Authority to teach

Jesus taught with an authority that others did not have.

"The result was that when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority , and not as their scribes." Matthew 7:28-29

The rabbical schools had developed an extensive written system of interpretations during the time of the exile to Babylon; these traditional interpretations had taken the weight of Scripture by the time of Christ. Those who were educated based what they taught on the traditional interpretations; this is what the people expected a teacher to do.

But Jesus taught as one who Himself had the authority to teach; those who listened were amazed at this. Jesus not only specifically taught what contrasted with their traditional teachings, He also taught in a way that implied that the traditional teachings were of no value.

Jesus did teach based on Scripture, but not in a simple, limited way. He had learned the same Scriptures that the traditions claimed to understand; but He understood them. He taught based on an understanding of Scripture. The Sermon on the Mount came from that understanding. It follows the pattern of Psalm 18, but it includes an understanding of the rest of Scripture. All Scripture is from one Author; it is understood in whole, not in pieces.

We are in a similar religious culture. We are taught our traditional interpretations. Seminaries do this, trying to pass on the orthodoxy of the denomination. Most Christian teaching, whether in church or in popular Christian books, is built on the conclusions of others. What we consider to be the teaching of the Bible is often a historical interpretation that has now taken the weight of Scripture for us. We use proof texts, but not a personal understanding of Scripture.

But we are to teach like Jesus taught; we are to have the authority to teach personally. We need to dig down to bedrock in Scripture; we need to be able to distinguish the rock of Scripture from the overburden of tradition. We must have rock to build on.

"Everyone who comes to Me, and hears My words, and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock..." Luke 6:47-48

This is personal; we are to teach what we have found. We are to teach what we know will not break.

The kingdom of God gives this authority; it does not come from the traditions of men.