Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: An Exposition of Matthew 5-10

by D.A. Carson

A popular explanation of the teaching of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount and the events that follow.

Genres: Theology, Christianity, New Testament, Reference, Christian, Christian Living, Religion

299 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1999

About the author

Donald A. Carson is research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. He has been at Trinity since 1978. Carson came to Trinity from the faculty of Northwest Baptist Theological Seminary in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he also served for two years as academic dean. He has served as assistant pastor and pastor and has done itinerant ministry in Canada and the United Kingdom. Carson received the Bachelor of Science in chemistry from McGill University, the Master of Divinity from Central Baptist Seminary in Toronto, and the Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament from the University of Cambridge. Carson is an active guest lecturer in academic and church settings around the world. He has written or edited about sixty books. He is a founding member and currently president of The Gospel Coalition. Carson and his wife, Joy, reside in Libertyville, Illinois. They have two adult children.

Reviews

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just, wow! I mean anything by DA Carson is spectacular, but this was just…wow! I loved my time in this book. As I studied to preach Matthew this book was my go to. It was a joy to read. Not a week went by that I did not get something out of this. I am going to miss it as I now move into chapter 11. But this book will always have a sweet spot in my heat. Thank You Lord for such a sweet summary of Your sweet teaching in the Gospel of Matthew! Highest recommendation

[Ryan Lian · Rating 4 out of 5]

His treatment of the Sermon on the Mount (5-7) was brilliant. Incisive, cuts through a lot of previous bad interpretations, thoroughly personally convicting. I didn’t think the second half was as good. I’m not sure he really justified the idea that 8-10 is primarily about Jesus confronting the world… what about showing he’s the Messiah? (8-10 provides the evidence for Jesus’ answer to the Baptist in Ch 11).

[Michael G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad book. Not bad at all. It's probably in the upper tier of Sermon on the Mount commentaries. I think I have just been spoilt by the holistic, big picture view given by Jonathon Pennington in "The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing" and the practical, sermon-based perspective of Martyn Lloyd-Jones in "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount".

[Jacob O'connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jesus isn’t safe, but He's good. If you need a reminder, look no farther than the Sermon on the Mount. Every time I return to these teachings I'm rebuked. My take-away from Carson's book is a great desire for two things. To build my house upon the Rock, and to throw myself at God's mercy. I'm so far from the standard Christ set.

Notes:

Blessed equals approved (16)

A fortiori argument= if this, then how much more that (92)

[Gentiana Xhavara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title and subtitle of the book provide enough details to understand its scope. A detailed study of the most known speech of Jesus, the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Mathew 5 – 7, followed by another detailed study of Jesus’s miracles recorded in Mathew 8-10. Written in a simple and easy to understand language and flow of the argument, this book is a great resource for all Christians that are committed to know and follow the fundamental teachings of Jesus. This study, using a direct and lovely wisdom, challenges the Christians to sincerely evaluate their understanding and everyday commitment to Jesus’s teachings and his demands. Author emphasizes from the very beginning Mathew 5:48 “… be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Although possessing a wealth of knowledge on Jesus’s teachings and miracles, author do not distance himself from the lay Christian, he is humble enough to see himself as any other sincere Christian, that understands his/her imperfections towards God therefore is thankful to the Lord and committed to follow his way.
From the very beginning the author clarifies the term “kingdom of heaven”. While everything is under the “universal kingdom of God”, not everyone enters the kingdom of Heaven in the Sermon on the Mount:
“there are conditions to be met before entrance is possible….. The kingdom preached by Jesus is a subset of the universal kingdom.” ( pg. 14).
Author emphasizes that Lord’s beatitudes are the Norms of the kingdom of heaven. He clarifies the “inclusio”, noticing that two beatitudes promise the same reward. “The first beatitude reads, ”Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3). The last one says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:10)…. This means that everything bracketed between the two can really be included under the one theme, in this case the kingdom of heaven.” (pg.20).
While analyzing each of these norms of the kingdom of heaven, author challenges the Christian. Second beatitude: “Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted” (5:4). Author emphasizes the sin of the word and challenges our commitment to weep with Jesus over the sin.
He continues: “God is there, and will be know by all as Savior or Judge. Sin is there, and it is unspeakably ugly and black in the light of God’s purity. Eternity is there, and every living human being is rushing toward it. God’s revelation is there, and the alternates its presents will come to pass: life of death, pardon or condemnation, heaven or hell. These are realities that would not go away. The man who lives in the light of them, and rightly assesses himself and his world in the light of them, cannot but mourn.” (pg.23)
In this study of the Sermon on the Mount, author refers to other parts of Bible to further clarify his point. So in the explanations of third beatitude “ Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth” (5:5) , author reminds readers that according to Numbers 12:3 Moses was the meekest man who ever lived, but Jesus is the only one that could ever say with integrity:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls (Matt. 11:28).”
In this study, author emphasize that Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament “fulfill it in the sense that He himself was the object toward it point. Therefore it is the height of the folly not to listen to his commands, the commands of the kingdom…..In doing so, he stresses obedience and surpassing righteousness , without which there is no admittance.”
In his comments, author highlights that our society is going in the wrong direction of Jesus teachings regarding adultery and marriage, and he draw our attention against religious hypocrisy.
Author’s conclusion to Sermon on the Mount is one important and simple word; obedience:
“The father will is not simply admired, discussed, praised, debated; it is done. It is not theologically analyzed, nor congratulated for its high ethical tones; it is done.” (pg. 172)

