Luke 9:21-18:34

AdvancedAdvanced students / scholars, Pastors-in-trainingUseful supplement
Author: John Nolland
Bible Book: Luke
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Theological Perspective: Broadly Evangelical
Resource Type: Commentary
Last updated: February 5, 2026
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Evaluation

Overall Score: 7.7/10

A strong technical guide through Luke 9:21 to 18:34 that steadies careful exposition.

Publication Date(s): 2016
Pages: 504
ISBN: 9780310522232
Faithfulness to the Text: 8.1/10
We find careful attention to the travel narrative, with disciplined reading of Luke’s themes and arguments.
Christ Centredness: 7.9/10
This volume supports Christ centred preaching by clarifying what Luke is doing with discipleship, the cross, and the kingdom.
Depth of Insight: 8.3/10
We benefit from sustained exegesis in a section that can feel episodic, helping us see continuity and purpose.
Clarity of Writing: 7.3/10
Technical, but with enough explanation to keep pastors oriented to the larger point.
Pastoral Usefulness: 7.7/10
Very useful when preaching discipleship texts, where clarity and proportion matter for our people.
Readability: 7.1/10
Best used as a reference companion in weekly preparation rather than a straight read.

Summary

At a Glance

Length
504 pages
Type
Exegetical (Technical)
Theo. Perspective
Broadly Evangelical
Overall score
7.7 / 10
Strength
Sustained help through the travel narrative and discipleship teaching.
Limitation
Dense detail can obscure the big picture unless we read with purpose.

We find John Nolland’s Luke 9:21-18:34 a serious, text focused commentary that rewards careful use. It helps us attend to the flow of the passage and the author’s intent, so our exposition rests on solid ground.

Because this sits in a technical series, its chief strength is close exegesis. It is less concerned with sermon outlines, but it often provides the observations we need to preach with accuracy, proportion, and confidence.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this volume when we want a resource that slows us down and keeps us honest with the text. In familiar passages, that discipline can expose assumptions and sharpen clarity.

We also benefit when we face interpretive pressure points. A technical commentary can help us weigh options, test conclusions, and avoid avoidable errors.

For weekly preaching, this works best alongside a more pastorally direct commentary. Used together, we gain both careful exegesis and clearer routes to application and proclamation.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong technical companion for serious preparation. If we use it with purpose and prayer, it can serve faithful preaching and careful teaching in the local church.

We will get the most benefit by pairing it with a more directly pastoral volume, especially when we need help moving from exegesis to sermon shape.

As a next step, we can strengthen our reading and preaching by visiting the Bible Book Overview, browsing Top Recommendations, and consulting the Reformed Commentary Index.


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Classification

  • Level: Advanced
  • Best For: Advanced students / scholars, Pastors-in-training
  • Priority: Useful supplement

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