The Greatest Question

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.