He said so

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

HE SAID SO

Matt 7:28-29

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

NIV

It does seem to be a wonder why people were amazed at his teaching. That begs the question whether we also are amazed at what we just read and considered from his teaching. We are told they had others to compare the style of teaching to, their teachers of the law. Did the teachers of the law not speak with authority? Did they not believe in the law? From what we know they were overzealous in their attempt to practice the law, at least in public view. But if they were not teaching the law with authority it would seem they were not convinced of its merit. If we believe something to be the truth, do we not promote it with all the authority we can muster? Perhaps we are not presenting the truth of scripture with all the authority Christ had. Do we not have the indwelling of the Spirit, one of the divine natures of the Holy Trinity? Then should we not be able to teach the truth of the gospel message with all the authority of God? It would make sense the teachers of the law were not indwelled by the Spirit and therefor they taught as men. Their teaching was dead, it did not contain the authority of Christ. This is why people were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. Because he was one of the Holy Trinity he spoke with his own authority, with one who knew the truth, because he was the truth. Yet this should serve us as a lesson as well. We cannot teach the truth without the indwelling of the Spirit. This is the warning Jesus gave us about the false prophets, they teach and preach as men, not having the Spirit. We can teach the truth of God with all the authority of Christ because he sent us the Spirit who leads us into all truth. But we must believe with all our heart that it is the truth. The teachers of the law may not wholly believed in the law, we simply do not know, but they could not teach with authority. We, on the other hand, have the Spirit and thus we are able to speak with authority about the truth of God. It is not boastful or prideful that we say this. Jesus told us that we would do even greater things than he.

John 14:9-17

9 Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? 10 Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth.

NIV

These are the words of Christ. If we believe, then we can and will speak with the same authority that Jesus spoke with to these people who were amazed. The key is having the confidence in the Spirit. If we shrink back, taking a back seat in the conversation about life with others, then are we allowing the Spirit to lead us, or are we just living as all other men? Sure there are men who would speak as if they have authority, but without the Spirit, they speak only as men. Because we are led by the Spirit, we should be speaking with the authority of God, because he said so.