“But I Say to You”: The Authority of Christ’s Word

When Jesus spoke, he did not simply speak with the authority of the king. His words have divine power and authority to change people's lives. This is the next topic that Rev. Sang Ho Bae explained as he continued his exposition of the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew testifies to one important fact at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount:

When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, for He was teaching them as one having authority and not as their scribes (Matt 7:28–29).

The crowds were not astonished merely because they heard new content. They were overwhelmed by the authority that flowed from the very being of the One who spoke. The authority of the Word does not come merely from the depth of its content but from who Jesus is, the One who proclaims that Word.

Jesus was not a mere human teacher. Scripture testifies of Him, “In Him all the fullness of Deity dwells bodily” (Col 2:9), and “He is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature” (Heb 1:3). The apostle John saw in Him “the glory as of the only begotten from the Father” (John 1:14). While Jesus was in the world, that glory was veiled by the garment of flesh, yet in His words the unhidden divine authority was revealed. When the One who is God speaks, His words necessarily reveal the authority of God.

The authority was also clearly revealed in the manner in which Jesus taught. The scribes always taught with third-person quotations such as “God said” or “Moses said.” Their teaching was always a transmitted word. But Jesus said, “But I say to you.” This was not merely a difference in expression, but a declaration revealing who is the source of revelation. Jesus is the God who gave the Law and the Sovereign who sent the prophets. Therefore His teaching was not merely supplementing existing interpretations, but the final authority that fully reveals the original meaning of the Law. The repeated declaration, “You have heard that it was said to those of old … but I say to you” (Matt 5), shows that Jesus is not a mere teacher but the Lord of revelation.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus did not simply give ethical instruction; He revealed Himself as the Sovereign of the final judgment. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many mighty works?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matt 7:22–23). This is a declaration no human teacher could dare to make. Only the One who possesses the authority of judgment can determine eternal destiny. Jesus is that God who possesses such authority. Likewise, the words, “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great” (Matt 5:11–12), are also a declaration that only the One who can give the heavenly reward can make.

The word of God and the word of man are essentially different. Jeremiah says, “Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has My word speak My word faithfully. What has straw in common with grain?” (Jer 23:28). No matter how wise human words may appear, they are ultimately like straw, but the word of God is like grain that gives life. The word of God is essentially divine, and within it is the power that has been at work since creation. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but shall accomplish what I desire and succeed in the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa 55:11).

The Word of God is the power that revives the soul, exposes sin, and renews the spirit. As Hebrews says, “the word of God is living and active,” piercing to the division of soul and spirit and judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart. When we stand before the Word, hidden sins are exposed, pride is broken, and the self is shattered, and in that place, true Christian character is formed. Therefore, in this age where morality and spirituality are collapsing, what is most desperately needed is the Word of God. Education and systems may refine a person’s outward appearance, but they cannot transform the inner being. Only the Word of God can penetrate the depths of the human heart and make life new.

For the AI-generated song version of this article, check But I Say To You.