Matthew 7:29 kjv

For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:29 nkjv

for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:29 niv

because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matthew 7:29 esv

for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Matthew 7:29 nlt

for he taught with real authority ? quite unlike their teachers of religious law.

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 29 Meaning

The verse explains the astonishment of the crowds who heard Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, stating that His teaching was fundamentally different from that of their customary religious leaders. Jesus taught with an intrinsic, self-possessed authority and inherent power, directly declaring truth. In contrast, the scribes relied on citing previous rabbinic traditions, established interpretations, and the teachings of others, thus possessing only a derivative and external authority. Jesus's words resonated with an unmistakable divine command and original wisdom.

Matthew 7 29 Context

This verse serves as the immediate concluding observation to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Having just heard the comprehensive and revolutionary teaching of Jesus on righteousness, the Law, prayer, and true discipleship, the crowds' reaction is explicitly stated. They were "astonished," not merely surprised, but deeply impacted by the nature of His communication. This marks Jesus as distinct from all previous teachers, signifying a pivotal moment in His public ministry and revealing the inherent power of His words compared to the conventional methods of the established religious authorities of His time.

Matthew 7 29 Word analysis

• For (γάρ, gar): This conjunction introduces the reason for the crowds' astonishment, linking the impact of His teaching to its unique authoritative nature. It explains the "why."
• he taught (ἐδίδασκεν, edidasken): The imperfect tense indicates a continuous or repeated action, emphasizing the ongoing manner of His teaching throughout the Sermon. It suggests that His teaching was consistently marked by this characteristic authority.
• them (αὐτούς, autous): Refers to the crowds mentioned in Matthew 7:28, the large audience who had gathered to hear Him.
• as one having (ὡς ἔχων, hōs echōn): This phrase distinguishes Jesus's authority. "As one having" (possessing) denotes a claim of inherent power and right, not merely behaving "like" someone with authority, but truly being someone who owns it.
• authority (ἐξουσία, exousia): A pivotal Greek term. It signifies inherent power, the right to act, competence, and a legitimate command. Unlike delegated power or status, exousia implies a self-possessed ability or power that stems from one's own being or intrinsic nature, directly from God Himself in Jesus's case. It denotes a radical difference from the derivative authority of scribes.
• and not (καὶ οὐκ, kai ouk): This is a strong, direct negation, explicitly drawing a stark contrast between Jesus's teaching method and that of the scribes.
• as their scribes (ὡς οἱ γραμματεῖς αὐτῶν, hōs hoi grammateis autōn):
  • as (ὡς, hōs): Here, it highlights the conventional manner or method of teaching adopted by the scribes.
  • their (αὐτῶν, autōn): Indicates that these scribes were the recognized and accustomed religious teachers of the people. This makes the contrast even more significant because the audience had a direct point of comparison.
  • scribes (γραμματεῖς, grammateis): In the New Testament context, these were experts in the Mosaic Law and the traditions developed around it. Their method of teaching involved extensive quoting of past rabbinic authorities (e.g., "Rabbi so-and-so said..."), meticulously interpreting legal texts, and transmitting established traditions. They rarely spoke on their own personal authority or introduced novel interpretations without relying on precedent. Their authority was external, derived from the tradition they upheld.

• "he taught them as one having authority": This phrase encapsulates the revolutionary nature of Jesus's instruction. His words carried inherent power and a divine seal. He did not quote human traditions or refer to other rabbis; He spoke with an "I say to you" that superseded old interpretations, effectively standing as the divine interpreter and fulfiller of God's Law. His teaching demanded obedience based on His identity and relationship with God.
• "and not as their scribes": This negative comparison is essential for the original audience to grasp the radical distinction. It emphasizes what Jesus was not, sharply highlighting what He was. The familiar method of their scribes—dependent on tradition and quotation—paled in comparison to Jesus's self-asserted, divine authority, which bypassed all human precedents and went directly to the source of truth.

Matthew 7 29 Bonus section

The immediate astonishment of the crowds signifies their recognition of Jesus as someone fundamentally different from any prophet or teacher they had known. This marks Him not merely as an enlightened rabbi but as a figure operating with divine power, fulfilling the prophetic expectation of a greater-than-Moses deliverer who would speak God's direct word (Dt 18:18). The Sermon on the Mount, ending with this verse, solidifies Jesus's role as the New Moses, who not only delivers but authoritatively interprets and fulfills the divine law. The inherent authority with which Jesus taught was perceived by the common people more clearly than by the religious establishment, underscoring the deep impact of direct divine revelation on a searching heart. This profound distinction prepares the way for understanding Jesus's identity as truly God Incarnate, whose words are not just wise counsel, but authoritative truth requiring full submission and obedience.

Matthew 7 29 Commentary

Matthew 7:29 serves as a profound capstone to the Sermon on the Mount, capturing the essence of Jesus's teaching ministry and His unique identity. The immediate and deep impact on the crowds signifies a paradigm shift in religious instruction. While the scribes painstakingly preserved and interpreted the Law by referencing centuries of tradition and previous rabbinic interpretations, Jesus spoke directly from His own inherent understanding and divine prerogative. His "I say to you" not only superseded human interpretations of the Law (as seen throughout the Sermon, e.g., Mt 5:21-48) but also proclaimed Himself as the very embodiment and definitive interpreter of God's will.

This verse therefore isn't just about a teaching style; it's about the very source of truth and authority. Jesus's teaching was living, active, and potent because it originated directly from His divine nature, aligning with His unique status as the Son of God and the Messiah. It challenged the prevailing religious structures and methods, implying that their teaching was inadequate, derivative, and lacked the transformative power that came from God Himself. The example of Jesus teaching thus provides a pattern for genuine spiritual authority—it springs from communion with God and an inherent relationship with truth, not from external credentialing or mere human erudition.