The Book of Matthew is filled with many great questions:
The disciples asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it (the demon) out?” (Mt 17:19). “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” (Mt 18:1) “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” (Mt 18:21)
The rich young ruler asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Mt 19:16)
John’s Disciples asked, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Mt 11:2)
The FIRST Question in the book of Matthew is: Where? “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” (Mt 2:2)
But a BETTER Question is Who? “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (Mt 8:27). After healing a demon-possessed man, people asked, “Could this be the Son of David?” (Mt 12:23). In his hometown, the people asked “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” (Mt 13:54). At the Triumphal entry... the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” (Mt 21:10)
All these questions. And, yet, the best questions the Pharisees could come up with is, “Why do your disciples not wash their hands before they eat!” (Mt 15:2), “Why do your disciples not keep the Sabbath” (Mt 12:2), “Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” (Mt 9:10), “Why does Jesus not fast?” (Mt 9:14) Really? Are they even paying attention?
(TS) Matthew 22 is a series of four questions:
The Pharisees, along with the Sadducees and Herodians had been putting Jesus to the test.
Question 1: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” (Mt 22:17)
Question 2: “Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. Finally, the woman died. Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?” (Mt 22:24-28)
Question 3: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (Mt 22:36)
They asked Jesus unimaginable, theoretical, philosophical, theological questions.
They asked questions that the rabbis argued about for ages.
They asked questions they were convinced only had two answers—
They asked questions intending to TRAP Jesus… make Him look like a fool. They were trying to turn the crowd on Him.
(TS) All this brings us to TODAY’S TEXT where Jesus turns the tables on them. Jesus TESTS them! Jesus asks the Pharisees THE GREATEST QUESTION of all.
TEXT: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’” (Mt 22:41-42)
“While the Pharisees were gathered together...” (before they could leave...) He didn't let them leave before challenging them with a question that could have eternal consequences. Jesus was presenting His opponents with a puzzle. But it wasn't intended to trap them and confuse them—as they had been trying to do to Him. It was intended to confront them... convict them... force these men to let go of their preconceived notions about what the Messiah ought to be; and to come to the conclusion about Jesus that the Holy Scriptures—and Jesus' own works—required that they come to.
It could have changed their entire worldview. It could have radically affected their lives... their families' lives... their ministries... It's a question that is still relevant today! It can affect YOUR life... YOUR family's lives... YOUR work...
THE QUESTION: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” (Mt 22:42)
While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Q. “What do you think about the Christ?” (Christ… Messiah... The Anointed One…The one the prophets prophesied about)
Q. “Whose son is he?”
THE ANSWER: “The son of David,” they replied. (Mt 22:41-42)
The Pharisees probably laughed in Jesus’ face at the question. (If this were Jeopardy - it would be the first category they would pick!) They just gave him difficult question upon difficult question…and all He asks is “whose son is the Christ?!” This is Child’s play! Everyone knows the answer to that!
So they quickly answer, without even thinking: “The son of David,” Easy! “Is that the best you’ve got, Jesus?”
SON OF DAVID
They were well aware of God’s promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13—the promise to one day “raise up [David’s] offspring… who will build a house for God’s Name… who’s throne will be established by God forever.” They were well aware of the prophets Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Haggai and Zechariah all talked about David’s righteous branch that was to come.
They fully expected a Messiah from the line of David that would be a conquering hero... that would throw off Roman oppression… that would set up Jerusalem as the capital of a revived kingdom that would surpass Solomon’s. In their mind, they pictured him coming to bring Israel to its glory days, and Rome to its knees.
Jesus is referred to as “Son of David” twelve times throughout Scripture.
Let me take you back to Matthew 21 (The Triumphal Entry) just three days earlier:
“A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’” (Mt 21:8-9)
The next day... (After Jesus cleansed the Temple) the children in the temple shouted the same thing, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” (21:15)
On both occasions... the religious leaders insisted - “Jesus, make them stop. “
Jesus replied during His triumphal entry that if the people did not shout, then the very stones would shout it out (Luke 19:40). When they were indignant the next day that the young boys in the temple were shouting the same thing, Jesus told them that God had prepared for Himself praise from the young children. In other words, on both occasions Jesus made it plain that He was accepting what the people and the children were saying. Jesus IS the branch of David! Jesus IS the One who will build a house for God’s Name! Jesus IS the One who’s kingdom will last forever
In Matthew 1, Matthew begins his gospel writing: “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David…” Matthew clearly makes the case the Jesus is the Son of David.
(TS) SO... When the Pharisees answer that Christ is “the Son of David” - it’s not necessarily that they were wrong; it’s not a bad answer… It’s just incomplete.
THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD
Jesus then asked a follow up question: He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.” ’ (Mt 22:43-44)
Jesus quotes Psalm 110... written BY DAVID... speaking BY THE HOLY SPIRIT... which says, “The Lord said to my Lord” What is that? Is that a typo? In the Scriptures? Inspired by the Holy Spirit? Did the Holy Spirit mess up? What does this mean?
In the Greek: it says, “kyrios lego ho ego kyrios” (Kyrios = Lord). What do you do with that?
Jesus is quoting Psalm 110:1 which is in Hebrew. The Hebrew provides more clarity: “The LORD said to my Lord...” (“YHWH said to my adon”).
