The Unique Authority of Jesus

At the end of Matthew 7, Jesus has concluded his long section of teaching (starting at Mat. 5:1). Though his words are focused on his disciples (see 5:1-2), some of the crowds (of 5:1) have come close enough to hear his teaching also (7:28). The crowds were drawn to Jesus’ power because of his miracles (see 4:23-25); now that they hear Jesus’ teaching, they are amazed at his authority, an authority unlike that of “their” scribes (rabbis).

When “their” scribes teach in the synagogues, they do so in the name of Moses and his (national) law, in the name of the prophets who interpreted that law, and in the name of their revered rabbis (“fathers”) who applied that law to their own kingdom. When Jesus teaches, however, he does so in the name of his heavenly Father and in his own name–and fulfills (most of) the law and prophets to the point they are now passing away. The admired righteousness of their scribes and Pharisees must give way to the commands and righteousness of the new king and kingdom.

While the powerful authority of the rabbis in the synagogues rules over much of the kingdom of Israel, especially in Galilee, the authority of Jesus is different: he rules as the one and only king over his new kingdom of disciples. Jesus’ authority, commands, and righteousness surpass those of Moses, the prophets, and the rabbis.

,Yet the crowds’ amazement at Jesus’ authority is not (yet) obedience to his teaching, nor abandonment of their scribes, their synagogues, and their kingdom. That is why Jesus has ended his teaching by emphasizing the need to not only hear his words, but to actually do what he says (7:24-27). And his teaching also emphasizes that this new kingdom from heaven, is already beginning to happen through the kingly power of God given to him; it is this heavenly power of God that will continue to empower disciples in the future so that they are able to hear and do what their king says.