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41 And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David? 42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ 44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” ~ Luke 20:41-44
It is Wednesday of the Lord Jesus' final week on earth. We return to the temple where He has been teaching all day, just two days before His crucifixion. The Jewish religious leaders continue to challenge Him with their insincere questions. They had no desire to follow God. They were more interested in the power, influence and prestige this world has to offer.
In order to garner more power, influence and prestige, they wore special garments, expected to be addressed with special titles and greetings, and looked for special seats at public gatherings.
After having answered a question from the Sadducees, the Lord Jesus asked the religious leaders one final question. But before He asked His question, He quotes Psalm 110:1 which reads, "Sit at My right hand, 43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool." Then He asks, "How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?"
According to 2 Samuel 7:13–14, Isaiah 11:1 and Jeremiah 23:5, God had ordained that the Messiah should come from the family of David and be born in David’s city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
The term "Son of David" was the most common term for the Messiah of all of the terms in Judaism. The Jews, to whom the Lord Jesus spoke, believed their Messiah would be a human who would come into the world, become the ruler of Israel, reestablish the kingdom of God, and rule the world of nations from Jerusalem. They believed the Messiah would be the best of men, the noblest of men, the most gifted and blessed of men, and a son of David. But, they did not believe the Messiah would be God. They saw Him only as a man from God.
The Lord Jesus knew some of the religious leaders present that day in the Temple were not far from the kingdom of God. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, were in that category, and they subsequently became followers of Christ. This explains why He is still down to the very last conversation inviting sinners headed to hell to receive His free gift of salvation.
According to Matthew 1 and Luke 3, the Lord Jesus came through the genealogy of David. Both His parents were from the Davidic line. He, therefore, is the Son of David. If He were not a Son of David, it would have been used to discredit Him because the scribes and the religious leaders were very careful with genealogical records.
Again, in v.41 we read, "And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?" The only way the Messiah could be David’s Son and David’s Lord, He had to be the eternal God who came as the God-man. This was too much for the Jewish religious leaders to take in. This made them change their interpretation of Psalm 110, saying it refers to Abraham not the Messiah. They did same same with Isaiah 53 with the suffering Messiah. Instead of interpreting Isaiah 53 speaking of the Messiah, they say it refers to Israel. My question is, "Why is the first person masculine pronoun used in Isaiah 53 for the suffering servant? Why isn't it a plural pronoun used if it speaks of Israel?
In v.44 we read, “Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?” The discussion with the Sadducees was over. Luke says they had nothing left to say. So the Lord Jesus asked His final question. A question they could not answer. And, as a result, they were doubly silenced.
Where do we go if we reject the Lord Jesus Christ? We can't just think He is a good person and the Bible is a wonderful book. The Bible makes clear, the Lord Jesus is God. He is David’s Son and David’s Lord. If we believe that, we affirm Scripture. If we do not believe that, we deny Scripture.
The Jewish religious leaders rejected their own Messiah and had Him crucified. They led the nation into ruin because they would not admit their sins and confess Jesus as the Son of David. These men were “experts” in the Bible, yet they did not apply its truths to their own lives. Their religion was a matter of external observance, not internal transformation. Yet, the miracles and the wisdom of the Lord Jesus speak for themselves. But the remaining question is: Do you believe Him to be God? If He is not, we have no savior. And, if He is, we have a wonderful, wonderful savior.
