Teaching with Authority

Introduction

What does it meant to speak with authority? Certainly it implies confidence, persuasion, and an air of command. An officer speaks with authority to his soldiers. A coach speaks with authority to his athletes. I was a bit surprised at how authoritative Reuben’s martial arts instructor is when he speaks to his students and even to parents. But in order to properly speak with authority, there must be recognized authority behind those words. When Jesus speaks with authority in our text, the crowds are amazed because they recognize that Jesus is not only speaking in such a manner, but in doing so he claims an authority over them. They must listen to him or perish. Indeed no one ever had the right to speak any command with as much force and Jesus does, and it drives us to a choice. Will we accept the authority of Christ? And if so, what does accepting the authority of his words look like? This is what we will explore in our text today.

The Manner of Teaching

Matthew uses the phrase “and it happened” which has not been translated in the ESV because it sounds awkward in English, but it is important because all five of Jesus’ discourses in Matthew end with this phrase and connect it to the next section of the book. What follows here is a description of how the crowds took Jesus’ sermon.

We should be reminded that this sermon was not directed at the crowds, but at his disciples. It is a sermon for followers of Christ, not for the general public (5:2, where them refers to the disciples). However, Christ did see the crowds (5:1) and knew they were listening. This was still useful for them because they would know what it meant to be a disciple so they could count the cost of following him. They had, after all, come out from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, Syria, and beyond the Jordan to see him and his healing ministry. Now they have the opportunity to hear what following him is really all about.

While we have focused on the content of his sermon, the teaching referred to in our text has to do with both the manner and the content of his sermon.

The Reaction

Let us look at the reaction of the crowd, which is what is being focused on here. We are told that the crowds were astonished or amazed at his teaching. The reason given is that Jesus, being a rabbi and teaching in the manner a rabbi would normally teach, did not teach like their scribes. This being a mostly Jewish audience, they are amazed that the manner and content of the sermon differs drastically from what is normally taught and how it is normally taught. Several years ago, Paul Washer preached a sermon to a youth group or at some kind of youth event that has been called the Shocking Youth Message. It was called this because it was unlike any sermon at a youth event that most of those listening had ever heard. This Sermon on the Mount could be called the Shocking Jewish Message because it was unlike anything the Jews had heard before.

The Scribes

So how did the Jewish teachers, these scribes that are mentioned in our text, usually teach?

In general, they taught in a very traditional way, always sighting traditional teachings from rabbis, such as Hillel, that had come before them. The teachings of the scribes was very historic and traditional, usually elaborating on the law and the rest of the OT. It would very much look like, Rabbi Hillel said this and this is what he may have meant by that. There would be different schools of thought, similar to denominations, where some scribes would teach in the traditions of certain teachers of the past, and other scribes would teach in the tradition of other teachers. It was commentary on top of commentary of God’s Word in the OT. Very rarely would you find some novel or new teaching that branched out too far from these traditions.

This had the result of the teachings lacking any kind of intrinsic authority. The scribes would not dare to say thus saith the LORD for the art of prophecy had died a long time ago and what was left was to debate things. When was it ok to get a divorce? Was there going to be a resurrection? What do the commandments of God actually means? and so on. There was little authority which meant there was little command to go and do the law. The focus of these teachers was to debate the words of the commandments rather than to follow God’s law and embrace a heart for that law.

Many preachers preach like this. They preach the finer points of their dogma, their theological nuances, their position on this or that issue, but do not actually expound on the Word of God and bring it into real life so that it can be obeyed. Not that those things don’t need to be talked about, but true, biblical teaching has an active authority behind it. I’m not here primarily to inform you about what reformed baptists teach about this or that issue, I’m here to tell you what the Word of God says so that you may do it. When I or anyone else in this pulpit preaches, as long as what they say lines up with Scripture, they are authoritatively giving you instruction. When the pulpit isn’t used that way, it becomes a place where interesting things are said and talked about but no command from God is enforced. These are churches where membership is not taken seriously, the ordinances are merely an outward show, church discipline is never administered, and no one is ever challenged in their walk with the Lord.

