And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Matthew 7:28-29

After Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount. Many of the people stood in amazement because of what they had just heard and how the message was delivered.

The typical message from a Pharisee or a Scribe in that day sounded like a politician speaking out of both sides of his mouth. They seldom stood firm on their positions and quoted countless “teachers” before them to shift the blame if the congregation didn’t like the message. Often, they were more interested in how a phrase sounded rather than if it truly had any substantive teaching.

Jesus did not teach this way. Why? Because Jesus is God.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:1-2

Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, and particularly here in the Sermon on the Mount, taught what the Bible really means. He did not quote the opinions of Rabbis from previous or living generations. He did not need their credibility to enforce His message. He is God. He performed miracles as God. And He taught as God.

Gospel ministers today do not need men’s philosophies, opinions of psychologists, peer-reviewed journal articles, or even commentaries. They need to preach the word of God as it is found in the Bible. If Jesus said it, it is true! If Jesus called it a sin, it is a sin! And even further, if Jesus said “It in finished,” then the work of salvation is finished!

God’s people need comfort from God not man’s opinion. The Creator God knows how His creation works. Further, Jesus is acquainted with our griefs. Therefore, the Bible alone is the textbook and authority of righteousness.

If the preacher kicks us in the teeth but he is preaching truth from the Bible, we need to take the hits, repent, and build our house on the Rock. To argue against a man who soundly preaches the word of God is to argue against God. That kind of person is building on sinking sand!

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
all other ground is sinking sand.

Edward Mote