Sermon on the Mount Teaching with Authority

Matthew 7:28-29
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because
He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. (28-29)
Jesus gives a profound conclusion because here we are directed to the Preacher rather than
to the Sermon . . . we are asked, having considered the Sermon, to look at the One who
delivered it and preached it (Martin Lloyd Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, p
575)
Matthew writes of the immediate response of the crowds listening to Him: amazement
And Matthew gives us the reason for their response: the authority with which Jesus taught
Though Jesus was initially addressing the disciples who had gathered around Him (5:1), the
crowds from whom He retreated (4:25) continued to follow Him to hear more of His
teaching
Whether or not the crowds agreed with Him, whether or not they understood the depth of
His teaching about the dramatic difference of living in the kingdom of God they were
amazed
Both Mark and Luke comment of the amazement of the crowds following Jesus in
Capernaum, and the reason given is the same: He taught as one with authority (Mark 1:22,
Luke 4:32)
Matthew provides the contrasts of Jesus teaching with the present day teachers of the law
Jesus spoke with a refreshing authenticity the kingdom life was exactly how He lived as
He demonstrated in action the various messages of the Sermon on the Mount
He lived out the beatitudes: Jesus was meek, merciful, pure in heart, the ultimate
peacemaker
Jesus blessed those who cursed Him and was persecuted for righteousness on the cross; in so
doing makes provision for us to have peace with God in providing forgiveness for our sins
Jesus demonstrated the power of not demanding an eye for an eye when offended, and
exemplified the power of showing love for enemies and Gods ultimate victory when we
obey
He instructs us not to judge, and by His action provides salvation rather than condemnation:
I did not come to judge the world, but to save it (John 12:47)
In the same passage Jesus explains His unique authority: I did not speak of My own accord,
but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it (John 12:49)
The present-day experts in the law were known to quote the interpretations of scribes since
the time of Moses, but Jesus reinterprets and corrects them by continuing to say: You have
heard that it was said long ago . . . but I tell you (5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-39, 4344)
Within the Sermon itself, Jesus speaks with authority as He claims to be the Messiah: those
who follow Him will become the salt of the earth and the light of the world (5:13-14)
Persecution for His followers will result because of righteousness, but also for Me
(5:11)

 This claim becomes even more clear when Jesus says, not everyone that says to Me, Lord,
Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father (7:21)
Jesus authority is displayed as He is referred to as Lord, and His role in judgment is made
evident as He says to the false disciples, I never knew you away from Me you evildoers
Just as the narrow way leads to life and the broad road leads to destruction (7:13-14), so in
the analogy of the wise and foolish builders Jesus teaches that the outcome of the two
houses: the one built on the rock will stand, and the one built on the sand fell with a great
crash (7:27)
What was the foundation on the rock? Everyone who hears these words of MINE and
puts them into practice (7:24)