Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 7:28-29

"And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as their scribes." — Matthew 7:28-29 (ASV)

The sermon is over. What has come of it? Never was there so great a Preacher and never did He deliver a greater discourse. How many were the penitents? How many the converts? We do not hear of any. Divine truth, even when preached to perfection, will not of itself affect the heart to conversion. The most overpowering authority produces no obedience unless the Holy Ghost subdues the hearer’s heart.

“The people were astonished.” Was this all? It is to be feared it was. Two things surprised them—the substance of His teaching and the manner of it. They had never heard such doctrine before. The precepts which He had given were quite new to their thoughts. But their main astonishment was at His manner. There was certainly a power, a weight about it, such as they had never seen in the ordinary professional instructors.

He did not raise questions, nor speak with hesitation, neither did He cite authorities, and hide His own responsibility behind great names. “He taught them as one having authority.” He spoke royally. The truth itself was its own argument and demonstration. He taught prophetically, as one inspired from above. Men felt that He spoke after the manner of one sent from God. It was no fault on their part to be astonished, but it was a grave crime to be astonished and nothing more.

My Savior, this was a poor reward for Your right royal discourse—“The people were astonished.” Grant to me that I may not care to astonish people, but may I be enabled to win them for You, and if, with my utmost endeavors, I do astonish them and nothing more, may I never complain, for how should the disciple be above his Lord?

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

He touched their conscience; his teaching came home to them; they could not help feeling that it was true. Besides, he did not keep on quoting Rabbi this and Rabbi that, but he spoke from his own knowledge: He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

There was a force and power about what Jesus said; he spoke from the heart, he spoke with the accent of conviction. In contrast, the scribes and Pharisees only spoke magisterially and officially, with no heart in their utterance, and therefore there was no power in it. God give to all of us the grace to know the power of the words of Christ! Amen.

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Not quoting Rabbi so-and-so, to show how well he was acquainted with his writings, but speaking as one who knew what he had to say, and who spoke, out of the fullness of his heart, truth that was evidently inspired; and his hearers felt the force of the solemn message which he thus delivered.