Chapter XXI

God’s Judgment of the Works
of the Righteous and the Wicked.

It is exciting to know that God’s righteous True Believers are already enjoying some of our “spiritual perks” in our daily lives.

Ephesians 2:6 And He {God/Jesus Christ} raised us {His adopted children} up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere {next to Him and His/our Father on Their Thrones in the third heaven} [by virtue of our being {saved}] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). AMP

Ephesians 1:3 May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! AMP

To me, it is horrifying to also know about the eternal judgment for those who are the wicked i.e. the “Make Believers” in the Christian Church and the Unbelievers/ unsaved sinners/people in the world. Their judgment is “very” clear!:

2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 This is positive proof of the just and right judgment of God to the end that you may be deemed deserving of His kingdom [a plain token of His fair verdict which designs that you should be made and counted worthy of the kingdom of God], for the sake of which you are also suffering. 6 [It is a fair decision] since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with distress and affliction those who distress and afflict you, 7 And to [recompense] you who are so distressed and afflicted [by granting you] relief and rest along with us [your fellow sufferers] when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in a flame of fire, 8 To deal out retribution {justice which comes with Jesus Christ’s judgment which brings} (chastisement and vengeance) upon those who do not know or perceive or become acquainted with God, and [upon those] who ignore and refuse to obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ {the Make Believers and sinners who are NOT saved}. 9 Such people will pay the penalty and suffer the punishment of everlasting ruin (destruction and perdition {in Hell}) and eternal exclusion and banishment from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power {by their being separated from Him in Hell forever}, AMP

As we have studied in Chapter XX, you have lived your life, and upon your death, your spirit returns to God the Son/Jesus Christ for judgment which in reality is Christ’s acknowledgment that you are His adopted child:

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, AMP

Ecclesiastes 12:7 {Upon one’s death,} Then shall the dust [out of which God made man’s body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it {for judgment}. AMP

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the proper time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born subject to [the regulations of] the Law, 5 To purchase the freedom of (to ransom, to redeem, to atone for) those who were subject to the Law, that we might be adopted and have sonship conferred upon us [and be recognized as God’s sons {and daughters}]. AMP

In closing “The MYSTERY of the SUCCESSIVE AGES of MAN REVEALED,” it is imperative to recognize what God’s Word teaches us not only about God’s foreknown and predestined plans from BEFORE time began for each human’s life as shared in the preceding Chapters, but also His foreknown and predestined plans for and after the end of each person’s physical life, and what happens to one’s “spirit” upon their death. Following is God’s beginning and ending “time table” for each and every person’s life, death, and judgment:

Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted, [Heb 9:27.] AMP

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, AMP

I have shared with you God’s intricate and intimate involvement in your life from before time down through the successive ages. There are numerous Scriptures which deal with God’s Sovereignty and judgment over one’s life and death.

Job 12:10 In His {God’s} hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind. AMP

Ecclesiastes 8:8 There is no man who has power over the spirit to retain the breath of life, neither has he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in battle [against death], neither will wickedness deliver those who are its possessors and given to it. AMP

Job 14:5 Since a man’s days are already determined, and the number of his months is wholly in Your control, and he cannot pass the bounds of his allotted time {God knows the day you was to be born and the day you will die.} — AMP

Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore [because He {Jesus Christ} stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, 10 That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow {at one’s judgment}, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. AMP

Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good or evil. [Matt 12:36; Acts 17:30, 31; Rom 2:16; 1 Cor 4:5.] AMP

Revelation 22:12 Behold, I {Jesus Christ} am coming soon, and I shall bring My wages and rewards with Me, to repay and render to each one just what his own actions and his own work merit. [Isa 40:10; Jer 17:10.] AMP

In previous Chapters, I shared that you have lived your life, and upon your death, your spirit returns to God the Son/Jesus Christ for judgment:

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, AMP

Ecclesiastes 12:7 {Upon one’s death,} Then shall the dust [out of which God made man’s body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it {for judgment}. AMP

There are numerous thoughts and theories depicting the events and timeline of God the Son’s/Jesus Christ’s judgment of man. Is there an easy way to determine one’s judgment? To me, it ALL depends upon whether they have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior sometime during their life and then made Him their Lord God and Master during the rest of their lifetime. The following text describes the Grace that God exhibited to the world through the sacrifice of His only Son – Jesus Christ and explains the different perimeters of the Saint’s judgment and the sinner’s judgment even BEFORE they stand before the judge Jesus Christ. Read this text carefully:

John 3:16-21 For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life {IF you have truly done this during your lifetime, YOU ARE “SAVED!”}. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world {itself}, but that the {peoples of the} world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him. 18a He who believes in Him {Jesus Christ} [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation — he incurs no damnation] {for ALL of eternity!};

Romans 8:1 THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus {believe in Him as their personal Savior, Lord God, and Master}, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit. [John 3:18.] AMP

John 5:24 I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. AMP

18b but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ’s name.] 19 The [basis of the] judgment (indictment, the test by which men are judged, the ground for the sentence) lies in this: the Light {Jesus Christ – John 8:12} has come into the world, and people have loved the darkness rather than and more than the Light, for their works (deeds) were evil. [Isa 5:20.] 20 For every wrongdoer hates (loathes, detests) the Light, and will not come out into the Light but shrinks from it, lest his works (his deeds, his activities, his conduct) be exposed and reproved. 21 But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are — wrought with God [{fashioned, formed, produced by} divinely prompted, done with God’s help, in dependence upon Him]. AMP

The above texts cannot be any clearer!!! So, what will happen to you upon your death? I believe that the “spirit” of a “True Believer” will immediately stand before Jesus Christ the Judge for acknowledgment that he/she will be with Him in His Kingdom for all of eternity. The “True Believer” will NEVER be judged by Jesus Christ!!! But the “Make Believer and Unbeliever” will stand before Him for judgment! I believe ALL judgment will be done by Jesus Christ/God the Son according to the plans found in God the Father’s Book of Life {Revelation 3:5} and includes the works of one’s life found in the Book of Deeds {Revelation 20:12} ALL confirmed by the contents of your returned “spirit.”.

John 5:22 Even the Father judges no one, for He has given all judgment {including} (the last judgment {The Great White Throne Judgment} and the whole business of judging) entirely into the hands of the Son, AMP
John 5:26-30 The Father has life in himself, and has granted his Son to have life in himself, 27 and to judge the sins of all mankind because he is the Son of Man. 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed the time is coming when all the dead in their graves shall hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and shall rise again-those who have done good, to eternal life; and those who have continued in evil, to judgment. 30 {Jesus speaking} “But I pass no judgment without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely fair and just, for it is according to the will of God {the Father} who sent me and is not merely my own. TLB {The will of God the Father is for Jesus to judge according to the Father’s foreknown and predestined plans found in His Book of Life.}

Acts 10:42 And He {Jesus Christ} charged us to preach to the people and to bear solemn testimony that He is the God-appointed and God-ordained Judge of the living and the dead. AMP

Acts 17:31 Because He {God the Father} has fixed a day when He {God the Father} will judge the world righteously (justly) by a Man {Jesus Christ} Whom He {God the Father} has destined and appointed for that task, and He {God the Father} has made this credible and given conviction and assurance and evidence to everyone by raising Him {Jesus Christ} from the dead. [Ps 9:8; 96:13; 98:9.] AMP

Romans 2:16 On that day when, as my Gospel proclaims, God by Jesus Christ will judge men in regard to the things which they conceal (their hidden thoughts). [Eccl 12:14.] AMP

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone’s [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire. AMP

The above Scripture – Romans 2:16 – states that Jesus Christ will judge “unsaved” sinners in regard to the things which they think are concealed – things they think they did in secret, even things that are just their thoughts! But these things are already known by God the Son! Remember that the truly redeemed Saints will NOT be judged. What does that mean for us? I believe that while we will not be judged by our thoughts, we will be rewarded for our faith and actions! ALL of our thoughts, faith, and actions must be directed towards God and the things of God. This is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT!!!

2 Corinthians 10:2-5 I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers]. 3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty {spiritual weapons} before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] {using the “sound mind of Christ”} refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), AMP

James 2:17-18 So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).
18 But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith. AMP

I believe there are numerous categories of “Kingdom works” that we will be rewarded on:

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. AMP

At this time in history, I believe God the Father and God the Son are seated on their thrones in the third heaven, and God the Holy Spirit is hovering over God’s creation {Genesis 1:2} overseeing and bringing to fruition God the Father’s foreknown and predestined plans for it. Of all of the parts of creation, I believe the most important to God is MAN! As I have previously discussed in Chapter V, God the Holy Spirit is directly involved in the human process of procreation {Genesis 4:1, 25; Psalms 104:30} and in Chapter XI the process of the spiritual “new creation/being Born Again” {2 Corinthians 5:17; John 3:3-8}. I believe that without man’s full cooperation in the human procreation process i.e. using birth control to produce fewer human offspring, it decreases God the Holy Spirit’s work in that process which also decreases His work in the “new spiritual Born Again creature” area. I believe when man denies and thwarts the work of God the Holy Spirit in man, it is called “blasphemy of the Holy Spirit” – an unpardonable sin!

