The Reaction of the People on the Mount

 

And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28–29 ESV).

 

Our reading today concludes the Sermon on the Mount. It is worth noting that Matthew recalls the crowds were astounded because Jesus spoke with His own divine authority. Unlike religious scribes who merely quoted previous rabbis and traditions, Jesus delivered absolute truths directly from God. These verses highlight a pivotal reaction to Jesus' teaching. The Greek word for "amazed" is ἐξεπλήσσοντο (exeplēssonto). According to Strong’s Lexicon it means to be astounded or thrown completely out of one's senses. The crowd was overwhelmed by the wisdom and radical nature of His message, properly, "strike out of one's senses" with the outcome of being utterly amazed (dumbfounded) or left "at a loss" from witnessing the incredible causing the viewer to gape in astonishment.

 

Jesus did not need to cite previous scholars or experts. Instead, He spoke the direct decrees of God, famously using phrases like, "You have heard that it was said..., but I say to you," establishing His identity as King. However, this cannot be the last of the experience.

 

The crowds were "amazed," but the Scripture shows us that many of these same people eventually walked away when Jesus’ teaching became too demanding. Being astonished by Jesus is easy; being transformed by him requires building your life on the rock of daily faith and obedience. Our reading today should challenge us to look beyond a superficial admiration of Jesus' moral teachings. If we truly recognize his voice as the supreme authority over our relationships, our finances, our hidden thoughts, and our future, we cannot remain unchanged. We must move past being casual fans in the crowd and become true builders on the rock.

 

It is wonderful to get excited when we are touched by the Spirit of God. However, I would caution all of us to heed the warning of the step-brother of our Lord, who wrote:

 

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. [19] You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. (James 2:18–23 ESV).

 

A tingly feeling is not the goal of Jesus’ teaching. A change in life is!