Matthew 7:28

KJV

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} it came to pass {G1096}, when {G3753} Jesus {G2424} had ended {G4931} these {G5128} sayings {G3056}, the people {G3793} were astonished {G1605} at {G1909} his {G846} doctrine {G1322}:

Complete Jewish Bible

When Yeshua had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at the way he taught,

Berean Standard Bible

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

American Standard Version

And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 7:28 serves as a pivotal conclusion to Jesus' monumental Sermon on the Mount, capturing the profound and immediate astonishment of the gathered multitude. This verse marks a significant transition, shifting the focus from the content of Jesus' extensive teachings to the overwhelming impact they had on His audience, underscoring the unique and authoritative nature of His ministry.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows the entirety of the Sermon on the Mount, a comprehensive discourse spanning [Matthew chapters 5-7](/matthew/5 "The Sermon on the Mount"). Within this extended teaching, Jesus systematically presented the ethical and spiritual principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, addressing topics ranging from the Beatitudes and the true meaning of the Law to prayer, fasting, worry, judgment, and the crucial choice between two paths and two foundations. Matthew 7:28-29 acts as a concluding summary, providing the audience's reaction to the preceding three chapters of revolutionary instruction, highlighting the stark contrast between Jesus' teaching and that of the religious leaders.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The primary audience for the Sermon on the Mount was a Jewish multitude, accustomed to the traditional teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. These religious leaders typically taught by quoting the interpretations and traditions of revered rabbis who preceded them, grounding their authority in an unbroken chain of human scholarship. Jesus, however, spoke with an inherent, self-attesting authority, which was profoundly alien to their established cultural and religious norms. The geographical setting was likely a mountainside or elevated plain in Galilee, providing a natural amphitheater for the large crowd to gather and hear His words.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 7:28 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within Matthew's Gospel. Foremost among these is **Jesus' Unprecedented Authority**, which is explicitly stated in the subsequent verse, [Matthew 7:29](/matthew/7-29 "Jesus Teaches with Authority"). Unlike the scribes, Jesus did not rely on external validation; His words carried intrinsic divine power, revealing God's will directly. Another key theme is **The Transformative Power of Jesus' Doctrine**. His "doctrine" (Greek: _didachḗ_) was not merely academic but deeply spiritual, practical, and convicting, cutting through human traditions to reveal the heart of God's Law and calling for radical internal and external transformation, as seen in His teachings on righteousness surpassing that of the Pharisees in [Matthew 5:20](/matthew/5-20 "Righteousness Exceeding the Scribes and Pharisees"). Finally, the theme of **Astonishment and Conviction** underscores the profound impact of His message, indicating that His words resonated deeply, challenging deeply held preconceptions and compelling a response from the listeners.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **gínomai (Greek, _gínomai'_):** This word, translated as "it came to pass," signifies an event or occurrence, highlighting the reality and completion of Jesus' discourse. It marks a transition point, indicating that the preceding extensive teaching had reached its conclusion, setting the stage for the audience's reaction.
* **ekplḗssō (Greek, _ekplḗssō'_):** Translated as "were astonished," this term means "to strike with astonishment." It conveys a sense of being utterly overwhelmed, struck dumb, or profoundly shocked by what is heard or seen. It's a stronger word than mere surprise, implying a deep impact that leaves one speechless or bewildered, suggesting a profound disruption of their expectations.
* **didachḗ (Greek, _didachḗ'_):** Rendered "doctrine," this word refers to instruction, encompassing both the act of teaching and the content of what is taught. In this context, it refers to the entire body of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, emphasizing that His instruction was a cohesive, authoritative, and revelatory body of truth, distinct from the prevailing religious instruction of the day.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings":** This opening clause functions as a narrative connector, signaling the conclusion of Jesus' extensive discourse, the Sermon on the Mount. The phrase "these sayings" (Greek: _toútous lógous_) refers specifically to the profound and comprehensive teachings found in [Matthew chapters 5-7](/matthew/5 "The Sermon on the Mount"), emphasizing that Jesus had fully delivered His message. The completion of this teaching is a significant event, setting the stage for the audience's reaction.
* **"the people were astonished":** This is the core reaction of the multitude. The Greek word _ekplḗssō_ (astonished) conveys a powerful sense of being utterly overwhelmed, struck with awe, or profoundly amazed. It suggests that Jesus' teaching was so unlike anything they had ever heard that it left them speechless, perhaps even bewildered, by its depth, clarity, and inherent authority. This was not mere intellectual appreciation but a visceral, emotional, and spiritual impact.
* **"at his doctrine":** The object of their astonishment was Jesus' "doctrine" (_didachḗ_), which encompasses not only the content of His teaching but also His unique manner and method of delivery. Unlike the scribes who quoted tradition, Jesus spoke with an inherent, self-attesting authority, revealing divine truth directly. This direct, authoritative, and profoundly insightful teaching was the source of the people's deep amazement, setting Him apart from all other teachers they knew.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 7:28 effectively employs **Climax** and **Contrast**. The verse acts as a narrative climax, providing the culminating reaction to the preceding three chapters of Jesus' teaching. It serves as the immediate payoff for the extensive discourse, highlighting its profound impact. Furthermore, there is an implicit **Contrast** between Jesus' teaching and the traditional teaching of the scribes and Pharisees. While not explicitly stated in this verse, the astonishment of the crowd sets the stage for the explicit contrast drawn in [Matthew 7:29](/matthew/7-29 "Jesus' Authority Compared to the Scribes"), where Jesus' authority is directly pitted against that of the scribes. The use of the strong word **_ekplḗssō_** (astonished) itself functions as a literary device, emphasizing the extraordinary nature of Jesus' words and their overwhelming effect on the listeners, conveying a sense of awe and wonder that transcends mere intellectual comprehension.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 7:28 underscores the divine authority inherent in Jesus' person and message, a theme central to the Gospel of Matthew. The people's astonishment was not merely a reaction to eloquent speech, but to the self-authenticating power of truth emanating from God incarnate. This verse highlights that Jesus' teaching was not simply human wisdom or a reinterpretation of existing laws, but a direct revelation of God's will and the principles of His Kingdom. It implicitly points to the unique relationship Jesus had with God as the Son, enabling Him to speak with an authority that transcended all human teachers and traditions, demanding a response of awe and obedience from all who heard Him.

