I SAY TO YOU (Mt 5:22)
Jesus’ authoritative teaching, as exemplified in the phrase “I say to you,” reveals his divine nature and unique role as the Son of God. In the Gospel of Matthew, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount, we see Jesus repeatedly using this phrase to establish his authority and introduce new teachings that build upon and sometimes surpass the Old Testament law.
The Catholic Church recognizes Jesus’ divine authority as central to our understanding of his mission and message. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “Jesus’ words and actions during his hidden life and public ministry were already salvific, for they anticipated the power of his Paschal mystery” (CCC 516). This emphasizes that Jesus’ teachings were not merely wise sayings but carried the weight of divine revelation.
Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus’ authority manifested in various ways:
1. Teaching with Authority: “When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Mt 7:28-29).
2. Forgiving Sins: “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Child, your sins are forgiven.’ …He said to him, ‘I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home'” (Mk 2:5-12).
3. Casting Out Demons: “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’ …The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching – and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him'” (Mk 1:21-27).
4. Healing the Sick: “On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal” (Lk 5:17).
Jesus’ use of “I say to you” stands in stark contrast to the prophets who would say, “Thus says the LORD.” This difference highlights Jesus’ unique relationship with the Father. As the Gospel of John tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1). Jesus, as the eternal Word, speaks with the full authority of God.
The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus’ authority extends to the Church he established. In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus says to Peter, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
This passage is foundational to the Catholic understanding of apostolic succession and the teaching authority of the Church. The Magisterium, or teaching office of the Church, continues to interpret and apply Jesus’ teachings with his authority.
REFLECTION
As Christians, we are called to recognize and submit to Jesus’ authority in our lives. This means:
1. Studying and meditating on his words in Scripture.
2. Seeking to understand his teachings through the guidance of the Church.
3. Applying his teachings to our daily lives and decisions.
4. Sharing his message with others, as he commanded in the Great Commission (Mt 28:19-20).
In conclusion, Jesus’ authoritative teaching, exemplified by the phrase “I say to you,” calls us to a deeper relationship with him and a more profound understanding of God’s will for our lives. As followers of Christ, we are challenged to not only hear his words but to put them into practice, allowing his authority to transform our hearts and guide our actions. May we, like the first disciples, be amazed by Jesus’ teaching and respond with faith, obedience, and love.