Matthew 7:29

Verse 29. He taught as one having power, εξουσιαν, to found a law of his own. Hence he said: Ego autem dico vobis; “But I say to you,” that is as a legislator, announcing to you not the law of Moses, or of any other, but my own law. Est. in dif. loca.—All agree that Saint Matthew anticipates the sermon on the mount, in order thus to prefix the doctrines of Christ to the account of his miracles; for we cannot doubt that the discourse on the mount, which is mentioned by Saint Matthew, is the same as that recorded by Saint Luke. The beginning, the middle, and the conclusion correspond with each other. If Saint Matthew mentions some particulars omitted by Saint Luke, it is because his design was to collect together several instructions, which Jesus delivered on different occasions; and these, for the most part, are to be found in other parts of Saint Luke.—This admirable sermon may be divided into three parts, that is the exordium, the body of the discourse, and the conclusion. The exordium comprises the eight beatitudes, and merits our most serious attention. The body of the discourse is chiefly addressed to the apostles, whom Jesus had recently chosen, in order to instil into them, and all succeeding pastors of the Church, a right sense of the great duties belonging to their ministry; and, in the second place, it refers to all the faithful in general. The conclusion consists of an exhortation to a life of piety, and contains several advices, some of which chiefly regard pastors, others indiscriminately all the faithful in general.—May this excellent abridgment of thy doctrine, O Jesus! be the rule of our manners, the pattern of our life. Amen. A.