* [Mark 1:22](/mark/1-22 "Jesus' Teaching with Authority in Capernaum")
* [Luke 4:32](/luke/4-32 "Jesus' Authoritative Teaching in the Synagogue")
* [John 7:46](/john/7-46 "Officers Report on Jesus' Unique Speech")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound astonishment of the crowd at Jesus' doctrine in Matthew 7:28 challenges believers today to examine their own engagement with the words of Christ. Do we approach His teachings with a sense of awe and wonder, recognizing their divine origin and transformative power, or have they become merely familiar, historical texts? The people's reaction reminds us that Jesus' message is not a static set of ancient principles but a living, active word that continues to penetrate hearts, expose sin, and call for radical obedience. True spiritual growth is not merely intellectual assent to doctrine but a profound, life-altering encounter with the authoritative voice of God. This verse calls us to move beyond passive hearing to active, astonished reception, allowing His words to reshape our understanding, priorities, and very lives, building them on the solid rock of His truth.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **When was the last time Jesus' words truly astonished you, leading to a profound sense of awe or conviction?**
* **How does your approach to studying the Bible reflect a recognition of Jesus' unique authority as a teacher?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to allow Jesus' "doctrine" to challenge and transform your preconceptions or habits?**

### FAQ
**What was so different about Jesus' teaching that it caused such astonishment?**

Answer: Jesus' teaching was fundamentally different from that of the scribes and Pharisees in two key ways: its content and its authority. Regarding content, Jesus taught with profound spiritual depth, emphasizing the internal disposition of the heart over mere external adherence to rules (e.g., [Matthew 5:21-48](/matthew/5-21-48 "Jesus' Teaching on Anger, Lust, Oaths, Retaliation, and Love for Enemies")). He revealed the true spirit of the Law and the radical demands of God's Kingdom. More significantly, His authority was inherent. Unlike the scribes who quoted previous rabbis to validate their points, Jesus spoke with a direct, "I say to you" authority, as one who directly knew and revealed God's will. This self-attesting, divine authority, explicitly mentioned in [Matthew 7:29](/matthew/7-29 "Jesus' Authority Compared to the Scribes"), was unprecedented and deeply unsettling to those accustomed to traditional, derivative teaching, leading to their profound astonishment.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 7:28, while marking the conclusion of a major teaching, points forward to the ultimate authority of Christ as the divine Word. The astonishment of the crowd at Jesus' "doctrine" foreshadows the universal recognition of His unique authority as Lord and Savior. His teachings were not merely wise sayings but the very words of God, revealing the Father's heart and the path to eternal life. This authority, so evident in His teaching, is the same authority by which He would later command the winds and waves ([Matthew 8:27](/matthew/8-27 "Jesus Calms the Storm")), cast out demons ([Matthew 8:28-34](/matthew/8-28-34 "Jesus Heals the Gadarene Demoniacs")), forgive sins ([Matthew 9:6](/matthew/9-6 "Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralytic")), and ultimately conquer death ([Matthew 28:18](/matthew/28-18 "The Great Commission and Jesus' Authority")). The "doctrine" that astonished the people was the living Word, Jesus Himself, who came to fulfill all righteousness and to establish the Kingdom of God, inviting all to build their lives on the unshakeable foundation of His authoritative truth ([Matthew 7:24-27](/matthew/7-24-27 "The Wise and Foolish Builders")). His teaching was the manifestation of His very being as the [Logos made flesh](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh"), the ultimate revelation of God to humanity.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Luke 4:32

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Mark 1:22

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

John 7:46

The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.

Mark 6:2

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing [him] were astonished, saying, From whence hath this [man] these things? and what wisdom [is] this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Luke 4:22

And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Matthew 13:53

¶ And it came to pass, [that] when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence.

Matthew 13:54

And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this [man] this wisdom, and [these] mighty works?