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Matthew 22:41-46

The God-Man

  • Matthew Dodd
  • Sunday Night Messages
  • August 11, 2019

Some questions are truly important. How did the universe begin? When does life begin? Why do bad things happen to good people?

Now other questions are not worth the energy it takes to ask them. We will study the question of all questions. In Matthew 22:41-46, we will discover the one question that will bring us face to face with man’s failure and also God’s remedy; the God-man.

  • Sermon Notes
  • Scripture

The God-man

Matthew 22:41-46

Introduction

1.Some questions are truly important.

a.How did the universe begin?

b.When does life begin?

c.Why do bad things happen to good people?

2.Now other questions are not worth the energy it takes to ask them.

3.Tonight, we will study the question of all questions.

4.In Matthew 22:41-46, we will discover the one question that will bring us face to face with man’s failure and also God’s remedy; the God-man.

Matthew 22:41-46

Context

1.After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus returned to Jerusalem to teach the people in the Temple.

2.While in the Temple, Israel’s religious and political leaders challenged Jesus three times; each challenge was an attempt to trap Him into a making a mistake so that they had grounds to accuse and reject Him.

3.But Jesus knew what they were up to and gave them answers which revealed His wisdom and the foolishness of their rebellious, stubborn hearts.

4.So, it was His turn to ask them a question, one which left them speechless as they pondered its meaning.

I.“What Do You Think about the Christ?”

  • It’s important to remember how Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and the message it sent.
    • He rode into the city, from the Mount of Olives, on the foal of a donkey in fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9; a declaration that Jesus is the Christ.
    • The crowd showed their allegiance by placing their garments and palm branches on the road while singing Psalm 118:25-26; a Psalm reserved for the Christ.
    • In opposition, the Pharisees told Jesus to make the people stop but He refused and declared the stones would cry out if the people were silenced.(Luke 19:40)
    • Jesus then entered the Temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and of those selling doves because the Temple, “His house,” was to be a house of prayer, but they had turned it into a robber’s den. (Matthew 21:13)
    • While in the Temple, Jesus healed the blind and lame while the children resumed singing Psalm 118.
    • The chief priests were furious and demanded that Jesus silence the little children.
    • Again, Jesus refused their request and allowed the children to publicly worship Him.
    • Then He quoted from Psalm 8:2 to show that this too was a fulfillment of Messianic prophecy, that He is worthy to receive worship, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself.”
  • The message couldn’t be clearer; Jesus is the Christ.
  • But Israel’s leaders would have none of it.
  • So, Jesus asked them one last question in order to confront the Pharisees with the reality of Who they were rejecting.

A. “Whose son is He?”

1.First, it is important that we notice the mission, “What do you think about the Christ?” (42)

2.The word “Christ” means that He is the One anointed by God to carry out a certain mission. What is that mission?

3.It is a divine mission, established before the foundation of the universe; that the Second Person of the Holy Trinity would come to earth and set free (redeem) people from their slavery to sin and the corresponding sentence of condemnation, an eternity in hell.

4.So, Christ’s mission was to fulfill a divine work which ultimately results in the salvation of men and women’s souls.

John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

APPL – In essence, Jesus was asking them, “Do you really see any need for this divine mission?”

  • His question has important application for us as well.
  • Do you recognize your lost condition?
  • Do you recognize your need for One to come from the right hand of God to save your soul?

Romans 6:23, For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5.“Whose son is He” was not only a question about a mission. It was a question about the identity of the Christ.

a.It was a standard Jewish belief that the Christ is the son of David.

b.In fact, during Jesus’ ministry, the Apostle John wrote that many of the Jews wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. Notice their question with regards to David.

John 7:40-42, Some of the people therefore, when they heard these words, were saying, “This certainly is the Prophet.” Others were saying, “This is the Christ.” Still others were saying, “Surely the Christ is not going to come from Galilee, is He?Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the descendants of David, and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?

B.He is “the son of David” 

1.I am sure the Pharisees smiled like Cheshire Cats when Jesus asked them, “Whose son is He?”.

a.They quickly and smugly replied, He is “the son of David.”

b.They were correct.

2.But we must see the strategy of Jesus here. He got them to admit that the Christ is the son of David, which by the way, is true of Jesus!

Luke 2:3-5, And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child.

a.Keep in mind the Jewish leaders had access to all the birth records for every Israelite.

b.If Jesus was not from the line of David, they would have immediately pulled out His registration papers to show that He was disqualified to be the Christ.

c.But Israel’s leaders were silent on this point because they knew He was the son of David.

