HE SPOKE WITH AUTHORITY

 

Matt 7:28-29

 

Everyone knows the difference between a person who speaks out of vast and accurate knowledge. Compared to a person who merely repeats what he has heard from others.

 

The response of the people after hearing such a powerful message is the right response that gets to the very core of your heart. It had an eternal impact on their lives because it leaves you at the cross roads to examine or ignore your rebellious heart against a holy God. To hear such Biblical truth leaves a person “amazed” by what you have heard. Think about that in light of your pilgrimage with Christ when He first got a hold on your heart to where you are now, as He guides you to His Eternal Kingdom.

 

I’m amazed every day that He would save a sinner like me.

I’m amazed how God is merciful, gracious, slow to anger and extends longsuffering towards a sinner like me.

I’m amazed how the Word of God brings me to the place of rest, despite the unrest I continue to experience at times.

I’m amazed at His providential care that He displays and works out in my life; when everything seems to be out of place and chaotic.

I’m amazed He called me to pastoral ministry after what my life has contributed to society before His saving grace.

I’m amazed every time I open the Scriptures, because they speak right to my heart to see Christ all the more.

 

Let me ask you! Are you amazed by Gospel? Jesus’ message reveals His Divinity and Sovereignty. He wasn’t just some good teacher, or a man, but someone who spoke with Final Authority. Think about that statement! Jesus spoke God’s Words

as the “Final authority”.

 Jesus Spoke Eternal Truth With Final Authority.

 

In John’s gospel Jesus said this, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

 

Jesus Spoke & Taught With Final Authority.

 

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. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 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 1:21-27

 

Jesus Spoke Simple Truth With Final Authority.

 

We read in Matthew’s Gospel this simple truth. “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matt 18:1-6

 

Jesus Spoke The Father’s Words With Final Authority.

 

“For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me." John 12:49-50

Jesus Spoke Loving Truth Into The Heart Of Sinners With Final Authority.

 

In John’s Gospel Jesus answers Nicodemus’ question “How can these things be?” “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God." John 3:16-21

 

Eternal, simple, and loving truth, for sinners to ponder and wrestle with; as their eternal souls hangs in the balance. They were dumbfounded because Jesus spoke directly to the heart, the inner being of a person’s soul. Which was completely polar opposite of the Pharisees who spoke with contempt, judgment and hatred. “'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.” Luke 18:11. What did Jesus say about this self-righteous attitude of the hypocrites? "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matt 6:1-6

The Pharisee’s had power over the people leading up to Jesus’ incarnation. The Pharisee’s had control, and they “lorded it” over the people, by shaming them with bad theology and legalism, to fit their power hungry desires for control. What they said was the “final authority”, even if it contradicted Holy Scripture because they were more concerned with order and tradition. Why? Because there was no one else to challenge them, at least until Jesus came. When Jesus came onto the scene….. The Pharisees were exposed, and because they were exposed by the true and authentic holiness of Christ, they hated Him, and they couldn’t wait to get rid of Him.

 

We read in Mark’s Gospel this truth. “And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so." And the chief priests accused him of many things.” Mark 15:1-3

 

“Many things” referring to…… They were angry with him for upsetting their traditions and some of their moralities about the law. They looked down on him for eating with sinners and associating with those deemed unclean or unworthy. Most of all, they hated Jesus because He claimed to be from God, and as time went on, dared to make Himself equal to God.

 

That’s what makes this response to Jesus’; message all the more amazing. The Bible says “When Jesus finished these sayings; the crowds were astonished at His teaching.” (v28) “Astonished or amazed” literally means “to be struck out of oneself.” Figuratively it means “To being struck in the mind, that is, of being astounded or beside oneself. In simpler terms it means “The crowd was dumbfounded by what Jesus taught.” They were amazed because He spoke as one of authority. “For He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (v29). They have never heard someone speak with such straightforwardness and fearlessness. They have never heard someone speak such insightful words of wisdom with depth and understanding. They were dumbfounded because what Jesus said made perfect sense to the simple-minded, the child-like person listening.

He spoke with authority.

“Authority” has to do with power and in the sense of privilege. It literally means “out of being” or “out of substance”. This means that when Jesus spoke, His words were essential. They were not trivial; they were binding in the conscience of all who heard them. Understand! As people of this church, we cannot come here if we are not submitting our lives to the authority of Jesus Christ. Why? In Matthew’s Gospel we see this clearly. “And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matt 28:18-20

This Authority that caused a stir in the people would one day be faced with another group of Pharisee’s who would fight to keep the Bible in Latin ONLY. In later years we would see this type of pharisaical behavior the Catholic Church who argued against Wycliffe and his followers. In fact! After Wycliffe translated the Latin Vulgate into English, the 1408, Constitutions of Oxford did indeed ban and even burn his work. And for good measure, the authorities also dug up his body, 43 years later and burned his bones. Catholic leaders felt that lay-people reading English Bibles would only cause confusion. A widespread knowledge with God’s words would lead to irreverence and this would expose the Catholic Churches hypocrisy.

