Identity Of The Christ: Matthew 22:41-46
“41) Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: 42) “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They *said to Him, “The son of David.” 43) He *said to them, “Then how does David 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 another question.” Matthew 22:41-46
Having the Pharisees and the elders of the people gathered together and asking Him questions about the Law, Jesus decided to return the favor. He asked them “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?”
This was intended to question both their knowledge of the Word of God and their theology. Notice, they were willing to concede that he was the son of David. After all, David had many immediate descendants.
But then Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1 and launched a huge curve at them; “The LORD says to my LORD: “Sit at my right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet.” This is huge!
David not only called Him LORD, but he also acknowledge that would sit at the right hand of God. This was basically what Jesus replied to Caiaphas the high priest in Matthew 26:64; “Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”” He understood that Jesus was making a claim to Deity. The claim led to His crucifixion.
The significance of the trap that Jesus sprung on the religious leaders in Matthew 22:41-46 might escape the casual Bible reader, but it was brilliant and masterful. They could not claim to be accomplished Old Testament scholars without conceding His point. The Christ was indeed “LORD!” That was exactly what David proclaimed in Psalm 110:1-2.
I believe this was more than a trap. Jesus was planting a biblical seed from the Old Testament that eventually soften Gamaliel (Acts 5:31-42), and led to the conversion of Saul. (Acts 9:22) The early Christians were skilled at using the Old Testament to preach the gospel. (Acts 18:27-28) Jesus took the lead with this style of biblical apologetics.
Can you use the Old Testament to present the gospel? It is an invaluable resource.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global