In the second part of the book “Jesus confrontation with the word” the author studies Mathew 8-10, by dividing it into six chapters. Studying the Authority of Jesus, author reminds us that the healing and all the benefits in believers’ life should not be thought apart from Jesus atonement. There is healing in atonement, but we should remember that total benefits of atonement do not apply in this time yet, until the consummation of kingdom.
Emphasizing the authentic Jesus, author reminds us that Jesus makes demands that are personal and costly, Jesus is far more wonderful that his followers suspect, and he always put spiritual and human realities before any other considerations.
Author clarifies once more that the mission of Jesus is to save his people from their sin, he came to transform sinners. And this mission required the establishment of new form of religious expression: “No longer would priests offer daily, weekly, monthly and yearly sacrifices that covered the sin over; one sacrifice would deal finally and effectively with sin. No longer would meeting place between God and man would be localized in a temple in Jerusalem; now it would be “localized” in the person of God’s Son.” (pg. 270)
Author emphasize the divisiveness of Jesus: “Jesus insist that the kingdom comes in stages. The final climatic burst, the consummation, lies ahead; meanwhile, the inauguration of the kingdom brings stresses and division to a sinful world that cherishes its own self-centeredness. Such a world may pride itself on its high-sounding religious and ethical formulations; but in practice it is little prepared for the righteousness, forgiveness, and transformation of character the kingdom introduces. (pg.337)… The point is that precisely because we were made for God, pursuit of self-interest is ultimately death-dealing; and for the same reason, when self-interest dies for Jesus’s sake and is replaced by enthusiastic loyalty to him, the greatest spiritual irony occurs, and we find ourselves again… If you seek to serve Christ, often in countless loving deeds to others that are universally unacknowledged except in the ledgers of heaven, you will find yourself (pg. 340).”
In conclusion, this book is a great study of Mathew 5-10, and a great help to every Christian that seeks to know, understand, and follow the way of the Lord Jesus.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for discussion with friends at a weekly Bible study. The first part of the book covered Matthew 5-7; the second part of the book continued with Matthew 8-10. Carson is very insightful, has a rich vocabulary that sent us scurring to a dictionary every few pages, and added new meaning to a familiar passage.

To be 'blessed' means basically to 'be approved,' and is always based on conditions. Meekness is a controlled desire to see the interest of others advance ahead of one's own. "True disciples of Jesus will not play to the galleries, nor form their values according to the passing approval of faddish whims." "Christians all have the same cross to bear: death to self-interest."

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary: An expository study of Matthew 5-10 that focuses on the call to a distinctive life for the disciples of Jesus.

D. A. Carson published a number of his biblical expositions with Baker back in the late 1970's and 1980's. Baker is introducing a new generation of students of scripture to these studies with re-packaged versions of these earlier works, still strikingly relevant as careful expositions of the biblical text.

