Matthew 7:29

Having authority. Not dogmatically, but on His own authority rather than by quoting earlier expositors of the law, as the rabbis did in their teaching. Note the frequent use in the Gospels of the expression, “Verily I say unto you” (see on ch. 5:18), and its counterpart, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (ch. 11:15).

The scribes. Textual evidence favors (cf. p. 146) the reading “their scribes,” meaning the ones to whom these very people had listened (cf. “their” in Luke 5:30). The scribes’ teaching was dogmatic, and based on the traditions of the elders. There was life-giving power in the method of Christ’s presentation, as well as in the truths He set forth, in contrast with the dead formalism of the teaching of the scribes. Textual evidence may also be cited (cf. p. 146) for adding, “and the Pharisees.”