Mark 1:22

Mark used a strong Greek word to describe the reaction of Jesus’ hearers, though he did not record what Jesus taught. The word is exeplessonto meaning that Jesus’ words astounded or overwhelmed the people. A distinguishing feature of Mark’s Gospel is his references to people’s emotional reactions (cf. Mark 1:27; Mark 2:12; Mark 5:20; Mark 5:42; Mark 6:2; Mark 6:51; Mark 7:37; Mark 10:26; Mark 11:18), even those of Jesus (Mark 6:6). It was Jesus’ great authority that impressed them. He was, of course, not a mere scribe (teacher of the law) but a prophet, even the greatest prophet ever to appear. Jesus proclaimed revelation directly from God rather than just interpreting the former revelations that God had given to others and reiterating the traditional rabbinic interpretations of the law.

"They [the scribes] habitually established their views by long learned quotations from other rabbis. At best, they could only claim an authority derived from their understanding of the law. Their teaching was generally pedantic and dull, occupied with minute distinctions concerning Levitical regulations and petty legalistic requirements." [Note: Hiebert, p. 52.]

"Fundamentally . . . Mark presents Jesus’ conflict with the religious authorities as one of authority: Does Jesus or does he not discharge his ministry as one authorized by God? As this conflict unfolds, it becomes progressively more intense, until it finally ends in Jesus’ death." [Note: Kingsbury, p. 67.]

"The narrator paints the authorities in a consistently negative light from their first mention as legal experts who teach without authority. The narrator builds their characterization on their opposition to Jesus. What the authorities say involves primarily questions which imply accusations or aim at trapping Jesus. As for what they do, they primarily work at plotting the destruction of Jesus. Neither Jesus nor the narrator says anything favorable about them. And the narrator’s inside views on their thoughts and feelings regularly distance the reader from the authorities. Apart from attributing a few favorable attitudes to Herod and Pilate, the narrator depicts the authorities as thoroughly untrustworthy characters." [Note: Rhoads and Michie, p. 117.]