Authority Question #1 Matthew 7:29

[Guest]

I would like to begin asking a few questions about the concept of authority as delineated in the scriptures. I'm hoping you can help me understand both the definitions and the applications.

Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. KJV

1. At this point in Jesus' ministry, what authority would the people listening to him have recognized him as having?

2. Does this passage mean that the scribes did not have the type of authority in question or did not teach with authority?

Thanks,

livingink

[Guest]

i always took this to mean that jesus spoke with confidence and knowledge, and also was willing to teach things contrary to what the listeners may have previously heard, and that he did so convincingly.

although he did in fact have inherent authority (he was the son of god) he did not advertise this. i think he exuded authority in his manner and knowledge.

TK

[Guest]

2. Does this passage mean that the scribes did not have the type of authority in question or did not teach with authority?

I think it means that the scribes quoted what the prophets said in the OT but Jesus in giving the beautitudes brought to light the inner meaning of certain commands in the OT or emphasized other commands that were relatively obscure in the OT like "the meek shall inherit the earth" or in other cases actually gave a new command like "you have heard it said etc, but i say to you."

[Guest]

Tell me posters,

What was it about Jesus speaking that caused you to know what authority that He speaks with?

Is your answer the same as stated in your posts?


Arthur.

[Guest]

Matthew 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. KJV

I would like to add that I believe the word authority here means truth. Matthew might be saying that there are truths in his teachings and Jesus practice what he teach unlike the scribes there are truths in their teachings as well but they don't practice what they teach. Therefore if someone teaches the truth about God and they don't practice it then they loose the authority of teaching the bible.

[Guest]

As I see it, the scribes taught much the same way we do today, appealing to other authorities. They probably taught, "According to Rabbi So-and-So, blah, blah, blah, whereas Rabbi Whosit said, "Yakety,yakety, yak." They probably qualified their statement with the introductory phrases, "As I see it" or "I think" or "It seem to me that" etc. etc. etc.

Jesus never did this. He knew the truth and didn't have to speculate. He spoke decisively. He taught with authority derived from His Father. As He said on one occasion:

...I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me. John 8:28

[Guest]

Hi,

You will think me rude, but has no one a testimony of what made them to know that Jesus has the authority of God without having to reason out a doctrinal answer for it from the scriptures.

Arthur.

[Guest]

Hi,

You will think me rude, but has no one a testimony of what made them to know that Jesus has the authority of God without having to reason out a doctrinal answer for it from the scriptures.

Arthur.

Well...there's the fact that God raised him from the dead and called him his son. That kind of makes me take notice of what Jesus said.

[Guest]

I see the value of most of your comments so far and I believe I'm on the same wavelength as Paidion here. The people listening to Jesus teach would hear him use statements such as "But I say unto you" Matthew 5:22. No one but God would have authority to change or clarify the commandments of God. I suspect the people listening to him had a good working knowledge of scripture as well as verbal tradition. So wouldn't they understand that he was claiming to be God or at least sent by God to fulfill the law as in Matthew 5:17?

Diverging a bit, I've wondered why we relegate Luke 2:8-20 regarding the shepherds to the Christmas season and then seem to forget it the rest of the year as if it does not pertain to other passages of scripture. Does it seem correct on an historical basis to assume that some people would have remembered Jesus later in his life as the baby who was described as the Saviour, Christ the Lord? Comparing that terminology to the Matthew passage, would some of the people, in fact, have expected him to have authority and been surprised if he had not spoken that way? (I know that requires conjecture, so conject!)

Arthur, I don't know where to start BUT the scriptures when I'm trying to ascertain Jesus' doctrine.

Matthew 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

livingink

[Guest]

Livingink,

Its my understanding that the scribes would quote others for their authority whereas Jesus said "you have heard it said....but I say" in reference to the Law of Moses, and even the Ten Commandments themselves.