The Authority of Christ

In the book of Matthew, Jesus begins His ministry with a grand sermon, the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7).  This sermon covers just about everything from the Law and prayer to judging and seeking after God.  He delivers it on a hillside on the banks of the Sea of Galilee, keeping the crowds rapt attention with His words.  As Jesus closes His sermon, Matthew, the writer of the book who was most likely in the audience, writes this fascinating and striking comment:

"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." (Matt 7:28-29).

I love this passage.  You see, it wasn't the content of Jesus' message that struck people.  It wasn't His delivery.  It wasn't His colorful and relatable personal anecdotes.  It wasn't even the multimedia presentation that supplemented His preaching.  No.  It was His authority.

For the hearers and for us readers of the Sermon on the Mount, this sermon cuts to the core, impeaching our hearts and reckoning our thoughts with the will and the Word of God.  But because of who the preacher is and the intrinsic authority He possesses, we are faced with a decision: will we listen to Jesus and obey His teaching or will we ignore?  This is the question that each of us deals with when reading and applying the Word of God.  The authority of Christ should compel us and prompt us to listen to what He says and live in accordance.