Matthew 7:29 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 7:29 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

For he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. The scribes taught by citation of tradition: Rabbi X said this, Rabbi Y disagreed, the tradition holds that. Jesus taught as one who had authority in himself — not because he was given authority by a teacher or a tradition but because the authority was inherent in who he was. The crowds recognized the difference even if they could not name what it meant. John 7:46 records temple guards who were sent to arrest Jesus but came back empty-handed, saying no one ever spoke like this man. The authority in Jesus' teaching is not volume or rhetorical skill but the unmediated self-presence of the one who is both the subject and the substance of what he teaches.

Church Fathers on Matthew 7:29

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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