Two More Questions
TRANSLATION
(34) When the Pharisees heard that (Jesus) had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. (35) And one of them, an expert in the Law, tested him with a question: (36) “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” (37) And he answered him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (38) This is the first and greatest commandment. (39) And a second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. (4) On these two commandments the entire law and the prophets depend.”
(41) Now while the Pharisees were gathered, Jesus asked them a question: (42) “What do you think of the Christ…whose son is he?” They responded to him, “The son of David.” (43) He said to them, “How is it then that David (inspired) by the Spirit called him ‘Lord,’ saying, (44) ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit on my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet?”’ (45) If David then called him ‘Lord,’ how is he his son?” (46) And no one could answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare ask him any more questions.
OBSERVATIONS
One of the Pharisees ventured to ask Jesus an additional question regarding an issue frequently debated among the religious leaders of Israel, namely, identifying the “greatest commandment” found in the Law of Moses. Having provided another brilliant answer, it was now Jesus’ turn to pose a question for which no one was able to come up with an answer. Repetitions in this segment again help us to see its thrust. The phrase, “tested him with/asked them any more questions,” occurred three times (vss. 35, 41, & 45). “Commandment(s)” is found three times (vss. 36, 38, & 40), twice modified by the adjective “great” (vss. 36 & 38). “All” was also repeated three times (in vs. 37) along with the phrase, “you shall love,” twice (vss. 37 & 39). The designations “son” (vss. 42 & 45) and “David” (vss. 42, 43, & 45) were both repeated three times while “Lord” occurred four times (vss. 43, 44, & 45).
OUTLINE
I. Jesus responded to a question regarding the “greatest commandment of the Law.” (34-40)
II. Jesus then asked his own question about Israel’s Messiah that no one could answer. (41-46)
IDEA STATEMENT
Having skillfully handled the question about the “greatest commandment of the Law,” Jesus asked his own question about the Messiah’s identity for which no one could provide a response.
APPLICATION
The reason why the Pharisees were unable, actually unwilling, to provide an answer to the question Jesus posed about David’s son was that the only response they could have given would have forced them to confess him as God’s own Son just as Peter had declared earlier, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:16). The Old Testament clearly taught that the Messiah would come from the lineage of David, that is, he would be designated as “David’s Son.” However, he was destined to be far greater than David, one whom David would acknowledge as his “Lord.” This coming one would actually be, in the words of Paul, God’s incarnate Son, “born of a woman, born under the Law to redeem those who were under the Law” (Gal. 4:4 & 5).
Jesus’ question pointed to a great theological truth that would finally be articulated in the Chalcedonian Creed formulated in AD 451: “(We believe in the) Lord Jesus Christ…at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man…recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation…coming together to form one person…not separated into two persons, but one and the same (God/man).” This declaration answered Jesus’ question and provided an excellent basis for coming to grips with the mystery of his incarnation.