Mark 3:29 But whoever speaks abusively against or maliciously misrepresents the Holy Spirit can never get forgiveness, but is guilty of and is in the grasp of an everlasting trespass. AMP

I do NOT know how God is going to judge man whether he/she is saved or unsaved use of birth control to NOT have offspring or man’s use of AI or IVF to humanly manipulate human conception! I DO KNOW that IF we truly recognize our sins, God is faithful to forgive them, BUT do NOT taunt God by continuing in them!!!

1 John 1:9, 8, 10 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. 8 If we say we have no sin [refusing to admit that we are sinners], we delude and lead ourselves astray, and the Truth [which the Gospel presents] is not in us [does not dwell in our hearts]. 10 If we say (claim) we have not sinned, we contradict His Word and make Him out to be false and a liar, and His Word is not in us [the divine message of the Gospel is not in our hearts]. AMP

So, what are God’s predestined and foreknown plans for man. I believe man has to naturally physically reproduce human offspring who have their spirit formed in them by God the Holy Spirit.
Psalms 127:4-5 As arrows are in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy, blessed, and fortunate is the man whose quiver is filled with them! They will not be put to shame when they speak with their adversaries [in gatherings] at the [city’s] gate. AMP

When these offspring reach the age of accountability, God the Holy Spirit will start His work to convict them of their sins and their need of a Savior.

John 16:8 And when He {God the Holy Spirit} comes, He will convict and convince the {sinners of the} world and bring demonstration to it about sin and about righteousness (uprightness of heart and right standing with God) and about judgment: AMP

I believe we True Believers are to assist God the Holy Spirit with His work by using our testimony and our resources to bring these “new creatures” into God’s Kingdom within the Bride Church by sanctifying/training them for ministry.

Our most importance “Kingdom works” is that of “soul winning!”

John 15:16 {Jesus speaking} You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing {continuously winning sinners/saving souls to Jesus Christ as their personal Savior}, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide {you continue to grow in your spiritual maturity ensuring your salvation}], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you. AMP

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, And he{/she} who wins souls {sinners} is wise. NKJV

Daniel 12:3 And the teachers and those who are wise {soul winners} shall shine like the brightness of the firmament {the stars in the sky}, and those who turn many to righteousness (to uprightness and right standing with God) {teach and disciple the newly redeemed} [shall give forth light] like the stars forever and ever. [Matt 13:43.] AMP
Matthew 13:43 Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) {including the above teachers and evangelists} shine forth like the sun {which is a star} in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing {Romans 10:17}. [Dan 12:3.] AMP

Philippians 2:15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, AMP

What is God’s Judgment for those Christians who do NOT lead sinners to Jesus Christ as their personal Savior?

Job 20:29 This is the wicked man’s portion from God, and the heritage appointed to him by God. AMP

Matthew 24:50-51 The master of that servant {God} will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he is not aware, 51 And will punish him [cut him up by scourging] and put him with the pretenders {in Hell with the} (hypocrites); there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. AMP

Luke 12:46 The master of that servant {God} will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour of which he does not know, and will punish him and cut him off and assign his lot with the unfaithful {in Hell}. AMP

Jesus’ many Parables bear witness to the above Scriptures. I believe that IF His Parables are properly spiritually interpolated, they reveal to us the number of lost sinners/fruit that God requires for us to bring to Christ. For an exciting revelation about Christ’s Parables click on the following link: www.http://mystertworldview./mystery/category/parables/

Our next important work is that of discipleship – to teach these “new creations/ Saints” in Christ to know, love, and serve God in spirit and truth {John 4:24} as their Lord God {John 20:26-29} and Master {Colossians 4:1} and to serve others {1 Peter 4:10}. We will be rewarded for doing this!

Matthew 13:43 Then will the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God) {those who help sinners come to Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and disciple them to make Him their Lord God and Master} shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let him who has ears [to hear] be listening, and let him consider and perceive and understand by hearing. [Dan 12:3.] AMP

Philippians 2:15 That you may show yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish (faultless, unrebukable) in the midst of a crooked and wicked generation [spiritually perverted and perverse], among whom you are seen as bright lights (stars or beacons shining out clearly) in the [dark] world, AMP

Our third work is caring for the disadvantaged people in the world. There are so many that it is impossible to stay on top of their physical needs let alone their spiritual needs. There are many many Christian ministries who are trying to serve disadvantaged people in BOTH physical AND spiritual capacities around the world and have been doing so for many years, but “TODAY” many local, state, and federal governments and their agencies are trying to negatively legislate these ministries out of their God ordained ministry by passing laws to make them conform to their worldly standards/laws. This not only makes these ministries less helpful in the communities of these countries because of the human corruption but also shuts down the influence of God in the world. Think about this! IT IS HAPPENING NOW/“TODAY!” Who stands to benefit the most from the negating of God’s worldwide influence? It is the “god of this world” – Satan! His deception in leading the world’s leaders and people astray has been known since he sinned and continues through “TODAY!”

