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Matthew 5:20,28,32,44
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceedthe righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven…

Matthew 21:23-27
And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? …

Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

and not.

Matthew 15:1-9
Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, …

Matthew 23:2-6,15-24
Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: …

Mark 7:5-13
Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? …

and not as their scribes
Scribes in Jesus' time were experts in the Law, often associated with the Pharisees. They were respected for their knowledge but were known for their reliance on tradition and interpretation rather than original insight. The contrast here highlights the difference between Jesus' divine insight and the human tradition-bound teaching of the scribes. This distinction is further emphasized in passages likeMatthew 23, where Jesus criticizes the scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy and legalism. Jesus' teaching, in contrast, is characterized by clarity, truth, and a call to genuine righteousness, as seen throughout the Sermon on the Mount.

•Matthew 7:28–29 closes the Sermon on the Mount, the longest recorded continuous teaching of Jesus.

• The crowd has listened to teachings that reached from beatitudes to warnings about false prophets.

• Reaction: “The crowds were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28–29)

• Similar reactions appear elsewhere—“And they were amazed at His teaching, because He spoke with authority.” (Luke 4:32)

• Jesus “taught,” not simply debated. His words came as divine instruction, fulfillingIsaiah 2:3 where “the law will go out from Zion.”

• Unlike the scribes who often quoted rabbinic predecessors, Jesus delivered original proclamation: “You have heard that it was said… but I tell you” (Matthew 5:21-22).

•Mark 1:21-22 mirrors this pattern: the synagogue recognized a new kind of teaching.

• Authority (exousia) here signals divine right and power.

–Matthew 28:18: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

–John 5:26-27: the Father “has granted Him authority to execute judgment.”

• His authority showed in:

– Moral commands that went beyond mere external compliance (Matthew 5:27-28).

– Direct interpretation of the Law (Matthew 5:17-18).

– Promises only God can make: “your Father in heaven will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14).

• Listeners sensed more than human insight—God Himself was addressing them.

• Scribes relied on tradition, citing chains of human authorities.

• Their authority was derivative; Jesus’ was original. Cross-checkMark 7:6-13 where He exposes how tradition can nullify God’s word.

• By contrasting Jesus with “their scribes,” Matthew highlights the emptiness of humanly generated religion versus divinely sourced revelation.

• The crowd noticed the difference immediately—no footnotes, no hedging, only truth spoken with certainty.

• “Astonished” (ekplēssō) conveys being struck out of themselves—deep impact, not casual approval.

•Acts 13:12 records a similar moment: the proconsul “was amazed at the teaching of the Lord.”

• Jesus’ words penetrated consciences, revealing the narrow gate and sure foundation (Matthew 7:13-14; 7:24-27).

• Awe prepared hearts for decision: to follow the One who speaks for God or to remain in tradition.

• Scripture still carries that same authority; when the Bible speaks, God speaks (2 Timothy 3:16).

• Practical takeaways:

– Approach the words of Jesus with submission, not mere curiosity (James 1:22-25).

– Measure all teaching against His authoritative word, rejecting any that “go beyond what is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6).

– Expect transformation: the living word pierces and discerns (Hebrews 4:12).

Matthew 7:29 declares that Jesus’ teaching astonished the crowds because He spoke with inherent, divine authority, unlike the derivative, tradition-bound scribes. The verse underscores the uniqueness of Christ: when He speaks, God speaks. Our response must mirror the crowds’ amazement—yet move beyond wonder to obedience, trusting His word as the final, living authority for faith and life.

As one having authority, and not as the scribes.--Some instances have been already pointed out: the "I say unto you," which is contrasted with what had been said "to them of old time"; the assumption that He, the speaker, was the Head of the divine kingdom and the Judge of quick and dead. More striking still is the entire absence of any reference by name to the teaching of other interpreters of the Law. As a rule, the scribe hardly ever gave his exposition without at least beginning by what had been said by Hillel or by Shammai, by Rabbi Joseph or Rabbi Meir, depending almost or altogether upon what had thus been ruled before, as much as an English lawyer depends on his precedents. In contrast with all this, our Lord fills the people with amazement by speaking to them as One who has a direct message from God. It is the prophet, or rather, perhaps, the king, who speaks, and not the scribe.

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