Mark 1:22

Astonished. See on Matt. 4:13.

His doctrine. That is, “His teaching.”

Authority. This characteristic set the teaching of Christ in strong contrast with that of the scribes, and was commented on again and again by those who heard Him (see Matt. 7:29; Mark 1:27; etc.). Instead of dwelling upon what men of past ages had thought and written, and appealing to this as authority, He spoke forth as having authority in Himself directly from the Father. The scribes were wont to say that a certain rabbi had said thus and so, whereas Jesus declared, “I say unto you” (Matt. 5:21, 22). It is true today as it was then that only the preaching of spiritual certainties can bring healing to the sin-sick souls of men.

Scribes. The official teachers of the law and of tradition. Most of them were Pharisees. These professional expositors of the oral and written law were in constant controversy with Jesus (see Matt. 22:34-46; 23:13, 14). They often displayed a hairsplitting legalism that sought to determine the propriety of even the most minute acts of life. They frequently explained the Scriptures in such a way as to cast doubt upon their meaning rather than to make it clear, and busied themselves with the traditions of the fathers, which they considered equal or superior to the Scriptures, making void the law of God (Mark 7:9, 13). Thus they laid upon men “burdens grievous to be borne,” but would not even “touch” one of the burdens with their own fingers (Luke 11:46). See p. 55; see on Matt. 2:4.