“Lord” in Greek (kyrios) means: Master, sir. It’s a title of dignity. It’s synonymous with ruler. It acknowledges one in authority. We see this in the English with words such as: House of lords... land lord... slum lord... war lord... drug lord.
“LORD” in Hebrew (YHWH). This is the personal name of God. The scribes of the Old Testament treated the name of God with such reverences that they wouldn’t dare speak it – or write it. So they replaced YHWH with LORD (all caps). Anytime you see LORD (all caps) in the Old Testament it represents the name of God: YHWH, which means “I AM” (I am that I am... Whatever you need... I am! I AM the Creator... provider... Sustainer... Defender... Mighty God. I AM ... a light in the darkness... the bread of life... the way, the truth the Life… all powerful... all knowing... Your Redeemer...)
“Lord” in Hebrew (not all caps) is the word adon – which means: Master, Sovereign One. It recognizes DIVINE Authority. Not just lord - but Lord of lords (King of kings).
Just to bring clarity to what I am saying (or more confusion), look at Psalm 8:1: “O LORD (YHWH), our Lord (adon), how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
THE QUESTION: Who is Yahweh speaking to when He says “The LORD said to my Lord...”?
SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND
AND what else did He say? He says “Sit at my right hand...”
To sit at the right hand of a mighty ruler was to sit in the position of greatest possible honor, and to share in that king’s glory. God would never speak in this way to a mere created being! God shares His glory with no man! He is emphatic: "I will not give my glory to another" (Isaiah 48:11). Yet, here, in Psalm 110, Yahweh is saying “Sit here beside me.” “Share my glory.” Who is God talking to?
He says “...until I put your enemies under your feet”
Yahweh says “Sit next to me Lord (adon), until I put YOUR enemies under YOUR feet (adon)”
Who is David talking about?
THE PUZZLE: “If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” (Mt 22:45)
THE ANSWER: Jesus answered this dilemma by presenting to them a truth that was beyond anything they had thought before, and tragically, beyond what they were willing to believe. The Messiah was both, a descendent of David – yet existing prior to David. He is both David’s Son AND David’s Lord. He is both fully man AND fully God.
It wasn’t wrong to think the Messiah would be a descendant of David — He was and is. But there’s more to the story!
EARTHLY KINGS
If God was going to save His people—just as they were crying out in their shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David”—if they really wanted Him to save them, it would take something greater than another David. It would take more than an earthly king, fighting earthly wars, sitting on an earthly throne... If God was going to save His people, it would take more than a mere man. It would take the Son of God coming into this world to wage SPIRITUAL warfare!
THE KING OF KINGS
Jesus, the Christ, Son of God and Son of David, came to rule in the midst of His enemies. He came to trample underfoot the enemies which attack us: sin, death, and the devil. His kingdom would be made righteous only because He is righteous and cleanses His people. His reign would be perfect, because He would be perfectly selfless (David was, occasionally, selfish). He would give up His own life (David was responsible for the deaths of others). He would be a good shepherd (David would simply be another sheep in His fold).
Whose son is the Christ? The Son of David. Yes… But even greater—He is the Son of God! And His kingdom, His throne is established forever (and ever).
O.T. SCRIPTURES:
“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6)
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image…” (Gen 1:26) (Who is “us”… “our”)
N.T. SCRIPTURES:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” - John 8:58
“I and the Father are one” - John 10.30
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” - John 14.9
John writes: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:1, 14)
Peter writes, “...we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (2 Peter 1:16)
Paul was ADAMANT about it: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. (Philippians 2:5-7)
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.... 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him… (Colossians 1:15-19)
God says at the Transfiguration “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Mt 17:5)
Look at Romans 1:3-4: “...born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead”
Jesus says in Revelation 22:16: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
It’s a mystery! It’s Jesus Christ.
- The Son of David (fulfilling the Davidic Covenant)
- AND the Son of God (The ONLY One who can save us from our sins)
THEIR RESPONSE:
“No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. (Mt 22:46)
They refused to answer. They refused to change their views and interpretations to submit to the divine evidence (regardless of the evidence).
They were silent. Is Silence even an option???
...if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
SAY IT! DECLARE IT PROCLAIM IT!
" at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. " (Phil 2:10-11)
YOUR RESPONSE: “What do you think about the Christ?
Earlier, in Matthew 16:13, Jesus asked the disciples "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" The disciples answered by saying what it was that they heard other people say about Him. Some said, for example, that He was John the Baptist risen from the dead. Others said that He was Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets of old.
But Jesus asked them the greatest of all questions—the question that each man and woman must answer: "But who do YOU say that I am?"
The great question is never really about what other people have to say about Jesus. It's always personal; “What do you say about Jesus! Having heard the claims that are made about Him, what conclusion have you come to about Him?
Each of us must respond to this question. And we must do so, not just with our lips, but with our whole being.
C.S. Lewis - "Jesus Christ is either a liar, a lunatic, or He is the Lord.”
If He is a liar, then disregard Him.
If He is a lunatic, then laugh at Him.
But if He is Lord (as all of Scripture claims), (as Heaven itself bears witness), then you have no other choice but to follow Him... listen to Him… obey Him… live for Him.
Who is Jesus Christ?
How you answer this question will effect your life on earth - and your eternal well-being once this life is over.
