28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29)Jesus's teaching was astonishing - and, to many, offensive. For did not say to His hearers, "Moses taught you ... but <i>I</i> say..."? On occasion, indeed, He sought to call witnesses to His authority:
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” 13 The Pharisees then said to him, “You are bearing witness to yourself; your testimony is not true.” 14 Jesus answered, “Even if I do bear witness to myself, my testimony is true, for I know whence I have come and whither I am going, but you do not know whence I come or whither I am going. 15 You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one. 16 Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for it is not I alone that judge, but I and he[c] who sent me. 17 In your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true; 18 I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me.” (John 8:12-18)Not as the scribes!
We have, still today, His authority. When His Church speaks to us, we have heard the voice of authority:
16 “He who hears you hears me, and he who rejects you rejects me, and he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16)As those who heard the Sermon on the Mount, we should also be astonished. The Church does not call any witness to her teaching but Christ's. We should be astonished; God grant that we be not offended.
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