Jesus

But this is not the way Jesus taught. We know also that this authoritative preaching wasn’t unique to this sermon. When Jesus preached in the synagogues he preached the same way.

Mark 1:21–22 ESV

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus was a man who preached with authority on a regular basis. He didn’t even use the words often used by the prophets, Thus Saith the LORD. On the contrary, he put forward his own words as an authority unto themselves and interpreted the Words of the OT as well as at times contradicting the traditions by setting himself as the standard. He says things like, “You have heard it was said…but I say to you.” Setting his own words as above those said before him. He didn’t do this to negate the OT, on the contrary he claimed that he had come to fulfill the law and the prophets. But if we look at the way he speaks, he clearly sets himself as the standard by which the OT should be interpreted. Recently, a Jewish conservative speaker, Dennis Prager, controversially said that lust was not adultery of the heart and that God only cared about behaviour, not the heart. Such a statement is in direct contradiction to Jesus’ authoritative claims and sets his own reading of the Torah as a standard above the teachings of Jesus. It begs the question, why was Jesus able to speak with such authority?

Because he perfectly knows the will of the Father. While all the prophets knew the Word of God that was given to them, Jesus knew the will of God perfectly. While the prophets had glimpses, Christ had the whole plan set before him. He was one with the Father and only taught what he received from the Father (John 8:38). This was something the scribes of Jesus’ day did not have, nor does any human who has not received direct, specific, divine revelation. Jesus, however, is more than a prophet, he is the most perfect revelation of God. His own person was a revelation from God, which is why John calls him the “word made flesh” in John 1. In Christ, we have a full revelation from God for salvation, which is why Jesus was able to preach with such authority.

Because he is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. As Jesus said, he came not to destroy the law but to fulfill it. Jesus came as one who makes the fullness of the law shine brightly. The true nature of all that was written before him is in him. The scribes taught and debated the meaning of the law, but the meaning of the law had come in the form of the man Jesus Christ. They opposed his ministry because, debate and teach as they would, they were unwilling to accept God’s true revelation just like their ancestors always had done. We find the true meaning of the OT in the person of Jesus Christ, and so he was able to speak of the law in such an authoritative way.

Because he is one with the Father and shares the Divine nature. Jesus is God, the second person of the Trinity. Thus, he is the author of all truth and the source of all revelation from God, since he is the one who gives that revelation. He can speak with authority because he possesses all authority and the divine right to judge right from wrong is his.

The Authority of Jesus

D. A. Carson writes:

“Jesus is not an ordinary prophet who says, “Thus says the Lord!” Rather, he speaks in the first person and claims that his teaching fulfills the OT; that he determines who enters the messianic kingdom; that as the Divine Judge he pronounces banishment; that the true heirs of the kingdom would be persecuted for their allegiance to him; and that he alone fully knows the will of his Father.”

Jesus speaks with authority because he has authority. The crowds are amazed now because of his teaching with authority, and they will be more amazed still when Matthew turns from this sermon to the mighty works Christ did in the authority he has. He has authority over disease, over demons, and the disciples will wonder in Matt 8:27

Matthew 8:27 ESV

And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Again, Carson says,

“This same authority is now to be revealed in powerful, liberating miracles, signs of the kingdom’s advance.”

We will see this authority on display as we get into chapters 8-9 and see the miracles of Jesus as well as his preparation for the advancement of the Kingdom through the ministry of his disciples in chapter 10. Authority is infused in Jesus ministry, and this points us directly to seeing Jesus not only as the promised Christ of the OT Scriptures, but as God himself, who is able to say “but I say unto you” rather than “thus says the LORD”.

Authoritative Preaching Today

Before Christ’s ascention, he uses his authority as the basis for commissioning his disciples to preach the Gospel.

This was with the authority over sin and death and Satan won at the cross and the empty tomb. The little authority that the devil had over the world is overcome by the victory of the cross and empty grave. In this basis, Jesus commands us to go make disciples, to baptize them, and to teach them. Since we’ve looked at the authority that Jesus had in teaching, I want to focus for a minute on authoritative preaching today.

Preachers today need not teach like the scribes, always debating and referring to different traditions which only plants doubt and confusion in the minds of the listeners. Traditions are helpful, and I am proud of our baptist heritage, but the purpose of preaching in the Church is mainly this: to take the authoritative words of God and deliver them to God’s people for their instruction. 2 Tim 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

If this is true of all Scripture, it is also true of biblical preaching, because biblical preaching is based on the authority of Christ and his Word. True preaching stands upon the authority of Scripture to expound it so that what is communicated to the saints is the true meaning and reasonable application of God’s revelation through the Scriptures.

Pastor Nadeau had a relevant quotes by John Calvin on Facebook with week. Calvin writes,

“God has appointed this external preaching, not to be an uncertain and variable opinion shop, but a sure and infallible witness of his will.”

There is a high standard put on us, both for me and for you. I have the high calling of making sure everything I speak from this pulpit is in conformity to the authoritative words of the Bible. If I fail in that, I would be a false prophet and not worth listening to. I am accountable before God and his people to speak only what God has revealed and to unpack it in a way that leads his people into his will.

However, if I succeed in that, and I fervently hope and believe I have, than there is a high calling for you as well. You remember the parable we explored last week, where the foolish builder merely heard the words of Christ but did not put them into practice. If I am speaking the truth of Scripture to you as I aim to, then you have the responsibility to respond accordingly to what is preached. We need to cultivate active listening when we hear the word preached.

This active listening engages with the material of what is being said. Asks questions, connects what is being preached with the text from which it is preached.

Active listening discerns whether the preaching is biblical or not. It seeks out the truth from the text through the sermon. Like the Bereans who searched the OT Scriptures when they first heard the Gospel, search for yourself and see if these things are really so.

And of course, active listening hears the Word preached and applies it to real life. When you hear the Word preached, the primary thing that should be on your mind is, “how am I going to put this into practice? What sin is this pointing out in my life? What grace is God giving me through this word? What do I need to change in order to conform my life to the Word I just heard?” Authority demands submission, and the authority of Jesus Christ and his revelation to us in his Word demands out submission. When the Word is preached biblically, honestly, and with integrity, it ought to be preached with authority as well, for it is the very authority of Christ on which it stands.

Conclusion

Recognizing the authority of Christ is a serious and essential step in following Christ. We do not follow him as an equal, but as submissive to his Word. As we saw last time, it is not those who only hear the words of Christ, but those who obey them and make it their heart and practice, that will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is not enough that you recognize the authority of Christ with your mouth, nor is it enough that you say amen at the end of a biblical sermon, but again we see that these must be put into practice. Many crowds followed Jesus, many were baptised by John to the point where the Pharisees were afraid of denouncing him, but few were true disciples of Christ. Many left Christ because his teachings were too hard for them to accept.

So you, who are confronted with the bold authority of Christ, how will you respond? Will you be satisfied with listening only and let your soul starve to death in the very garden of Eden? Or will you take hold of the tree of life and be nourished by the authoritative teachings of Christ? I plead with you today to become an active reader of the Word, as well as an active listener to it as it is preached. Make it your life’s work to know the Scriptures well and see it bear fruit in your life. What joy you will possess, but what misery there will be for those who hear the authority of Christ preached and do not obey the Gospel. They will be like a tree planted by water but whose roots lead away from the stream and not towards it. Do not let that be you. Do not be passive towards the Word of God. Do not be an idle reader of Scripture, or a merely habitual listener of sermons. Dig your life deep into the commandments and promises of Christ, especially since you know you have been bought with the price of his own dear blood which takes away our sins and makes us presentable before him. In light of that truth, take his words to heart. As the hymns says, they are “ever true, changing me and changing you.” So come with an open heart to the Word of God and let it teach you, correct you, discipline you, encourage you, rebuke you, humble you, exalt you, and bring you to the end of your salvation.