Authority

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

AUTHORITY

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

Men can teach only that what they have learned, Jesus teaches that which simply is. He is the “I AM” and therefore he is the authority over all things for nothing was made that He did not make it. Men have only a smidgen of authority and even that is only because God has bestowed it upon those he determined. Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth therefore that is the reason the people were amazed. This should also give us reason to be amazed. We should not live our lives being dull or bored, or simply without any amazement, for we not only know Jesus, but we have the Spirit, the living God dwelling within us. This should give us every reason to live in total amazement. At the same time, we should understand enough to live in complete humility because we have no knowledge, nor wisdom, no authority regarding the truth unless we have been given it by God. Those teachers of the law were among the most learned men, the highest educated men in their time, spending years studying the law, committing it to memory, making it as understandable as possible, and yet they could not explain it to anyone with any authority, or at least authority when compared to the authority of Jesus. Who of us can compare any of our knowledge, our understanding, our education, our wisdom with that of Jesus? We are so small and unimportant in the grand scheme of things, except in the eyes of our Lord. He places a great amount of value on us, for we are His creation whom He created for His pleasure. Our only value is to God and so we should not get so puffed up with all our knowledge, thinking more highly of ourselves than we should. We may be more like those teachers of the law than we want to admit, putting in all those years of study only to find that it gives us no authority only than what Jesus gives us and He bestows it freely. The Lord makes that point very clearly through James.

James 3:13-18

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

NIV

So let us simply submit to the authority of Jesus.