All who heard the Saviour "were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power." "He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Luke 4:32; Matt. 7:29. The teaching of the scribes and elders was cold and formal, like a lesson learned by rote. To them the word of God possessed no vital power. Their own ideas and traditions were substituted for its teaching. In the accustomed round of service they professed to explain the law, but no inspiration from God stirred their own hearts or the hearts of their hearers.

Alle, som hørte Frelseren, "blev slået af forundring over hans lære, thi han talte med myndighed". "Han lærte dem som en, der har myndighed, og ikke som deres skriftkloge." Luk. 4,32; Matt. 7,29. De skriftkloges og de ældstes lærdom var kold og formel som en lektie, der er lært udenad. For dem ejede Guds ord ingen levende kraft. Deres egne tanker og overleveringer blev sat i stedet for ordets lære. Ved den rutinemæssige gudstjeneste hævdede de at udlægge loven, men hverken deres egne eller deres tilhøreres hjerter bevægedes af guddommelig inspiration.