Page 108 - A Dissertation for Doctor of Philosophy

People who gathered around Jesus experienced new teachings with a unique way of

6
authoritative presentation different from their honored teachers of the Law. Jesus spoke “with

7
authority,” while their teacher spoke “from authorities.” Hengel agrees: “Jesus neither follows
the rabbinical method of deducing it from the Torah as prescribed in the schools, nor does he,

like the teachers of wisdom of an earlier age, appeal to the evidential force of his teaching, based

8
on observation and experience.” James Stewart makes the point more eloquently:

With Jesus there was no “perhaps” or “it may be so” or “I rather think so,” no speculation
or guesswork or fumbling or faltering, but “verily I say unto you” rung out with the
assurance of God himself. “Not as the scribes”-for the scribes relied slavishly on the
tradition. “Thus saith Moses,” “Thus saith Rabbi X,” “Thus saith the law and prophets,”
9
never daring to speak in their own name. In other words, it was all secondhand religion.

In sum then, the people were amazed by the authority of Jesus. What, then, is the nature of Jesus’

authority? What are the attributes of Jesus’ authority? How does this authority affect his

preaching and people’s response? This next section attempts to answer these questions.

The Nature of Jesus’ Authority

6
Bond, The Master Preacher, 203. He says, “The rabbinical method was familiar to them;
here was something new. The scribes marketed the shelf-worn opinions of illustrious teachers of
the past, but Jesus offered the uncut pages of a new revelation . . . His authority differed from
the scribes and Pharisees in its source, methods, and worth. In contrast to their authority of book
opinions, ancient traditions, and external ceremonials he presented an authority of personality,
originality, and spirituality.” For further discussion on the preaching of Judaism, see Osborn,
Folly of God, 77-180.

7 Warren W. Wiersbe, Preaching & Teaching with Imagination: The Quest for Biblical
Ministry (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1994), 159.

8
Hengel, Charismatic Leader, 67.
9
James S. Stewart, The Life and Teaching of Jesus (New York: Abingdon Press, 1950),
67.