Astonished and Amazed - But Did They Change

Happy Sunday! Today we wrap up The Sermon on the Mount. In the last two verses of Matthew 7, we're told of the reaction of the crowd. I begin at verse 28: "Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having Authority, and not as their scribes."

The version I just read from said that the crowds were astonished. Other virgins used the word amazed. Astonished and amazed, I'm sure that's accurate. Can you imagine sitting there listening to Jesus himself? If you're a Believer, one day you will.

He was so different to anything that the crowd had heard before. Verse 29 tells us the difference: "For he taught them as one having Authority, and not as their scribes." The teaching that they were used to was from rabbis quoting rabbis quoting rabbis quoting scripture. It had changed. The teaching had been altered and changed, and in The Sermon on the Mount, Jesus set the record straight.

He taught as one having authority. Of course, he did have authority. Matthew 28 ends with Jesus saying, "All authority in heaven and on Earth has been given to me, so you must go and make disciples of all Nations. Baptize them in the name of the father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I've commanded you, and you can be sure that I am always with you to the very end."

Some people in this world say that Jesus was a prophet. Others say he was a good man, or even a great teacher. As a Believer, we had better know that Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lord and the King of Kings. What an opportunity those folks had that day!

Back to their response in verse 28: they were astounded, they were amazed. To be honest, I want more. I want to know that they were changed. I want to know that they all became Believers.

We have a little hint as Matthew chapter 8 begins. Listen to verses 1 and two, right after The Sermon on the Mount: "Jesus came down from the mountain side. Large crowds followed him. A man who had a skin disease came and got down on his knees in front of Jesus, and he said, Lord, if you're willing to to make me clean, you can do it." In the following days, many people came to Jesus for physical healing. We're told that he healed many, many who were sick.

Sadly, then and now, many come to Jesus hoping for a physical touch. Now, if you've paid attention to Jesus's teachings, you know that we should be more concerned with our spiritual health as opposed to our physical well-being. I pray all of us are astonished and amazed, But ultimately what really matters is that we are obedient, and that we have changed, and that we are more interested with what's inside than out.

Pray with me. Jesus, thank you for letting us be with you on that Hillside. Thank you for these words that have been saved for us, that well can amaze us and Astound us, but hopefully it changes us. It changes us to be the men and women of God you have called us to be.

So for everyone watching and listening today, I pray that you would give them strengths beyond their own to do wonderful things in the name of Jesus. Amen. God bless you. See you next week.