What was remarkable about Jesus’ teaching?
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Matthew 7:28-29
What was remarkable about Jesus’ teaching? What was so different and unique about it? What set it apart from the teaching of the Hebrew scribes?
The Bible tells us the answer when it says: “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
The scribes could not say, as Jesus did repeatedly, “Ye have heard that it was said … but I say unto you,” (Matthew 5). The Bible is the inspired Word of God, and no man has the right to add to its teaching or take away from it (cf. Deuteronomy 4:1-2; Revelation 22:18-19). But Jesus had authority, not only to expound the Scriptures, but to expand the Scriptures. He was and is the very Son of God – the Word made flesh (John 1:1-14) – and as such has the authority to say, “Ye have heard that it was said … but I say unto you…”
He also will be our Judge on the Last Day (cf. Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10) and therefore has every right to warn us of His impending judgment upon those who remain impenitent and disobedient to the Gospel call. He will say to the unbelieving and hypocrites, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23).
The Hebrew scribes could not preach and teach with such authority, nor can we today. Our only authority is the Word of God which Christ Jesus committed to us. We are to preach and proclaim nothing more and nothing less than God’s Word, which is entrusted to us in the Bible.
St. Paul wrote, “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). Paul faithfully preached and taught that which he had received from the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Galatians 1:11ff.; 1 Corinthians 11:23ff). So also, ministers today are stewards of the mysteries of God – they are entrusted with the task of faithfully preaching and teaching, not their own thoughts and opinions, not the thoughts and opinions of others, but the Word of God – nothing more and nothing less! It is as God says: “He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.” (Jeremiah 23:28).
Of course, we know that Jesus also shocked His hearers with His proclamations of the Gospel. Only God can forgive sins, and yet Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Matthew 9:2); and Jesus proved His authority to do so by also healing the paralyzed man and enabling him to take up his bed and walk.
Because Messiah Jesus suffered and died for the sins of all and then rose again from the dead, we are also privileged to proclaim and apply His Gospel words of forgiveness to ourselves and to others. “We have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14), and we proclaim to the world Jesus’ Word of reconciliation (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:18 – 6:2).
O dearest Jesus, thank You for entrusting to us Your Word and the comfort it offers us through Your blood shed upon the cross for our sins. Amen.
[Scripture quotations from the King James Version of the Bible]