In this volume, two of Carson's earlier works (on Matthew 5-7 and 8-10, hence the long, compound title) have been combined in one reasonably priced book. Part One covers in six chapters the Sermon on the Mount:

1. The Kingdom of Heaven: Its Norms and Witness (5:3-16)
2. The Kingdom of Heaven: Its Demands in Relation to the Old Testament (5:17-48)
3. Religious Hypocrisy: Its Description and Overthrow (6:1-18)
4. Kingdom Perspectives (6:19-34)
5. Balance and Perfection (7:1-12)
6. Conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount (7:13-28)

In this part of the work, I especially appreciated Carson's discussion of the relation of Jesus and his teaching to the Old Testament, articulating in what way Jesus fulfills the Old Testament. I also appreciated Carson's unflinching warnings of the judgment awaiting those who fail to heed the words of Jesus.

The second part, also in six chapters, Matthew 8 through 10 under the heading of Jesus's Confrontation with the World. They are as follows:

7. The Authority of Jesus (8:1-17)
8. The Authentic Jesus (8:18-34)
9. The Mission of Jesus (9:1-17)
10. The Trustworthiness of Jesus (9:18-34)
11. The Compassion of Jesus (9:35-10:15)
12. The Divisiveness of Jesus (10:16-42)

I particularly appreciated his treatment of the authentic Jesus in showing how Jesus breaks all our stereotypes with his personal and costly demands, the surpassing wonder of his authority over all creation, his priority of spiritual and human realities above all else, and his way of repeatedly defying common expectations.

He also makes trenchant observations about the divisiveness of Jesus:

"Clearly then, the fact that the divisiveness of Jesus leads to opposition by the world, and sometimes to outright persecution, is no cause for either paranoid glee or rough belligerence among the people of God. Instead it is cause for sober reflection, careful counting of the cost, wise assessment that fully expects trouble and is grateful when it passes us by. We are no better than fellow Christians in parts of the world where being a Christian can exact a high toll. Often we are less mature, because less tested. The principle laid down in this passage, however is that we as disciples of Jesus should expect opposition, sometimes of the crudest kind, and view it as part of our calling. That is the way the Master went" (p. 335).

While not a technical commentary (he has written a commentary on Matthew in the Expositor's Bible Commentary), this work, lightly revised from expository messages, traces the arc from textual meaning to contemporary relevance, as for example, in his exposition of what it means to be "poor in spirit." He establishes the connection between "poor" and the idea of lowly or humble, a sense of one's spiritual poverty, and then applies the text pointedly:

"I suspect that there is no pride more deadly than that which finds its roots in great learning, great external piety, or a showy defense of orthodoxy. My suspicion does not call into question the value of learning, piety, or orthodoxy; rather it exposes professing believers to the full glare of this beatitude. Pride based on genuine virtues has the greatest potential for self-deception; but our Lord will allow none of it. Poverty of spirit he insists on--a full, honest, factual, conscious, and conscientious recognition before God of personal moral worth. It is, as I have said, the deepest form of repentance" (p. 22).

The book concludes with two appendices, addressing more technical matters related to the Sermon on the Mount. In the first, he addresses critical issues, that tend to undermine confidence in there being such an address in the ministry of Jesus. The second concerns itself with the different theological approaches to the text, and particularly whether, and how it ought apply to the believer.

