41 Then Jesus said to them, "How is it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? 42 David himself declares in the Book of Psalms:
"'The Lord said to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
43 until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."'
44 David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"
Luke 20:41-44 (NIV)
Ever like Jesus to pose a question to get His hearers to think! In our verses for today Jesus quotes from David’s amazing Spirit filled words of Psalm 110 – containing pure gospel concerning Christ the promised Messiah – the Pharisees well understood this Psalm to be referring to their coming Savior. The Psalm itself references the Messiah as the Redeemer, executing His offices of Prophet, Priest and King. They were fully aware that David was prophetically writing on the coming Messiah therefore Jesus takes the offensive and poses an interesting question to them by asking:
44 David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" Luke 20:44 (NIV)
It is plain through many Scriptures that the Messiah was to be through the line of David. God speaking through the prophet Nathan tells David:
10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. "'The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Sam 7:10-13 (NIV)
This was common knowledge among the Jews – even the blind man in Luke chapter 18 proclaimed:
37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. Luke 18:37-41 (NIV)
It is just as plain in Scripture, as Jesus notes in our verses for today, that David calls the Messiah his Lord.
“Now if he is his Son, why does he call him his Lord? If he is his Lord, why do we call him his Son? They could not reconcile this seeming contradiction; thanks be to God, we can; that Christ, as God, was David’s Lord, but Christ as man, was David’s Son.” Matthew Henry
Fully God and fully man – Paul describes Jesus as such:
9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, Col 2:9 (NIV)
I am reminded of the Apostle John’s words regarding Jesus in his gospel:
1 In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. John 1:1-5 (NIV)
“There’s not a thumb’s breadth of this universe about which Jesus Christ does not say, ‘It is mine.’” Abraham Kuyper
Paul echoes the same sentiment in Philippians:
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:5-11 (NIV)
“Love Him totally who gave Himself totally for your love.” Claire of Assisi
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. Rev 1:17-18 (NIV)
“The only Christ for whom there is a shred of evidence is a miraculous figure making stupendous claims.” C. S. Lewis
