The Bible Project Daily Podcast The Authority of Jesus (Matthew 7: 28-29)
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The Authority of Jesus
"And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, or He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes". (Matthew 7: 28-29)
Introduction.
Jesus had ended his message, his sermon, and Matthew closes this section by adding a sort of eyewitness comment on how the people received it sayings, that the people were astonished at his teaching for he taught them as one having authority and not as the other religious leaders of his day did. I want to close of the time we have spent together over the last 45 days in fact, studying the Sermon on the Mount by looking at these two final verses, because they are really pertinent to not only what’s being said about the wise and the foolish man, but to his whole message.
Although the bulk of the sermon on the mount is addressed to disciples, the Lord does not forget the fact that there were unbelievers present, and it was apparently these unbelievers who were astonished at what he said. The word translated astonished means to be struck like a coin, “impacted is a good translation”, to be amazed to be astonished. But that statement raises the question, why were they so awestruck by not only what he said, but how he said it?
Who were the Scribes
Jesus, in approaching it this way, demanded two things.
Firstly, he demanded that we should listen. One of the great difficulties which faces people today is a simple fact that most people do not know what Jesus said or what even the Bible teaches. They don’t recognise that he has to be something that they need not pay any attention to. In truth, the very first step towards the Christian life is simply giving Jesus the opportunity to be heard.
Secondly, he demanded that people should get to know, and that knowledge only becomes relevant when it is translated into action. It is quite possible for an individual to pass an examination and Christian ethics with the highest possible mark and yet not be a Christian. Knowledge. Biblical knowledge must become action.
Our Reaction to Jesus.
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