With verses 28-29 the Sermon on the Mount is concluded. And when Jesus finished these sayings is a formula which is used five times in the Gospel (11.1; 13.53; 19.1; 26.1). Here it is used solely as a conclusion, while in the remaining four passages it also functions as a transition to what follows. In each occurrence the only difference is the object of the verb finished: “these sayings” (7.28; 19.1), “instructing his twelve disciples” (11.1), “these parables” (13.53), “all these sayings” (26.1).

Since this formula here functions solely as a conclusion and not as a transition (8.1 is the transition), this may suggest the special significance that this initial block of teaching material has in the framework of the Gospel.

This clause, And when Jesus finished these sayings, may be expressed as “After Jesus finished saying all these things,” “Jesus finished saying these things. After that…,” or “Jesus said all these things, and after he had finished….”

The crowds may be rendered in the singular as “the crowd” or perhaps as something like “all those people there.”

The Greek verb translated astonished (Good News Translation “amazed”) is a very strong verb and may be used of either wonder or fear. In Matthew’s Gospel it appears here and in 13.54; 19.25; 22.33. Elsewhere in the New Testament it is used in Mark 1.22; 6.2; 7.37; 10.26; 11.18; Luke 2.48; 4.32; 9.43; and Acts 13.12.

At his teaching, a noun structure in the Greek text, is translated “at the way he taught” in Good News Translation. Some have said “at the things he taught,” but this is not really correct. Verse 29 shows that it was his manner of teaching that astonished people, and not the content. Good News Bible is thus a better rendering than Revised Standard Version.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .