A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW 

JESUS TAUGHT WITH AUTHORITY

Matthew 7:28-29 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.” 

When your pastor preaches a sermon or teaches a Bible class his message must be based upon God’s Word. It is God’s word that is the authority behind what your pastor says to you. If he merely preaches and teaches based on his own, personal authority, then what he says are not words of power and grace, but of human origin. 

When Jesus taught His disciples and the crowd on the mountain, He spoke direct words to them as Divine words. He was God. The words He spoke were therefore God’s words to the people. Jesus had no need to quote someone else’s words. His words were all truthful, powerful, and sufficient.   

To this day Jesus’ words have authority. They are your source for the forgiveness of your sins. Through His word the Holy Spirit works faith in your heart to believe in Jesus. Because of the authority of His word you have the assurance of victory over Satan, the sinful world, and your own sinful Old Adam. Only His word is able to do this for you. 

Jesus’ words still are amazing, aren’t they? They are undergirded by the undeserved love of your heavenly Father. They convey to you that you have a Savior who died as your substitute on Calvary’s cross in payment for your sins, has taken your sins away from you replacing them with His perfect life for you to live before your heavenly Father in righteousness and purity forever.    Jesus’ amazing words caused the hymn writer to write, “Amazing grace—how sweet the sound— That saved a wretch like me . . .”   

Prayer: Send Your Holy Spirit into my heart to open it to hear with faith Your Word of love, hope, peace, and joy. In Your holy name. Amen. 

Amazing grace— how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!  
I once was lost but now am found,   
Was blind but now I see! 

The Lord has promised good to me,   
His Word my hope secures;  
He will my shield and portion be   
As long as life endures.  

Through many dangers, toils, and snares  
I have already come;  
His grace has brought me safe thus far,  
His grace will lead me home. 

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fall  
And mortal life shall cease,  
Amazing grace shall then prevail  
In heaven’s joy and peace. 

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,  
Bright shining as the sun,  
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise   
Than when we’d first begun.  

Amazing Grace - LSB 744