Ezekiel 28:17 Your heart {Satan} was proud and lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I {God} cast you to the ground {to the earth – Revelation 12:9}; I lay you before kings {of the nations of the world}, that they might gaze at you {for Me to see if you can deceive them into following you as their “god” which they willingly did}. AMP

Are you serving God in and contributing to ministries that help the disadvantaged? The following text reveals Jesus rewarding “the Saints works” to disadvantaged people, and His judging those who “do not help the disadvantaged:”

Matthew 25:31-46 When the Son of Man {Jesus Christ} comes in His glory (His majesty and splendor {as Judge – preceding text and the King of kings and Lord of lords [Revelation 17:14; 19:16]}), and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All {of the peoples of the} nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them [the people] from one another as a shepherd separates his sheep {the saved righteous in Christ} from the goats {the unsaved sinners}; [Ezek 34:17.] 33 And He will cause the sheep to stand at His right hand, but the goats at His left. 34 Then the King will say to those at His right hand {sheep – those who are saved/redeemed}, Come, you blessed of My Father [you favored of God and appointed to eternal salvation], inherit (receive as your own) the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me, 36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me. [Isa 58:7.] 37 Then the just and upright {redeemed/saved} will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry and gave You food, or thirsty and gave You something to drink? 38 And when did we see You a stranger and welcomed and entertained You, or naked and clothed You? 39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and came to visit You? 40 And the King will reply to them, Truly I tell you, in so far as you did it for one of the least [in the estimation of men] of these My brethren, you did it for Me. [Prov 19:17.] 41 Then He will say to those at His left hand {goats – unsaved sinners}, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me and entertain Me, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me with help and ministering care.
44 Then they also [in their turn] will answer, Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You? 45 And He will reply to them, Solemnly I declare to you, in so far as you failed to do it for the least [in the estimation of men] of these, you failed to do it for Me. [Prov 14:31; 17:5.] 46 Then they will go away into eternal punishment {eternal separation from God in Hell}, but those who are just and upright and in right standing with God into eternal life. [Dan 12:2.] AMP

And the last and most important “work” that God has foreknown AND predestined for you is something that I have been sharing with you from the beginning – from BEFORE time began, God has written in His Book of Life His THOUGHTS and PLANS for your life. Please pray on ALL of the following texts. What do they say to you? Are you living your life seeking the thoughts and plans God foreknew and predestined for your life?

Jeremiah 29:11-14a For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome {Titus 1:2 to spend eternity with Him}. 12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. 13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. [Deut 4:29-30.] 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, ……… AMP

Are you seeking through prayer and God’s Word His thoughts and plans for your life? Are you seeking His instructions and understanding through God the Holy Spirit’s leading? Do you think that he spent all of whatever time He spent in thought for our plans without desiring that you/we earnestly seek Him to bring them to fruition? Are you seeking and praying for the “ministry” that God foreordained and predestined for you? I have often wondered about the following text from Matthew Chapter 7 and what the “Saint” claimed for their “works” for God, but Christ said that, “He never knew them!” How come? Think about this! God did NOT spend His time and thoughts on you just so you could thumb your nose at Him/ignore Him in your life! From verses 24-25, Christ shares the results of our “faith” that is involved in our “works.” In verses 26-27 Christ shares the consequence of those who do NOT have faith in God nor does His “works.”
Matthew 7:21-29 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father Who is in heaven {Doing His will equals living our life according to His foreknown and predestined plans.}. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name and driven out demons in Your name and done many mighty works in Your name? 23 And then I will say to them openly (publicly), I never knew you; depart from Me, you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands]. [Ps 6:8.] 24 So everyone who hears these words of Mine {faith comes by hearing – Romans 10:17} and acts upon them [obeying them] will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock {Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 10:4}. 25 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house {ALL of God’s trials, tribulations, and testing in your life}; yet it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock {because it had a rock solid foundation – Jesus Christ – 1 Corinthians 3:11; Acts 4:11-12}. 26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them will be like a stupid (foolish) man who built his house upon the {shifting} sand {which gives no basis for a solid foundation}. 27 And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell — and great and complete was the fall of it {because it had no foundation}.
28 When Jesus had finished these sayings [the Sermon on the Mount], the crowds were astonished and overwhelmed with bewildered wonder at His teaching, 29 For He was teaching as One Who had [and was] authority, and not as [did] the scribes. AMP