Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the
Temple, He asked, “Why do the teachers of religious law (scribes) claim that
the Messiah (Christ) is the Son of David? For David himself, speaking under the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in the
place of honor at My right hand until I humble Your enemies beneath Your feet.’
Since David himself called the Messiah (Christ) ‘my Lord,’ how can the Messiah (Christ)
be his Son?” The large crowd (mass) listened to Him (Jesus) with great delight. Mark 12:35-37
(NLT)
After
Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem during Holy Week (Jesus’ last week
humanly alive on earth), the Jewish religious and political establishment
descended on Jesus as He ministered at the Temple in Jerusalem. These religious
and political leaders (Pharisees, Herodians, and Sadducees) tried their best to
entrap and trick Jesus with their various questions about paying taxes (Mark
12:13-17), resurrection from the dead (Mark 12:18-27), and the greatest
commandment (Mark 12:28-34). However, Jesus wisely answered the religious and
political establishment’s questions. Jesus then asked the religious and
political leaders the most important question of all: “Who is the Messiah?”
(Mark 12:35; see also Matthew 22:42; Luke 20:41). The religious and political
leaders had asked their questions. Now, Jesus turned the tables and asked them
a question that went right to the heart of the matter: “Who is the
Messiah?”
Jesus
asked the Jewish religious and political establishment, “Why do your religious
teachers (scribes) claim that the Messiah (Christ) must be a descendant (Son)
of King David?” (Mark 12:35, TLB; see also Matthew 22:42; Luke 20:41). Jesus
goes on to say, “David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: ‘The
LORD [Yahweh, God the Father, Jehovah] said to my Lord Hebrew “Adonai”]: Sit at
My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’ David himself calls
Him (Messiah) ‘Lord.’ How then can He (Messiah) be his (David’s) Son?” (Mark
12:36-37, NIV; see also Matthew 22:43-45; Luke 20:42-44). Jesus quoted from
Psalm 110:1 and taught the Jewish religious and political leaders that King
David prophesied through the Holy Spirit that the Messiah would be both God and
human - Immanuel, “God with us” (Matthew 1:23; see also Isaiah 7:14). Jesus was
trying to make the Jewish leaders understand that the Son of David was also the
Lord of David (Psalm 110:1). By incarnation (human flesh): the eternal Son of
the living God came to earth as a human born into the family of King David,
Israel's greatest king (Matthew 1:1, 18-25; Luke 1:26-38).
Of
course, some of the religious and political leaders knew that the Messiah would
be the “Son of David” based such Old Testament verses as 2 Samuel 7:12-16;
Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5-6. God had predestined that the Messiah should come
from the family of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
The religious leaders and political leaders did not understand that the Messiah
would be far more than a human descendant of King David (Hebrews 1:1-3. 13). In
fact, the Messiah would be God Himself in human form (incarnate) (see also Mark
1:1; John 1:1-5, 14; John 20:31; Romans 1:3-4). As eternal God, the Messiah is
King David’s Lord, but as human, He is David's Son (see Romans 1:3; Acts
2:32-36). The Jews believed that the Messiah would be David's Son (John
7:41-42), but the only way David’s Son could also be David’s Lord would be if
Messiah were God come in human flesh. The answer, of course, is the Lord Jesus
Christ’s miraculous conception and virgin birth (see Isaiah 7:14; Matthew
1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38).
The
central issue for every generation and each individual is what we believe about
Jesus, for our salvation and eternal destiny is dependent on what we believe
about Jesus Christ (see John 3:16-18; 1 John 2:21-25; 1 John 4:1-3; 1 John
5:1). Sadly, many people have a vague belief in God but refuse to accept Jesus
as Messiah and Son of the living God. Yet when Jesus ministered on earth, Jesus
often accepted the Messianic title “Son of David” (e.g., see Matthew 9:27;
Matthew 12:23; Matthew 15:22; Matthew 20:30-31). On Palm Sunday with His
Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, Jesus accepted the crowds acclaimed that He was
the long-waited Son of David (Matthew 21:9, 15; Mark 11:10). By using Psalm
110:1, Jesus openly declared to the Jewish religious and political
establishment that He is both “the root and the offspring of David,” King
David’s Lord, and the promised Messiah (see also Matthew 1:1, 20, Matthew
16:16; Mark 1:1; Mark 8:29; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16).
Jesus
is Lord of lords and King of kings (see
Matthew 22:41-45; Acts 2:32-36; Acts 7:5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians
1:20-23; Hebrews 1:3, 13; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22 ). When Jesus ascended to
heaven, God the Father honored Him by placing Jesus at His own right hand (see
Acts 2:33-34; Acts 5:31; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews
1:3, 13; Hebrews 8:1; Hebrews 10:12; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22). One day,
Jesus will return to conquer evil and establish His Kingdom on earth. Everyone
will finally acknowledge Jesus as Messiah and Lord (Matthew 22:41-43; Mark
12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; Ephesians 1:21; Ephesians 4:10; Colossians 2:9-10;
Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 10:12-13). Hallelujah, what a Savior (Luke
2:10-11)!
Apostle Paul: I also pray that you will understand the
incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same
mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place
of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now He is far above any
ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world
but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of
Christ and has made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And
the church is His body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all
things everywhere with Himself. Ephesians 1:19-23 (NLT)
References
Life Application
Study Bible
(Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Pub., 2005).
Life
Essentials Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2011).
Ryrie Study
Bible
(Chicago, IL: Moody, 1995).
The Holy Bible
NIV 2011 (Grand
Rapids, MI: Biblica, 2011).
The
Living Bible (Tyndale House, 1971).
Wiersbe,
Warren W. Bible Exposition Commentary
– New Testament (Victor Books, 1989).