Teaching with Authority

Interesting how Jesus taught with authority.

Matthew 7:29 - 8:1 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Was it the way Jesus spoke with conviction? After all, He is God in the flesh. I used to think that it was merely because He was who He was... being God, He has the authority. This is true, but what about the authority that the church is then given in Matthew 18.18-19?

We too easily give away any authority that we have by trusting in man's reasoning instead of repeating what God has said. Focus on the Family would rather cite court cases and statistics than say, "Thus says the Lord," and quote the Bible. The Bible, in their view, has no authority. Why do we so readily give away our best opportunity to convict the hearts of man, and call people to repentance?