And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Parallel translations
- WEB They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.
- KJV And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
- BSB The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
- NASB And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
- NLT The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The crowd is astonished because Jesus teaches with authority, unlike the scribes. He speaks as one whose word carries God's own weight.
Overview
The scribes taught by citing other authorities; Jesus taught with inherent authority, as the Son of God whose word is itself the standard. This amazement is a recurring response to Jesus in Mark and points to His unique identity. His authoritative word will soon be matched by authoritative deeds over demons and disease.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Matt 7:28–29When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
- Matt 13:54Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?
- Luke 4:32and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.
- Luke 21:15for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to withstand or to contradict.
- Acts 6:10They weren’t able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
- John 7:46The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this man!”
- Jer 23:29“Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Acts 9:21–22All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”
- 2 Cor 4:2But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Matt 23:16–24“Woe to you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obligated.’
- Mark 7:3–13(For the Pharisees and all the Jews, don’t eat unless they wash their hands and forearms, holding to the tradition of the elders.
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Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 1:22 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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