Real Authority

"After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at his teaching. For he taught as one who had real authority-quite unlike the teachers of the religious law." Matthew 7:28-29 NLT

What was it that made Jesus' teaching so powerful? How was it different from the teachers of the law?

The first difference would be one was anointed and one wasn't. There was something powerful and penetrating about the truths that Jesus spoke. Jesus was delivering more than just good information. There was something transforming about his message.

The second difference would be one was filled with integrity and the other was filled with hypocrisy. True character displaced the white washed teaching of the religious leaders. Jesus never taught anything he didn't model in his own life.

Thirdly, the crowds were amazed. It was obvious to the listener that something was unique, motivating, and liberating about Jesus teaching even though he was a carpenter's son from Nazareth. The teaching of the religious leaders had been basked in religious higher education that burdened people with rules and regulations.

How do you measure up to the standards that Jesus set? When you teach do you have real authority?