3.Yet, their answer was incomplete because their understanding was incomplete. What I mean is that it is not enough to say that the Christ is the son of David because the Bible reveals that the Christ is that and so much more.

ILLUS – When I read this section of the Bible, I think of fishing.

ILLUS – Pastor Rich, a Rabbi, and Isaiah 53

II. “Then How does David in the Spirit Call Him ‘Lord’?”

  • He asked, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at My right hand, until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’? If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” (43-45)
  • First, it is important to note that Psalm 110 is the most referenced Old Testament passage in the New Testament! Why? Because it reveals much about Christ’s Person and Work (past, present, and future).
  • Second, Jesus affirmed David was the author of Psalm 110.
  • Third, Jesus affirmed that David was inspired by the Holy Spirit, third person of the Holy Trinity, when he penned Psalm 110.
    • David, “in the Spirit,” received a heavenly revelation of a future dialogue.
    • This means that what David wrote was a Holy Spirit-inspired, infallible, prophetic revelation; the very Word of God.
  • Fourth, notice Who are engaged in the heavenly dialogue:
    • “LORD” is Yahweh, the personal name for the covenant making/covenant keeping God.
    • “Lord” is Adonai, often used instead of the sacred name Yahweh. It means Lord or Master.
  • Fifth, note that Yahweh invites Adonai to be seated.
    • This means Adonai’s divine mission is complete.
    • So, Adonai is invited to rest for a season.
  • Sixth, notice Yahweh invites Adonai to be seated at His (Yahweh’s) right hand.
    • In that culture, to be seated at the right hand of the king meant that you had the received honor, sovereignty, and dominion of the king’s throne.
    • So, Yahweh is conferring upon Adonai all the honor, sovereignty, and dominion of His heavenly throne.
  • Seventh, please note that Adonai has enemies.
    • How could have Adonai have enemies unless there had first been a visit, a First Advent?
    • Yahweh promises Adonai that during the season of Adonai’s rest, Yahweh will bring about the complete and final defeat of Adonai’s enemies.
  • It is clear, Jesus’ question and quote from Psalm 110 have profound meaning and implications for us all.

A. As eternal God, Christ is David’s Lord

1.One thing that I did not mention earlier but will mention here is David’s relationship with Adonai.

a.David called Adonai “my Lord.”

b.David was the Israel’s king when he penned these words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

c.Therefore, King David would not call any human his Adonai because he is the king of Israel.

2.So, David, after receiving this revelation declared that his Son is God.

3.Psalm 110 is one of many passages which declares that the Christ is the eternal God.

Isaiah 9:6-7, For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders;and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Jeremiah 23:5-6, “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch;
and He will reign as king and act wisely and do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved,
and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The Lord our righteousness.’

Micah 5:2, But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago,
from the days of eternity.

APPL – The Old Testament prophecies concerning the Christ, the Son of David, confirm that He is fully God!

  • So, David rightly, humbly, reverently called his Son, “my Lord.”
  • It is not enough to call Jesus a good person, a good teacher, or even a prophet.
  • Jesus is God the Son!

 

B. As the God-man, Christ is David’s Son

1.God promised to provide the Christ to defeat sin, death, and Satan after Adam and Eve had corrupted humanity and creation by sinning in the Garden of Eden

Genesis 3:14-15, The Lord God said to the serpent… “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head,
and you shall bruise him on the heel.”

2.Through David’s seed, an everlasting King would reign over the everlasting Kingdom of God.

2 Samuel 7:11-14, 16, The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me…Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.

3.But how can the Christ be both God and man? The only way this makes sense is if there is a virgin birth.

Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:18-23, Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which translated means, “God with us.”

APPL – Did the Pharisees bow down and humbly worship while singing Psalm 118?

  • No. Verse 46 tells us, “No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question.”
  • How sad!
  • They had checked the birth records!
  • They had seen His miracles.
  • They had heard His teachings.
  • But their minds were made up.
  • Their hearts were hard.
  • They refused to believe because they refused to be “caught” and saved by Jesus Christ!

Conclusion

APPL – Unfortunately, this tragedy is repeated today.

  • The signs are clear.
  • The invitation is clear.

Hebrews 3:15, Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts

Hebrews 4:16, Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

Matthew 22:41-46 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: 42 “What do you think about [a]the Christ, whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “The son of David.” 43 He *said to them, “Then how does David [b]in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying,
44
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet”’?
45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his son?” 46 No one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him [c]another question.

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