But I Say to You

Jesus Christ affirmed the exceptional value of Scriptures. No doubt about it. They are writings, which “testify of Him,” and in virtue of this fact, is for every Christian, a unique authoritative gem. The Bible contains His own words, and it is the channel through which He exercises His authority. William Cowper put it this way,

“A glory gills the sacred page,
majestic like the sun.
It gives a light to every age.
It gives, but borrows none.”

In cherishing a high and reverent esteem for the Scriptures, we are following Christ’s own example. He frequently spoke of the Hebrew writings in a manner expressing or implying recognition of its divine truth and worth. In the Sermon on the Mount, He said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17. Jesus’ sincere and deep reverence for the Scriptures becomes even more significant when viewed in connection with His intense antagonism toward Rabbinicism. That opposition itself suggests that Jesus was not a conformist; He did not mechanically accept tradition. He believed in nothing as true or good simply because it masqueraded as such in the religious world of His times.

The faith of Christ and His reverence were invariably based on spiritual insight and personal conviction. When He entered public ministry, He appeared as One who had transformed conceptions of the Scriptures, of the “kingdom,” and Messiahship. In His estimation, the Scriptures were divine, full of the spirit of truth, wisdom, goodness, and supremely useful for guidance in life, setting forth views of God, man, and responsibilities.

Yet, we cannot help but notice that Christ’s attitude towards the Scriptures was different from the Rabbis, which He described as indiscriminate, idolatrous admiration. Jesus’ use appeared judicious. Some books He quoted often, others He did not quote at all. Neither did Jesus believe all the truth we can know about God is located in Scriptures. For example, He taught we could learn about God through sermons from nature:

“He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45b.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26.

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." Luke 13:19.

Nor did Jesus believe all commands of Scripture were equally weighty; there are, He said, lesser and weightier matters of the Law: Matthew 23:23.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” NIV

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. KJV

Though affirming that while all laws are to be obeyed and that we should strive to be just as faithful in small matters as in great ones, there are certain parts of the Bible that have more weight and significance than others. Since greater and lesser truths are all equally true, there is the tendency to treat them as equally significant. The ethical, to Jesus was more important that rituals. In this, He differed from the Rabbis who felt all Scriptures were of equal weight, which was a grievance they held against Him. How dare Jesus presume to rate any law as being of lesser importance than another that God had commanded. Of course, they were too busy being critical to realize that Jesus was “God.”

Christians, however follow Christ and not the Rabbis. Recognizing Him as an Authority in His general attitude of reverence for Scriptures, we are persuaded to recognize Him as an Authority in His discriminating use of the Scriptures. In fact, it is in this very detail that we recognize Him as setting Himself as the Authority above the Scriptures. He not only judges them, but He also teaches the right and the beneficial method of using them.

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Jesus exercised His authority:

- over demons: Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” Mark 1:21-25.

- over sickness: Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

“The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”

Thus, we accept His judgment, use Scriptures in His spirit, and are careful not to use the Bible in the manner used by the scribes and Pharisees, lest we find ourselves straining gnats while swallowing camels.

The Jews searched the Scriptures, as men only could who believed that their salvation depended on the quest, yet they missed Christ, “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” John 5:39.

The way in which the Jews used Scriptures, no other result was possible. How could worshipers of the letter accept as their Messiah as One who valued the spirit? What could men to whom the Bible was a book of law do but reject One for whom it was a book of inspiration?

The Gospels are the core of the Bible. It is here where we learn the words, actions, thoughts, and behavior of JESUS CHRIST. Here at last is the Redeemer towards whom for many centuries the history of elect Israel has been pointing. He is the One who has the Authority of a Son speaking God’s final word to men. It is not the Bible, but Christ Jesus of the Bible who is the ultimate and final authority.

God alone is sovereign, and He has entrusted His complete authority to His Son and only His Son. Let us not forget the lesson of Mount Tabor. That when Moses and Elijah, representatives of the Law & the Prophets, (representative authors of the only Bible known to Jesus) stood before Him conversing and Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" Matthew 17:4-6.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Mark 1:21-22

Luke 4:17

The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

So, Jesus stood and read Isaiah 61:1. The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

Don’t miss the importance here; Jesus Christ was reading from the prophet Isaiah – and He was speaking of Himself!

Luke expands this by telling us that after Jesus read from Isaiah 61, He sat down, as was the custom, and preached a brief message. Luke 4:21 records that the message was, Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing. In other words, “That which I have just read to you is speaking of Me. I am He.” Jesus did not quote a scribe, He did not go to a tradition, He simply quoted Himself. Have you noticed, as you read the gospels, that the Lord is constantly saying, “You have heard it said, but I say to you” or “Truly, truly I say to you.” Jesus Christ is the final authority.

The definition of authority is, “a delegated right or power.” Jesus Christ came to earth to do the will of His Father. By doing His Father’s will, He had all of the authority of His Father delegated to Him as He lived on earth as a man. In fact, Jesus Christ said, “For I have come . . . not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” (John 6:38) Jesus had authority, but it was delegated authority.

Before His parting, Jesus did not tell his frightened disciples that He would provide them with a book and a proper set of instructions regarding the right interpretation of the text as the final arbiter in matters of faith and practice. What He did say was, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20.

We value the church that He left behind. We prize the Scriptures that was inspired of Him. But we understand that the only authority He recognized as authority was Himself, as delegated to Him by the Father. His Book recognizes His authority. Do we?