Most youth workers give a Bible lesson or talk to students on a weekly basis. During those lessons, the youth worker is responsible for providing the spiritual nourishment for the students in the group. Given the importance of these lessons, it is vital that you take the time to study and prepare your lesson. Here are some Bible commentaries that are helpful during the prep time:

Books of the Bible by John Sailhamer. This small book contains a one page overview of each Biblical book, which serve as a great starting point for studying a passage. They provide the reader with a larger context in which to read the passage. Use this book to help you understand the big picture of Matthew’s Gospel, instead of just focusing your study on your selected passage.

Bible Knowledge Commentary by Walvoord and Zuck. These 2 volumes (OT and NT) provide quality comments on the text. Written from a conservative, literal perspective, the discussions are not necessarily pastoral in nature, but help raise some questions and ideas that will help you dive deeper in the text. This type of commentary helps you better understand what the passage is saying, so that you can then explain it to the students.

NIV Application Commentary. Focused more on application, this set is written with a more pastoral view of the text. Based on the New International Version of the Bible, this commentary series does provide some theological and technical advice, but is primarily focused on application. While not always applicable to students, these comments will aid you in bridging the gap between the original text and your 21st century students.

There are many more types of commentaries out there. Some are more technical and scholarly while others are fluffy, light, and topical. Find the one that helps you the most (based on denomination, tradition, or beliefs), and use it as a tool to help you prepare for your lessons.