Matthew 22 -- The Question HE Asked

It’s awfully easy to simply believe that the Pharisees and Sadducees were up to only one thing, giving Jesus a test and hoping He’d fail, but my commentary pointed out the importance of those questions:  “Jesus was going to die as the Lamb of God, and it was necessary for the lamb to be examined before the Passover.  If any blemish whatsoever was found on the lamb, it could not be sacrificed.  Jesus was examined publicly by His enemies, and they could find no fault in Him.”  I’d never thought about it that way.

 

After answering all of their questions satisfactorily, Jesus then asked them a more fundamental and personal question.  With His disciples, He’d asked them, “Who do you say that I am?”  But He needed to take an indirect approach with His enemies if He was to elicit a response.  It sounded like another theological question:  “Whose Son is the Messiah?”  The knew the answer:  “The Son of David.”  He then quoted from Psalm 110:1 – “The Lord [Jehovah] said to my Lord [“Adonai”], ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”  He then asked them, “If Messiah is David’s Son, then how could Messiah also be David’s Lord?”

 

My commentary said, “There is only one answer to this question.  As God, Messiah is David’s Lord; as man, He is David’s Son.”  They’d been confused by all they’d read.  It sounded like there were two Messiahs – a suffering one and a victorious one.  This question silenced them.  They didn’t have the courage to face the truth and act on it.

 

Jesus was asking them the same question He asks us today.  “The religious leaders were so blinded by tradition, position, and selfish pride that they could not  and would not see the truth and receive it.  We dare not make the same mistake today.”

 

Wow, Father!  They examined Your Son and then He examined them.  They came up sadly wanting.  I’s so thankful that You so overwhelmed me with Your love, mercy, and grace that I gave up my foolish pride and surrendered to Your will.  Help me to help others to do the same!

 

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford