The Sermon on the Mount

by R.T. Kendall, Greg Haslam (Preface), Bruce Chesser (Preface)

One of the most influential teachings in Christian history is Matthew 5-7, Jesus's Sermon on the Mount. Many pastors have delved into this passage, but none has offered such a comprehensive, up-to-date, and accessible exposition. Until now.

Known for his keen insight and biblical understanding, Dr. R. T. Kendall offers an in-depth, verse-by-verse, and lay-friendly exposition of this matchless sermon. In fact, he gives the most thorough and comprehensive interpretation of this passage to date. His compelling, devotional-style writing brings the words of Jesus to life, and he shows readers how to put these teachings to work in their own lives. An unforgettable book for the lay reader and pastor alike.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Nonfiction

434 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2011

Reviews

[Dave Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. Kendall goes through the entire sermon on the mount verse by verse (90 chapters) through the entire sermon on the mount, with solid theology and strong insights that helped me to gain more understanding of "The Greatest Sermon Ever." This book is a phenomenal resource for studying Matthew 5-7. For all it's insights, and strong theology, Kendall writes in an plain spoken easily understood style. This is a must read.

[Patrick Selvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is structured like a commentary it is neither dry nor wordy. Kendall does an incredible job of revealing the heart of Jesus from a very educated place—I treasure this book.

[Ryan King · Rating 3 out of 5]

R. T. Kendall, author of more than fifty books, now delivers a verse-by-verse treatment of the Sermon on the Mount that is more expositional than exegetical and useful more as a devotional than as a commentary. With simple clarity, Kendall warmly communicates rich truths about God’s grace, the Christian’s Spirit-enabled holiness, and eternal rewards in a readily grasped way, incorporating a fair amount of material from elsewhere; indeed, the reader might be forgiven for thinking he uses Jesus’ Sermon as a plate on which to again serve up Total Forgiveness, The Anointing, and Did You Think to Pray (with a sprinkling of In Pursuit of His Glory for illustrative purposes).


Kendall argues that the Sermon is “in the main Jesus’ doctrine of the Holy Spirit”, an overstatement at best: the Spirit is not actually mentioned in the Sermon! Perhaps he might have more precisely described it as “Jesus’ doctrine of the Spirit-empowered believer”, which is more accurate of both the Sermon and this book. Other features are also problematic: the book gives an entirely spiritual and internal, over-realized definition of the ‘kingdom of heaven’ with much reference to the individual believer, but little to the visible, corporate body of Christ. It offers helpful correctives to those who have theologically and practically neglected the Holy Spirit’s person and work, but it promotes concepts that should be treated with biblical caution and some that cannot be adequately defended from Scripture, dangerously descending early on to positively (and gratuitously) reference the Toronto Blessing’s Rodney Howard Browne, who teaches that prolonged laughter and animal noises during worship are evidence of the Spirit’s outpouring. This is not to mention other areas of questionable exegesis or application!

While Kendall’s volume may have something to offer the discerning reader, I cannot give it unguarded commendation. If you choose to handle it, do so with care!

[Brian Fults · Rating 5 out of 5]

life changing book

This book has brought to life and into prospective the teaching of Jesus in such a practical way! I can’t imagine anyone reading this book and not walking away changed forever.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a massive fan of his style - I knew nothing about the author while reading, but it very much reads like watching televangelism shows in the 1980s.

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, a disclaimer. R.T. Kendall is a personal friend, so my assessment may be a bit influenced. I fully enjoyed following Dr. Kendall's reasoning through the entire work. It will take me some time to digest a couple of his concepts:

1. The Kingdom is the space of the un-grieved Spirit.
2. The sermon on the Mount is Jesus' message regarding how to live in a way that doesn't grieve the Spirit.

As a non-Calvinist, I enjoyed watching R.T. deal with Jesus' teaching in a reformed manner. For example, how Jesus' sentence, "shall be in danger (liable) of hell fire," can't mean hell fire, because as a Christian you are once saved always saved.

I must say that this may be the most thought provoking work I have ever read on eternal rewards or one's inheritance. FANTASTIC insights on the subject. Reading this work has generated a significant hunger with in me for a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and pharisees.

Thanks, R.T. Kendall!

[Slm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Already studied Matthew for a year through BSF. This still had new insights for me. worth the read but be prepared for an intense one.