 

Wycliffe set the ground work for what would transform the church in 1517…..”The Reformation”. The reformation that lead John Huss before his death to speak about a man who would 100 year later transform the church. This man was Martin Luther, which then would lead to men like Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin. And men like William Tyndale who said this about translating the Scriptures into another language. “I defy the pope and his laws! If God spares my life, in a few years a plow boy shall know more of the Scriptures than you do.” For such views, Tyndale was eventually strangled and burned at the stake as a heretic. Yet, his work carried on. It has been estimated that more than 75% of the 1611 translation of the King James Bible was Tyndale’s work. This translation made it into the hands of many plow boys. Thess men spoke with authority because they trusted in the One who had authority on that hill; when He preached the greatest message ever preached.

 

That is the joy of the preacher,

we preach Christ and not man.

 

We speak with authority…. because we know who has the authority over us, the church, and the truth. Whether you believe it or not, because it says the crowds were astonished, but not everyone believed. In the next chapter it says “When He came down from the mountain, great crowd’s followed Him.” (v1) Amazed that He spoke with authority drew people to listen to Him. 

This reminds of an encounter David Hume, a well-known Scottish philosopher and historian in the 18th Century, who was also a Deist, didn't believe in any inspiration or revelation or the Son of God or in the Bible, but reportedly thought it worthwhile to travel 20 miles to hear George Whitefield preach. It was about five o'clock one morning; he was going down the street in London. He came around the corner and went straight into the hands of another man who said, "Why aren't you David Hume?" "Yes.'' "Where are you going at this early hour?" "I'm going to hear George Whitefield preach," replied Hume.

"You don't believe a word Whitefield preaches," said the man.

"No," Hume answered, "but he does!"

 

George Whitefield, and many others, before him, and after him, would continue to preach Christ; by the authority of Christ. Not for the purpose to amaze people, but for people to be saved and believe. Sadly to hear the gospel and to walk away from it has eternal consequences. We know that to be true with the rich young man. “And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’ “And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth." When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?" But he said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God." Luke 18:18-27

What am I trying to say? You can be amazed with what you hear and still don’t believe in Jesus’ doctrine or the Gospel. You can be intellectually amazed and still be completely lost. You can be dumbfounded and miss the whole message that can save your soul. See! The preacher (Jesus Christ) of the Sermon On The Mount is the Sermon on the Mount. An intimate God came down in the form of man to preach “Himself” that He is the redeeming Messiah who came to save sinners from eternal destruction. The one that John the Baptist said when answering the skeptics. “John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." John 1:26-27

1. Jesus Spoke And Acted With Authority That Others Recognized. “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." John 3:1-2

 

2. Jesus Spoke And Acted With Authority And The Religious Elites Hated Him For It. “And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven. Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the paralytic "I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home." And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Mark 2:1:12. But understand! Jesus spoke not for you to be amazed, but to know your sins can be forgiven by Christ alone.

 

3. Jesus Died And Rose Again With Authority. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." John 10:14-18 It’s by His final authority that we are granted eternal security in Christ. It’s by His final authority to lay His life down and to rise up again. As Paul said “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,” 1 Cor 15:1-4. If this didn’t happen we would be still lost; and what Jesus proclaimed and did…. wasn’t really amazing as they said it was on that hill. “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” 1 Cor 15:17-18

 

What Jesus said and did

no man has ever done.

 

As James Boice said “What is the most important message of this Sermon? Certainly, it is the Person of Jesus of Nazareth Himself, the Son of God, who spoke as no man has ever spoken before or since, who lived as a He preached, and who then died and rose again that He might offer us a full and perfect salvation.”

 

The question for you is this….. Are you just amazed and unmoved? Or Do you believe this? Your soul has eternal consequences. To believe is to embrace the greatest gift given to mankind as you travel the narrow and bumpy road to the Eternal Kingdom. Or An intellect that is amazed, but unconvinced, that you are rebellious heart is on the broad road of destruction.

This Sermon does more than just amaze me …..

He is the last Adam

He is God’s new Man

He is the Redeemer

He is my Shepherd

He is Lord

And all who belong to Him through the gospel are going to be like Him through a transformed life by the Holy Spirit. God desires no person perishes but all would come to repentance. “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. Remember “What cost little is worth little” as we saw with the man who built his house without a foundation.

 

“And great was His fall.”

 

But the house that was built on the rock of God’s Word, displayed that what they heard they believed. Amazement doesn’t save you, only believing upon the person of the Gospel, the Sermon on the Mount. Be amazed, but more than just amazed….Believe!