Matthew 7:29

taught = was continually teaching.

having authority: i.e. possessing Divine authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 . In the current Hebrew literature of that time it denoted the Hebrew mippi hagg burah = from the mouth of God. See notes on Matthew 26:64 .Mark 14:62 , and Hebrews 1:3 .

and not. Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ). Jewish teachers always referred to tradition, or to what some other teacher had said; and do so to this day.