RESET

The RESET: Deleting Old Hooks, Embracing True Authority

Matthew 7:28–29

INTRODUCTION

The Outdated Mental Hooks

We carry outdated phrases that no longer match reality:

"Hang up the phone" (no phones have hooks anymore)

Roll the window down

"Carbon copy" (we've never seen carbon paper)

"Burning the midnight oil" (no oil lamps in sight)

These are harmless linguistic fossils. But what about the mental and spiritual hooks we carry? Old patterns of thinking that distract, discourage, and hold us back from the productive, fruitful life God intends?

Today we come to the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount—the moment when Jesus finishes speaking and the crowd responds. What they felt in that moment reveals something crucial about authority—and whether we're truly building our lives on it.

Context:

Matthew organizes his Gospel around five major discourses, each concluded with a similar formula. This is the first:

Sermon on the Mount (5–7) → "When Jesus had finished these words..." (7:28)

Mission Discourse (10)

Parables of the Kingdom (13)

Church Discipline (18)

Olivet Discourse (24–25)

Matthew 7:28–29 serves as a hinge: the discourse ends, narrative resumes, and the chapters that follow display in deeds what the sermon declared in words.

TEXT: MATTHEW 7:28–29

"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes." (Matthew 7:28–29, ESV)

I. THE AUTHORITATIVE CHRIST: Who He Is and How He Teaches

A. The Scribes: Footnoted Authority

The Teaching Method of First-Century Judaism:

In first-century Judaism, scribes (experts in the Law) taught by citing a chain of previous rabbis to validate their points. Their authority was entirely derivative and based on tradition.

"Rabbi Hillel says that Rabbi Shammai says..."

Like citing "experts say" or "scientists familiar with the matter"

Their teaching was commentary, not legislation

Comparison Chart:

Scribes

Jesus

"It has been said..."

"But I say unto you..."

Quoted authorities

Quoted Scripture alone

Spoke as commentators

Spoke as Legislator

Added qualifications

Spoke with absolute certainty

Addressed externals

Addressed the heart

Supporting Scripture:

Matthew 23:2–4 shows Jesus acknowledging the scribes' role while condemning their hypocrisy:

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice." (Matthew 23:2–3, ESV)

B. Jesus: The Final Court of Appeal

The Key Phrase: "But I Say to You" (ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν)

This phrase appears 10 times in Matthew 5–7 and is the signature of Jesus' authority. He speaks as the final court of appeal.

The Six Antitheses (Matthew 5):

On Murder and Anger (5:21–22): "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment..."

On Adultery and Lust (5:27–28): "But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery..."

On Divorce (5:31–32): "But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery..."

On Oaths (5:33–34): "But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all..."

On Retaliation (5:38–39): "But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil..."

On Loving Enemies (5:43–44): "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..."

Application:

How do we quote authority today?

✅ Quote Jesus as the authority

✅ Use theologians, pastors, and scholars as aids in learning

❌ Never elevate human teachers to the level of Scripture

Think of a teaching assistant in college—they help explain the professor's material, but they derive all authority from the professor himself.

John 7:46 captures this same reaction:

"The officers answered, 'No one ever spoke like this man!'" (John 7:46, ESV)

C. The Divine Nature Expressed in Human Language

ἐξουσίαν (exousian) - "Authority"

Root: ἐξουσία (exousia) from ἔξεστι (exesti = it is lawful, permissible)

Meaning: Authority, power, right, privilege, jurisdiction

How the NT Applies Exousia to Jesus:

In the New Testament, this same word (exousia) is applied to:

Jesus' Teaching (here and Mark 1:22; Luke 4:32)

The crowds recognize something qualitatively different in how He speaks

His Authority to Forgive Sins (Matthew 9:6)

"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..."

Illustration: Like a king returning a ring to a pardoned criminal—only one with royal authority can cancel the debt

His Authority Over Demons and Disease (Mark 1:27) "And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, 'What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.'" (Mark 1:27, ESV) Jesus Has Authority Over All Creation:

Jesus spoke creation into existence (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16)

Jesus called the wind and waves to peace and they were still (Mark 4:39)

The Authority of Others Does Not Own Our Emotions or Ruin Our Hope: Brother Yun (the "Heavenly Man") describes in his autobiography numerous instances where he reminded Chinese police and prison guards of this truth. In one account, after a particularly brutal interrogation, he told his interrogators: "You have no authority over me except what heaven has given you." This so unnerved them that they temporarily ceased the torture. Critical Truth: Resisting His authority in your life denies His authority in answering your prayers.

His Universal Lordship After Resurrection (Matthew 28:18) "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'" (Matthew 28:18, ESV)

The Point:

In the Sermon on the Mount, we see the divine nature of Jesus expressed through the human nature. The authority is divine; the teaching is humanly accessible. This authority extends from the classroom to the cosmos—from teaching to forgiving to ruling over all creation.

II. THE ASTONISHED CROWDS: What They Saw and Felt

A. The Meaning of "Astonished"

Greek Word: ἐκπλήσσω (ekplēssō)

"Ekplesso means to drive out of one's senses by a sudden shock or strong feeling, or 'to be exceedingly struck in mind'. It means to cause to be filled with amazement to the point of being overwhelmed (struck out of one's senses)." — Precept Austin

Our English word "astonish" comes from Latin extonare ("to strike with thunder"). The crowds were thunderstruck by Christ's teaching.