As one considers the text of Matthew 5-10, one cannot help but consider who is this teacher, and what will be our response to the life of the kingdom he articulates for those who will follow him. This is a rich text for devotional reading if one is prepared for more than an inspiring or blessed thought. The danger in reading such work is it may make us, in some cases, ask why we do not hear such preaching in our churches. Carson demonstrates the power of expository preaching, which is not in the preacher, but in bringing out what the text says, means, and means for us as God's people.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Karl Dumas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some things are classic and deserve a second look. Two books by D.A. Carson were originally published separately in 1978 and 1987. Now The Gospel Coalition, in 2018, has decided to repackage the two books, and the result is Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World: A Study of Matthew 5-10. Two Books in One. (Baker Books 2018)
If you’ve spent much time in church, you’ve heard about the Sermon on the Mount, and probably heard more than one sermon based on one of the many shorter passages found within this larger one. It’s here that Matthew relates Jesus’s teachings on a wide variety of subjects including marriage, divorce, hypocrisy, Christian disciplines such as prayer and fasting, and how to treat others. But either the sermon is one that covers chapters 5, 6, and 7; or it’s a series so long that by the time you get to the end of chapter 7 you’ve forgotten everything you heard about chapters 5 and 6, as well as most of the beginning of chapter 7. That’s what makes this book such a valuable resource. It’s neatly packaged and available for the reader to go back and refresh his memory about all the Kingdom attributes of which Jesus was speaking.
And then comes the confrontation with the world. Two thousand years ago ‘religious people’ didn’t like being confronted with their sin. Today not many of us like it all that much either. Jesus’s teachings made him at once very popular with a certain group, but also very unpopular with another group of people. And this second group tended to be the powerful and influential folks in that society.
It’s in the Confrontation that we are expected to recognize Jesus’s authority, and his authenticity. Carson talks about Jesus’s mission before going on to expound on how trustworthy and compassionate Jesus is, and then recaps how the very things that draw people to Jesus are also the things that tend to divide people.
What was it the disciples said? “On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" (John 6:60, NIV)
Carson, theologian that he is, may go a little deeper than the average reader is willing to dig, but the book is well worth the read for those that have the patience and willingness to be confronted with what Jesus has said about the Kingdom of Heaven
I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a part of their bloggers program. There was no expectation that I would post only a positive review.
(I read the 2018 repackage by the Gospel Coalition, not this version from a few years ago

[Evelyn Lilyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy D.A. Carson's works and this one was no exception. Like all of his other books, it is easy to read, study and understand. D.A. Carson does a fantastic job of simplifying difficult Biblical passages. I've studied Jesus's sermon on the mount several times so it's good to have this study to accompany any future studies I may decide to do.

Carson breaks down the passages verse by verse and with easy to understand language explains the Scripture. His theology is sound and unbiased; I wouldn't categorize it with any particular denomination, which is good because any Christian can follow along with it.

He starts every chapter with an introduction where he discusses background information pertinent to the chapter. I appreciate the appendices on the back of the book where he reflects on different approaches and theological interpretations to the passages. All in all, this is a great study to pick up if you want to do an in-depth study on the sermon of the mount.

I received a copy of this book from Baker in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this study over Matthew 5-10 to be thoroughly enjoyable. In his preface, Carson states that this 300 page volume is more condensed than others on the same subject. Even so, the book remains informed and thorough.

Originally published as two separate works, the book is separated into two parts. The first is an exposition of Matthew 5-7, Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, and the second of Matthew 8-10, His confrontation of the world.

Full disclosure, this is the first commentary I have read that includes the beatitudes, but growing up Christian I have heard many a sermon preached and a few Bible studies that cover the topic and I will say that this book offers the best explanation and application of the famous verses that begin Matthew chapter 5 that I have seen. I believe this book was used to convict me and I deeply appreciate it. The rest of the book is of equal depth.

Overall the book is solid, as I’ve come to expect from Carson, with relevance for both new and seasoned believers.

Many thanks to Baker Books for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

[Ronnie Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

D. A.Carson is one of my favorite expositors and his exposition of the Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 5-10 does not disappoint. If you have either of his commentaries on the book of Matthew then you could skip this work, as almost everything discussed in this book is covered more in depth in his commentaries. However, this book avoids much of the technical and linguistic obstacles that characterizes biblical commentaries which makes for an enjoyable read. For the pastor preaching through Matthew or the Sunday school teachers looking for insight and enhancement for their studies and classes this is a really good book.

[Beverly Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This well-researched book is an in depth look at the Sermon on the Mount from the book of Matthew. It is actually two books in one with the second part focusing on Jesus's confrontation with the world. These books are classics from D.A. Carson and they were first published in 1978 and 1987, respectively. The detail that has been put into this book is astounding. If you go into this book with an open mind and a highlighter, you will gain much insight into this important section of the Bible. I received this book from BakerBooks and am thankful to have had the chance to read and review it.

[victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a brilliant writing, encouraging and compelling to read with also giving more details and answer to the question go deep with the New Testament by Matthew Paul either way this book will e help and guiding you to find the light from your sole believe in the people of God. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers for this review”.

[Vanjr · Rating 4 out of 5]

DA Carson and The Sermon on the Mount. It does not get much better. The is a relatively short book written from Carson's time teaching on Matthew 5-10. As such it it is not comprehensive but pastoral in nature looking at how he sees the text. A nice couple of appendix sections deal with more philosophical considerations, but again they are not comprehensive. I read this at the same time I was reading RT France's 1985 Matthew commentary. Highly recommend.

