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Explanation for:
Matthew
7
:
29
For he was teaching them as one having power, and not as the scribes and Pharisees.
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"They certainly instructed the nations based on the writings of Moses and the prophets. However, Jesus—being both the God and Lord of Moses—freely chose to either complement the law with what appeared minor or to convey new teachings to the people, as noted earlier: \\"It was said to the ancients; But I say to you.\\""},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"The people were particularly astonished by His authority, as He did not speak as a messenger of another, like the prophet Moses, but rather demonstrated His own sovereign authority in every aspect. In articulating the laws, He consistently emphasized, \\"But I say unto you,\\" and in reference to the final day, He depicted Himself as the ultimate Judge, administering both punishment and reward. This approach seemed to aim at perplexing the listeners. Indeed, if the scribes accused Jesus Christ and rejected Him after He had already validated His authority through His actions, how could the crowd not be swayed when He asserted His authority merely through His words, especially since these declarations were made at the outset before any miraculous demonstrations of His power? Nevertheless, the people did not falter in their faith. When hearts and minds are open and receptive, they find it easy to embrace the truth. This explains why the scribes were even then enticed to doubt, despite witnessing signs that affirmed His power; yet today's listeners, who engage solely with His teachings, chose to heed and follow Him. The evangelist underscores this by stating, \\"In His footsteps went the multitude,\\" implying that it was not the leaders or scribes who followed Him, but rather those who were genuine and free from malice. Throughout the gospel, it is evident that these sincere individuals were the ones who remained close to Him. As He spoke, they listened intently, adding nothing to His words, nor interrupting, nor challenging Him as the Pharisees did; and once the sermon concluded, they followed Him in awe."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He preached with assurance rather than uncertainty, in contrast to the scribes. While the scribes based their teachings on the Law and the Prophets, implying, “The Law requires this; the Prophets declare that,” Christ, drawing from His own wisdom, taught with divine authority, proclaimed the Law, and persistently affirmed, “But I say unto you.” As the Judge of the coming age, He offered salvation to the righteous and warned of judgment for the unrighteous."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"The Lord revealed Himself in a manner that surpassed the prophets. While they proclaimed, ‘This is what the Lord says,’ Christ, in His divine essence, declared, ‘I say to you.’"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Furthermore, He instructed them with a command that exceeded that of the scribes and Pharisees, who were the highly educated leaders of the people. Their doctrines were often filled with trivial matters and empty rhetoric. In contrast, the teachings of Jesus Christ were straightforward, significant, and elevated, as one would expect from divine instruction. He possessed the authority not just to interpret the law but also to revoke it, enabling Him to communicate in a way that no other could. While the prophets conveyed messages with a sense of authority, in Christ this authority stemmed not just from divine inspiration as it did with the prophets, but from His own Divine majesty as the True Lawgiver and Sovereign over the Law."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"He instructed them with a powerfully authoritative voice, unlike the scriptures and the Pharisees, who were rigid and arrogant formalists. They spent their time debating insignificant matters and human constructs, neglecting the most crucial aspect—the true nature of God's will and commandments. In contrast, the message of Christ was straightforward, significant, and Divine; it surpassed even the words of ancient prophets. While they proclaimed, ‘Thus says the Lord,’ He, embodying the divinity, declared, ‘I say to you.’ He not only clarifies the law, but also transcends its outdated interpretations and reveals the essence of Divine truth. He speaks with the authority of God—both as the Lawgiver and the Judge."},{"author-name":"Kochomski S.W.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The account of the Sermon on the Mount as recorded by St. Luke, includes four blessings (Luke 6:20-23) along with four corresponding admonitions: one directed at the wealthy (Luke 6:24), another towards those who are affluent, a warning to those who find amusement (Luke 6:25), and a caution to those for whom people speak well (Luke 6:26). The first three warnings highlight the flaws of the self-righteous individual who, anchored in earthly possessions, intellectual achievements, and superficial virtues, lacks the yearning for righteousness, remains indifferent to his spiritual state, and is unaware of his true condition, as expressed in the Revelation: he is wretched, poor, blind, and without clothing (Rev. 3:17). The fourth admonition critiques that part of humanity which chooses to compromise truth, aligning with the desires of the populace to gain their approval, reminiscent of the false prophets of ancient Israel during the reign of Ahab (1 Kings 22:6). Additionally, in Luke 6:39-40, the Evangelist presents the parable of the blind man, which does not appear in Matthew's version of the sermon. It is clear that the Lord shared this parable on multiple occasions and in various contexts (Matthew 15:14). In this instance, it relates to the directive against judging one’s neighbor. Condemnation implies positioning oneself above the one judged, in both understanding and adherence to the commandments. However, the one who judges is not exempt from the prevalent sinfulness of humanity, and, in judging, falls into pride and arrogance. Thus, they resemble a blind individual attempting to guide another blind person; both risk falling into a pit. There is no disciple greater than their teacher. If the sinner were to learn from the one passing judgment, he would develop prideful and contemptuous traits, as the disciple inevitably mirrors his teacher. This dynamic ensures that both may stumble into the pit. It is evident from Matthew 7:29 that, by the conclusion of the sermon, the audience included great crowds (οἱ οχλοι), likely because the Lord was not positioned on the mountain as He was at the sermon’s outset, when only the disciples had access to Him (Matthew 5:1). Instead, He found Himself in a more open area, accessible to many souls (Luke 6:17). This observation supports the earlier notion that following His interaction with the closest disciples on the mountain, where Jesus withdrew for prayer, the Divine Teacher descended into the valley to reiterate, in front of a large audience, what had been conveyed on the mountain to the disciples and apostles, albeit with modifications and additional insights, which are distinctive to Luke’s account compared to Matthew’s."