When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29)
Jesus was a radical rabbi. He was not at all like many of the religious leaders. After delivering His famous Sermon on the Mount, the crowds were astonished because He taught them with authority.
What set Jesus apart? The fact that He practiced what He preached. His preaching on love was backed up with compassionate healing of the sick, raising of the dead and feeding of the hungry. His teaching on mercy was demonstrated by His acceptance and forgiveness of sinners. The least, lost and lonely among the people did not receive those things from their religious leaders and they gravitated towards Jesus when they felt the love of God through Him.
As followers of Jesus, our authority is best validated not by what we claim as bonafide, be it our doctrine or our label, but by our observance of the very things we proclaim.
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