Matthew 7:28 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 7:28 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:”

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching. The crowd's response to the Sermon: astonishment. Not agreement or conversion, but astonishment — the recognition that they have heard something categorically different from what they were accustomed to. Mark 1:22 records the same response in a different context. The astonishment does not indicate that the crowds became disciples; the Sermon's challenge requires more than astonishment. But the astonishment is the first response to genuine authority: the categories have been disrupted, the expectations exceeded, the horizon expanded.

Church Fathers on Matthew 7:28

Having related Christ’s teaching, he shews its effects on the multitude, saying, 'And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these words, the multitude wondered at his doctrine.'
Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · non occ.

This ending pertains both to the finishing the words, and the completeness of the doctrines. That it is said that 'the multitude wondered,' either signifies the unbelieving in the crowd, who were astonished because they did not believe the Saviour’s words; or is said of them all, in that they reverenced in Him the excellence of so great wisdom.
Rabanus Maurus · 9th century

The mind of man when satisfied reasonably brings forth praise, but when overcome, wonder. For whatever we are not able to praise worthily, we admire. Yet their admiration pertained rather to Christ’s glory than to their faith, for had they believed on Christ, they would not have wondered. For wonder is raised by whatever surpasses the appearance of the speaker or actor; and thence we do not wonder at what is done or said by God, because all things are less than God’s power.…
Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

Read all 9 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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