples in our churches. Better stay out than do us harm from within. Faith shows by acting upon it: We need to do more, ask more of ourselves, love more, help more. Talk is cheap. It's something like when we complain about our politicians but we, Christians, don't get into politics, so what can we expect?

The truth is simple because it aims at the hearts of men, not at their intelligence. So it is not so difficult to understand once we read it in its context (which Mr. McGee perfectly supplies). The commentary is spread with rich anecdotes and real life applications, making its reading a vivid experience, and not a dull or abstract mental exercise.

Here's a good example of Mr. McGee's style. Talking about when Jesus enters the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42):

"...Mary had done her part; then she went to sit at the feet of Jesus. Martha, her sister, was a dear soul and if it had not been for her they would not have had that lovely dinner: She got busy, however, and became frustrated. Possibly she reached for a pan, thought it was not big enough, then reached for another, and a pan fell off a top shelf. It was too much for her and she came walking out of the kitchen, and said something she would not have said under normal conditions. Our Lord was very gentle with her, but said: "Mary has chosen the best part." My frustrated, confused friend, are you at that corner of life where you don not know which way to turn? Then, for goodness sake, sit down. Sit at Jesus' feet. Look in His Word, and see what He has to say. It will help you with your housework." (Volume IV, page 294)

Wonderful advice.

I like this set overall because it comes honest and forcefully, from the heart of a man whose devotion for the Lord Jesus cannot be denied.