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Matthew 7:28–29
“When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.”
Westminster Larger Catechism 43 gives us an excellent summary of Christ’s work as our Prophet: “Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his Spirit and Word, in diverse ways of administration, the whole will of God, in all things concerning their edification and salvation.” This statement encapsulates several important biblical truths.
First, the Savior has served as the Prophet for His people in all ages of the church. From the beginning, divine revelation has come to the people of God under His covenants through the Son. Practically speaking, the Son spoke through the old covenant prophets, spoke to His disciples as the incarnate God-man, and spoke through the new covenant Apostles. This must be so because the Son is truly God (John 1:1), and so whenever He speaks, God speaks.
Second, the Son as our Prophet spoke and continues to speak by His Spirit and Word. God’s written revelation—the Scriptures—is primary under every covenant and is now the exclusive depository of the Lord’s special revelation until Christ returns. The written Word of God is living and active, penetrating to the deepest recesses of heart and soul (Heb. 4:12–13), and salvation comes to people through it only as the Spirit grants them understanding (1 Cor. 2:6–16). Divine special revelation came from the Father through the Son by the Holy Spirit and was preserved in written form by the prophets and Apostles, which is now the only infallible guide for the church. The church does not receive new revelation but is guided by the Bible, its foundation laid once for all (Eph. 2:20).
Finally, the Son’s prophetic ministry involves all revelation concerning our edification and salvation. All truth in every subject comes ultimately through the Son, but His role as Prophet has special reference to the calling of His people to salvation and their growth in faith and love. He has “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68), and He gives them according to His unique divine authority. All the prophets spoke from God and good noninspired teachers speak according to what God has said, but Jesus is the only Prophet and Teacher who speaks to us as God. Thus, as we see in today’s passage, our Savior speaks with authority (Matt. 7:28–29). He does not instruct us with any uncertainty but perfectly delivers God’s revelation in all its authority because He is God’s revelation (John 1:1).
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Many people accept that Jesus was a great teacher. While He indeed was a great teacher, He is far more than that. He is the One whose every teaching carries with it the full authority of the only true and living God. To truly recognize Him as a great teacher in the sense of His full greatness, then, we must believe and practice all that He says in His Word.
For further study
- Deuteronomy 18:15–16
- Mark 1:21–28
- Luke 5:17–26
- John 5:19–29
The bible in a year
- Psalms 93–95
- Romans 11:17–36