Sermon on the Mount: An Evangelical Exposition of Matthew 5–7

by D.A. Carson

This classic commentary on Matthew 5-7 is marked by Carson's usual attention to detail and practical application. He clearly presents Christ's inescapable demand that we live a pure and dedicated Christian life. The text blends scholarly exactitude with engaging warmth.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Reference, Christian Living, Nonfiction, New Testament

157 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1978

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

[Brandon Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rate D.A. Carson so much I'm naming my son after him. I need this man's commentary on the whole bible

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

In six short chapters, originally preached as sermons, Carson takes his readers on a survey of the main themes of the Sermon of the Mount in Matthew 5–7. While there is not the space for as much detail as would be found in an expositional commentary, this work complements that approach with more practical application than would be typically included in such a commentary. Indeed, Carson frequently pulls no punches when dealing with the state of the church today, but does so in a gently irenic and occasionally humorous way, such as when he criticises modern Christian songs for portraying God as a ‘great big wonderful teddy bear’ (p. 70).

Carson reads the central theme of the Sermon on the Mount as the kingdom of heaven, and bases his chapters around that. In this view the beatitudes exemplify the character needed to inherit the kingdom, and the first of these (‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’) is foundational to the rest. He says, ‘poverty of spirit is the personal acknowledgment of spiritual bankruptcy. It is the conscious confession of unworth before God. As such, it is the deepest form of repentance.’ (p. 20) The understanding this entails is that following the demands of Jesus is unattainable except by grace. This hard-hitting approach is repeated throughout the book, and frequently led me to prayer in confession of sin and adoration and thanks for God’s grace. Carson’s humility shines through, and his willingness to apply the text to his own life is evident particularly in dealing with the call to be discerning, but not judgemental found in the beginning of Matthew 7.

The relationship between Jesus’ Sermon and the Old Testament is not explored in detail, but rather functions as an undercurrent to the whole exposition. ‘The Old Testament,’ Carson explains, ‘points forward to Jesus and the kingdom he announces and finds its real continuity in them.’ If the coming kingdom is the main theme, just as important is the idea that this kingdom is the fulfilment of the Old Testament. Jesus’ demands are if anything greater than the Old Testament commands which further highlights man’s moral bankruptcy and the need for salvation.

There are two helpful appendices which explore in more detail different theological and critical approaches to the text. Even here Carson’s warm-hearted approach is seen as he refuses to dismiss any position but instead shows what can be learned from approaches he himself disagrees with. Perhaps best suited to another appendix, but instead presented as an excursus to Carson’s final chapter is a discussion of the relationship between Jesus’ teachings as found in the gospels and the letters of Paul. This is not to say that the material is not worthwhile – it is an extremely clear summary of the evidence, and anyone struggling to see how Paul fits in with the rest of the New Testament would be wise to read it carefully.

All in all, this book is a rich mine of teaching, and there is much to enjoy as well as challenge. I’m sure it would repay many re-readings in years to come.

[Jonathan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid companion to the Sermon on the Mount.
Classic Carson clarity.

[Alex Lopez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Carson is a level-headed thinker, but there were some real clangers in this commentary. Chief among them was his view that the 'law' spoken of in Matthew 5 is the 'law of the kingdom' and not the Old Testament law-code. That one, ungrounded assumption paved the course of the whole commentary, and produced all sorts of exegetical oddities. As Aquinas said, a clanger at the start clangs the whole argument (paraphrased).

[Nathaniel McVay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just my personal rating. Appendix I is more my style. Appendix II has some fun discussion. Took some things from it here or there. Understandably, he espoused some fairly traditional evangelical views, ones that I think are unnecessary and outdated (these talks were done in 1975), and I kind of doubt he would hold to some of them today if he were alive. I think it’s a good book for those newer to biblical studies who need a more “conversational” way of digesting the content of Matthew 5-7.

