Evaluation

Overall Score: 8.4/10

A strong mid level Isaiah commentary that helps us preach the Holy One’s judgment and comfort with Christ centred clarity.

ISBN: 9781789745214

Faithfulness to the Text: 8.6/10

We find close attention to the text and its structure, with consistent concern to read sections in their wider flow.

Christ Centredness: 8.7/10

We are helped to proclaim Isaiah’s hope in the Lord’s saving work, with clear lines toward the servant, the king, and the gospel fulfilment.

Depth of Insight: 8.5/10

We gain strong insight into themes and key passages, giving real help for shaping sermons across the book.

Clarity of Writing: 8.2/10

Writing is clear and purposeful, especially helpful for keeping complex sections coherent.

Pastoral Usefulness: 8.6/10

The commentary supports proclamation that confronts sin, strengthens faith, and comforts the Lord’s people with lasting promises.

Readability: 8/10

Substantial, but workable with planned reading in sermon preparation.

Summary

At a Glance

Length: —
Type: Expository (Mid-Level)
Theo. Perspective: Reformed
Overall score: 8.4 / 10
Strength: Strong grasp of structure and a clear sense of gospel fulfilment.
Limitation: Those needing detailed technical discussion of every disputed point will still want a more specialised work.

We find J. Alec Motyer’s Isaiah in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries a richly Christward guide to one of Scripture’s greatest books. He helps us read Isaiah as a unified prophetic witness to the Holy One of Israel, exposing sin, announcing judgment, and holding out the Lord’s saving promise for His people.

The commentary is strong at keeping the message of the whole in view. We are guided through major movements, recurring themes, and the way promise and warning interlock across the book.

Why Should I Own This Commentary?

We should own this commentary when we want help preaching Isaiah with confidence. It serves us in understanding the text’s structure and logic, so that sermons are not a collage of memorable lines, but a faithful proclamation of what the prophet is saying.

We also benefit from Motyer’s theological steadiness. He helps us see how Isaiah magnifies the Lord’s holiness and mercy, and how the hope of the servant and the promised king shapes the book’s comfort.

For church use, it supports preaching that is both weighty and worshipful, calling sinners to return and strengthening believers with the certainty of the Lord’s salvation.

Closing Recommendation

We recommend this as a strong mid level commentary for preaching and teaching Isaiah. It is especially valuable when we need help keeping the book’s themes and structure clear while preaching its rich promises with Christ centred confidence.

As pastoral next steps, we can visit the Bible Book Overview, browse Top Recommendations, and use the Reformed Commentary Index to build a wiser working library.

Where to buy

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