The Crowds Amazed at His Authority (Matthew 7:28–29)

The texts below are quoted verbatim from public-domain English translations; nothing is paraphrased.

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St. John Chrysostom (c. 347–407)

Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew, Homily 25 (on Matthew 7:28–29) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 10. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf110/npnf110.iii.XXV.html

On what most astonished the multitude — that He spoke in His own person, not with reference to Moses and the prophets:

But they were astonished most of all at His authority. For not with reference to another, like the prophet and Moses, did He say what He said; but everywhere indicating Himself to be the person that had the power of deciding. For so, when setting forth His laws, He still kept adding, "But I say unto you."

On why the candid-hearted were persuaded by His words where others were offended by His works:

But however, they felt nothing of this; for when the heart and mind is candid, it is easily persuaded by the words of the truth. And this is just why one sort, even when the miracles were proclaiming His power, were offended; while the other on hearing mere words were persuaded and followed Him.

On His teaching "as one having authority" being confirmed by His works:

And so, because He was teaching as "one having authority," lest His so teaching should be thought boasting and arrogant, He doth the very same in His works also, as having authority to heal; that they might no more be perplexed at seeing Him teach in this way, when He was working His miracles also in the same.

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Blessed Augustine of Hippo (354–430)

Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount, Book II, Chapter 25 (on Matthew 7:28–29) Source: trans. in the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf106/npnf106.v.iii.xxv.html

On tracing the Lord's precepts back to the seven sentences of the Beatitudes with which the Sermon began:

This is what I said before was meant by the prophet in the Psalms, when he says: "I will act confidently in regard of him. The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried and proved in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." ... And from this number, I am admonished to trace back those precepts also to the seven sentences which He has placed in the beginning of this sermon, when He was speaking of those who are blessed; and to those seven operations of the Holy Spirit, which the prophet Isaiah mentions; ... but whether the order before us, or some other, is to be considered in these, the things we have heard from the Lord are to be done, if we wish to build upon a rock.

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St. Jerome (c. 347–420)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 7:28–29) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.vii.html

On the authority by which, as the Lord of Moses, He added to and changed the Law, where the scribes only taught what was written:

For as the God and Lord of Moses himself, He of His own free will either added such things as seemed omitted in the Law, or even changed some ... But the Scribes only taught the people what was written in Moses and the Prophets.

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St. Hilary of Poitiers (c. 310–367)

Commentary on Matthew (on Matthew 7:28–29) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.vii.html

On the crowds measuring the power of Christ by the might of His words:

Or; They measure the efficacy of His power, by the might of His words.

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St. Gregory the Great (c. 540–604)

Moralia in Job, Book 23 (on Matthew 7:28–29) As preserved in the Catena Aurea on Matthew. Public domain. Full text: https://www.ccel.org/ccel/aquinas/catena1.ii.vii.html

On the especial power with which Christ spoke:

Or, Christ spoke with especial power, because He did no evil from weakness, but we who are weak, in our weakness consider by what method in teaching we may best consult for our weak brethren.