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The crowd was astonished by His teachings, for He spoke with a unique authority that set Him apart from the scribes and Pharisees. It is no surprise they were in awe of what He taught; no one had ever expressed the truths Christ shared or communicated with His level of earnestness. While the philosophers and spiritual leaders of various beliefs tried to connect with their audiences through compromises catering to human frailty, Christ had no need for such adjustments. The Old Testament prophets proclaimed God’s will by saying, ‘The word of the Lord was spoken to me,’ or, ‘The Lord spoke to me.’ In contrast, Christ spoke directly from His own authority, declaring, ‘But I say unto you.’ The scribes and Pharisees claimed they alone had the right to interpret the Scriptures, claiming the key to understanding them (Luke 11:52), yet their interpretations often missed the true essence of the texts, focusing instead on the mere ritual and letter of the law. They regarded the people with disdain, believing them so unenlightened that it was futile to explain matters of the law to them; they branded the populace as cursed for their supposed ignorance (John 7:49). The religious leaders not only failed to impart understanding but also instigated doubt among the people regarding their teachings. One scribe even boasted he could offer six thousand interpretations for a single verse of Scripture. Despite this, Christ spoke plainly and convincingly, avoiding the complex intricacies of the ceremonial law that the Pharisees favored. He taught how to live in a way that would establish God's kingdom on earth. He proclaimed the immortality of the soul, asserting that earthly existence prepares one for eternal life and that bliss in the Kingdom of Heaven is attained through following God’s will and fostering His righteousness. He encouraged prioritizing spiritual over material concerns, emphasizing that all individuals stand equal before God and that entrance into Heaven is determined not by wealth or status, but by selfless love toward others. Christ taught that one’s neighbors include not only friends and fellow community members but all people, even adversaries. He urged His followers to love their enemies, bless those who persecute them, and pray for those who offend them, declaring that these actions are essential for being children of the Heavenly Father. Christ exemplified the commandments He preached, living a perfectly righteous and sinless life that granted Him the authority (Matthew 7:29) to expect others to walk in His footsteps. Conversely, the Pharisees and scribes imposed heavy burdens on the people while failing to lift a finger to assist them (Luke 11:46). This fresh and unprecedented teaching profoundly impacted those who heard it, compelling them to follow Jesus when He descended from the mountain after delivering His sermon."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Upon the completion of the Sermon on the Mount, the crowds were astonished by the teachings of Christ the Saviour. They were captivated not merely by the eloquence of His words, as Blessed Theophylact pointed out, but also by the commanding authority that resonated through His messages. As the Divine Lawgiver of the New Covenant, He proclaimed, “I say to you, I am the Lawgiver of the New Testament,” providing a profound and heavenly teaching that stood in stark contrast to the empty rhetoric and trivial fables perpetuated by the scribes and Pharisees."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Matthew wraps up his account of the Sermon on the Mount by noting that Christ's teachings left a profound impact on His audience: \\"for, says Matthew, he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes and Pharisees.\\" This indicates that the message of Christ carried an undeniable strength of truth and persuasion, leaving no space for doubt or challenge. The Lawgiver Himself spoke here, rather than His interpreters—the scribes—who, by endlessly circling around their interpretations of the law, only served to obscure its true meaning."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In summary, the Lord instructed that in every circumstance, we should consistently seek God through prayer. He emphasized that our love for our neighbors should mirror the love we hold for ourselves, encouraging us to continually strive to walk the narrow path. We are to remain vigilant against false prophets and to practice what we have learned. By establishing these life principles for His disciples, the Lord delineated the essential differences between their righteousness and that of the Pharisees, offering a solid foundation for the spiritual formation of His chosen community. These teachings were not just meant for a specific time or group; they were intended to serve as a guiding principle for all His followers, grounded in the eternal truths of Divine holiness and the moral foundations instilled by the Creator in human nature.\\n\\nThe apostles had not received formal instruction elsewhere, aside from brief periods spent with John’s disciples, specifically Andrew and John. The Lord selected those who demonstrated genuine love and trust in Him, free from misguided aspirations of false wisdom. He took it upon Himself to impart education to them, teaching through both words and actions, whether in solitude or in public, in homes or on journeys, on land and at sea. What was obscure to others, He illuminated for them. They were continuous witnesses to His life and ministry, as He gradually dispelled their misconceptions inherited from Jewish teachings. While He allowed them to encounter their misunderstandings, He transformed these instances into learning experiences. He facilitated their discussions on topics pertinent to their understanding while gently reminding them that He was aware of their dialogues and the hidden thoughts of all. He guided their emotional impulses, aligning them with their responsibilities. In essence, He purified and enlightened their hearts and minds, preparing them for the complete outpouring of the Spirit of truth and sanctification. Initially, they related to the Lord as students; by the end of His ministry, He referred to them as His friends (Jn. 15:14-15) because He revealed everything to them, ultimately calling them brothers."}]}
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