B. The Setting and the Audience

The Location:

"He went up on the mountain" (Matthew 5:1)

Traditional location: Mount of Beatitudes near Capernaum, overlooking the Sea of Galilee

The Audience: "The crowds" (οἱ ὄχλοι)

A mixed multitude including:

Galilean peasants and fishermen

Religious leaders (some hostile)

The Twelve (now called disciples)

Curious onlookers from surrounding regions

Historical Note:

The early church document Didache (Teaching of the Twelve Apostles) takes its name from this word "teaching." The Sermon on the Mount became foundational instruction for the early church.

C. Thunderstruck, But Not Converted

Illustration: Modern Admirers

Even today, people are astonished by Jesus without being submitted to Jesus:

Gandhi: "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians."

Richard Dawkins: Called Jesus "a good man" while denying His divinity.

Jordan Peterson: Admires the Sermon's moral structure without confessing Christ as Lord.

The Point: Admiration ≠ Allegiance Astonishment ≠ Salvation Theological appreciation ≠ Transformed life

III. THE AMBIGUOUS AMAZEMENT: Why Astonishment Can Fall Short

A. The Warning of Matthew 7:21–27

Context Matters:

Just before this conclusion, Jesus warned:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21, ESV)

He then gave the parable of the Two Builders—one who hears and obeys (rock foundation), one who hears but does not obey (sand foundation).

The Sobering Reality:

The crowds were astonished but not necessarily converted. This is a warning for us:

Admiration for the teaching of Jesus ≠ Submission to His Lordship

Being impressed by a sermon ≠ Building your life on it

Enjoying good theology ≠ Trusting Christ for salvation

B. The Danger of Astonishment Without Obedience

Are we merely "astonished" by:

Good theology?

Robust preaching?

The beauty and wisdom of Christ?

Or have we bowed the knee in saving faith?

Astonishment without obedience is a damning state.

Illustration: C.S. Lewis and the Toothache

C.S. Lewis gives an illustration from his own life:

"When I was a child I often had toothache, and I knew that if I went to my mother she would give me something which would deaden the pain... But I did not go... because I knew she would also do something else. I knew she would take me to the dentist next morning... I wanted immediate relief from pain: but I could not get it without having my teeth set permanently right." — C.S. Lewis

The Point:

People want the benefits of Christianity (peace, comfort, hope) without submitting to the authority of Christ (repentance, obedience, the narrow way).

They want the aspirin without the dentist.

IV. THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE: Repentant Obedience

A. The Call to Submission

Sinclair Ferguson writes:

"But Jesus did not preach it in order to be admired for his homiletical skills. He preached it to produce obedience. He preached it so that the authority people recognized in his preaching might be realized in their lives. You have seen the authority in his sermon. Now, will you submit to it?"

B. Practical Submission to Christ's Teaching

The authority of Jesus is not merely a theological concept; it is a practical demand.

Will you submit to His teaching on:

Marriage and divorce (Matthew 5:31–32)

Truth-telling (Matthew 5:33–37)

Non-retaliation (Matthew 5:38–42)

Love for enemies (Matthew 5:43–48)

Prayer and fasting (Matthew 6:1–18)

Material possessions (Matthew 6:19–34)

Judging others (Matthew 7:1–5)

Application Examples:

For married couples: Jesus' teaching on divorce isn't restrictive legalism—it's protective love. Will you fight for your marriage with the same tenacity Jesus fought for you?

For business owners: When someone wrongs you in a deal, Jesus says, "Do not resist the one who is evil." This doesn't mean becoming a doormat—it means trusting God's justice instead of demanding your own.

For parents: Teaching your kids to "turn the other cheek" feels counterintuitive in a world that says "stand up for yourself." But Jesus' way builds character that reflects His own.

C. Building on the Rock

The Two Builders (Matthew 7:24–27):

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24–27, ESV)

The Point:

Hearing + Doing = Rock Foundation

Hearing - Doing = Sand Foundation

The storm comes for both builders. The difference is not whether you face trials—it's what you've built your life on.

CONCLUSION

Summary: The RESET

We began by talking about deleting old mental hooks—outdated sayings that no longer serve us. But the real question is this:

What authority are you building your life on?

The wisdom of the world? (Sand)

The opinions of experts? (Sand)

Your own feelings and preferences? (Sand)

The authoritative Word of Christ? (Rock)

Gospel Connection

Here's the beautiful truth: Jesus doesn't just give authoritative teaching—He gives Himself.

When you fail to live up to the Sermon on the Mount (and you will), Jesus doesn't stand at a distance with arms crossed, shaking His head. He steps forward as the One who perfectly fulfilled every word He spoke.

He loved His enemies—even to the cross.

He turned the other cheek—even when struck by Roman guards.

He sought first the kingdom—even when it cost Him everything.

And He offers His perfect obedience to you by faith.

Call to Response

Three questions to take home:

Have you merely admired Jesus, or have you submitted to Him? Astonishment isn't enough. Saving faith means bowing the knee.

Is your mind set to action? Hearing the Sermon on the Mount doesn't save you. Doing it reveals where your foundation is.

Where do you need to DELETE an old mental hook and replace it with Christ's authority? Everything God commands, He supplies. Maybe it's:

"I can't forgive that person" → Jesus says: Love your enemies

"I deserve to be happy" → Jesus says: Seek first the kingdom

"That's just how I am" → Jesus says: Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect

Final Word

The crowds walked away astonished.

Will you walk away transformed?

Don't let amazement be the end of the story. Let obedience be the beginning of a life built on the only foundation that will stand when the storms come.

Soli Deo Gloria ✝️