[Ronald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good in-depth good book if you want to study deeper into the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7)! The second part of the book is more about the confrontation with the world (Matthey 8-10). The book is quite dense in information and challenging to read due to the extensive use of vocabulary. It teaches right from the bible and the discussions by Carson make you challenge your own knowledge about the great sermon. Loved the part about the beatitudes.

[Mathew Nix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that Carson is one of the best at writing these kinds of exposition books and I trust his scholarship, insight, and understanding of the material addressed in this book. This one is an excellent study of the Sermon on the Mount and surrounding texts that offers a lot of insight into the text for anyone looking to deepen their understanding and application of that portion of God's Word.

[Steve Coscia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very deep dive into Matthew's Sermon on the Mount. Insightful and inspiring description of the culture of the day. The purpose of Jesus' message was to help people endure their shortcomings and strive towards a person relationship with God. The Lord's Prayer is dissected line by line in great detail.

D.A. Carson is a gifted writer.

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not a new book. Nevertheless, this great work of "The Don" continues to cut through with clarity insight and applicability. Most commentaries feel very much like a reference work. This one not only shapes your understanding of the text, but it's also an enjoyable read!

[Matt Maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

D.A. Carson is among the very best New Testament scholars in this period of history in my opinion. I enjoyed this book very much, and I am realizing that I am only just beginning to dive into the depths of the Sermon on the Mount.

[Ashley Chesnut · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous resource on Matthew 5-10 and a must if you’re studying the Sermon on the Mount. While Carson also has a commentary on Matthew, this resource functions as a mini-commentary that is pastoral and almost devotional, providing explanation as well as application. Very insightful and helpful.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really helpful read to try and connect the dots in the different sections of the sermon and the following miracles/teaching Jesus performs. There were too many good things to point out, which I'll have to reread (the book was quite long).

[Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson's exposition of Jesus' Sermon really shaped my understanding of these chapters and made me love this section of Scripture.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Click here to read my review.

[James Seow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, as DA Carson always is.

[Trevor · Rating 4 out of 5]

D. A. Carson’s Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is a very strong analysis and commentary of Matthew 5-7. Carson manages to be both strongly theological and pastoral. Carson is not afraid to explore the theology of the sermon and yet he also is careful to apply each verse to his life as well as that of his readers. Resulting is a highly accessible book that is not overly simplistic or shallow. Carson also takes time to explain important concepts such as “the kingdom of heaven” and biblical cosmology, allowing the reader to better understand the sermon and to go deeper into important theological concepts without being overwhelmed. Carson also includes two very strong appendices that address controversial subjects that he did not address in the main text: critical analysis of the text and differing theological interpretations. Overall, this is a very strong book that I would highly recommend to anyone interested in increasing their understanding of Matthew 5-7.

[Tom Brainerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carson walks the line between commentary and preaching in this very useful book. Where it is necessary he delves into the literary, structural and languages. But his own work in the book is narratival, working with themes and metanarratives, trying to draw out both the meaning and connectedness of these five chapters of Matthew.

I have found this to be an excellent resource, both for preaching Matthew and for teaching a more in-depth Bible Study on the Sermon on the Mount. I find myself wishing that there was a book right behind it that picked up where this one leaves off.

[Maria Clara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Word of warning: this book is not to be read if you don’t want to be challenged, if you’re not opened for self evaluation.
The author beautiful brings to light Jesus’ authority and genuine love, which is just, not naive. When confronted with this truth, what can we do but surrender to the only Holy One who we are called to imitate but from who we fall very short.
Blessed are us who live by grace!

*many thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy; this is my honest review

[Wade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is two books combined into one package. Espeically good is The Sermon on the Mount. Carson explains very clearly what Jesus was teaching when He gave His largest recorded sermon. This a great book.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carson puts together an exposition and application based book based on Matt. 5-10. I used this very often for my teaching through the sermon on the mount. It was a very good book with great examples and he clearly exegetes the text for better understanding.

[John Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

When it comes to the Sermon on the Mount, Martyn Lloyd-Jones' work is probably the best, but this is second. Carson's biblical interpretation and scholarship is always top-notch. And his insights on the beatitudes here are worth the price of the entire book.