[Tyler Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my main commentary for preaching Matthew 5-7. Carson is concise and really helpful in most parts. It was a bit hard to tell how NCT he was back in the 80s. In a few sections, he was a little prone to “balancing” what Jesus taught in a way that pulled the Lord’s punch. The only section I had substantial disagreement was 7:21-23. So appreciate Dr. Carson!

[Daniel Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think this little book of Carson’s is well known, but it should be. His insight into Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is clear, striking, pastoral, simple, profound, and so applicable. I didn’t always agree with his conclusions, but I always benefited from his reasoning. This book has been an able guide to the Sermon on the Mount. I’m tempted to turn around and read it again.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. I read it as part of my devotions over the last six months and have benefited immensely from it. It’s not a long book but packed with dense and practical exegesis and application.

[Jared Donis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say, a no nonsense approach to a very difficult teaching. I enjoyed the clarity.

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

D.A. Carson offers, as usual, a brilliant exegesis of the text. Not only that, but the two appendices are as worthy of attention as the primary material.

[Pat Chell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I had heard sermon by DA Carson which was very good. Scholarly and thorough but understandable and thought I'd try a book by him. I will read more of his books.

[Amaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good, practical commentary on the Sermon on the Mount. Easily accessible for all believers to read. A helpful guide when studying.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so easy to read and helped so much in my understanding! The most boring looking book ever and absolutely fascinating to read.

[Dan Glover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carson is always good. This is a good combination of preaching/teaching based on solid scholarship (he has a very good full-length commentary on Matthew in the Expositors Bible Commentary series) and with just the right level of historical/cultural background for the audience who will be using this study (it is not technical). This would make a good Bible study guide and is useful for preachers, so long as it is used with more technical commentaries as well. One complaint is that Carson is often too quick to dismiss the symbolic or typological aspects of interpretation (this is even more so in his full length Matthew commentary). He is not very open to seeing more than one layer of meaning in a text. However, for the straightforward plain sense meaning within its historical/cultural context, Carson is trustworthy. I would recommend using this along with Stott's commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, "Christian Counter-Culture", from the Bible Speaks Today series - it is excellent. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" is also good.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carson is excellent. I actually have a slightly different volume that includes two sections, the second being an exposition of Matthew 8-10. (the title of my volume is "Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and His Confrontation with the World." Regardless, this is Carson at his best -- using his sharp exegetical eye and pastor's tongue in perfect harmony. Perhaps the best section of the book is on Kingdom Perspectives.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did more to transform my understanding of what exactly Christ did through the Sermon on the Mount, than any other book I've read on the subject. Then, as I studied the Bible - OT and NT - following this book, I saw and understood that Jesus had done dramatically MORE than I'd ever realized before. I cannot attempt to summarize that here - you have to read it for yourself and search the Scriptures as you go. One of the most life-changing and liberating books I've ever read.

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as we preached through the Sermon on the Mount. Found it helpful and reliable week by week, especially on basic questions of exegesis. Would have liked more focus on understanding Jesus on his own terms before referring to the epistles for guidance -- but that's probably just my current hobbyhorse. Enjoyed the two more theological appendices, though I was glad they weren't in the main text as I referred to it week by week.

[Stacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't read this cover to cover. I used it as a supplement to a sermon series and small group questions that our church did, so I just read the sections, and ended up skipping the sections that I missed church. Anyhow, I loved what I did read. Carson is a good commentator for the layperson. Not too over your head and not too dumbed down. Very good.

[Marius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this for my bachelors thesis. Of all the commentaries I read, this one stood out as thorough, clear and precise. Carson treats the Word of God with reverence, and is clearly a man who knows the Lord and spends time in prayer, while at the same time being an excellent scholar.

[Lindsay John Kennedy]

Excellent, devotional and solid

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I agree with Carson that Mathew and Luke give two different sermons - Matthew gives Sermon on the Mount and Luke gives Sermon on the Plain. Great exposition of Matthew 5-7 with excellent appendixes.