Message Notes

Topic: “What do you think about the Christ?”

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?
45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

Matthew 22:41-46

THE LORD JESUS HAD BEEN QUESTIONED

1. By the Herodians Matthew 22:15-22

2. By the Sadducees Matthew 22:23-33

3. By the Pharisees Matthew 22:34-40

AN EVALUATION OF THEIR QUESTIONING OF THE LORD

1. They were seeking to find fault

2. They hoped to entangle the Lord by the words that He would use Matthew 22:15

3. They were insincere

4. They were wicked in their intentions

THE LORD’S TURN TO RAISE A QUESTION

1. The Lord Jesus raised a question concerning “the Christ” (Messiah)

“Whose son is He?”

Matthew 22:42a

2. The Pharisees readily replied

“The Son of David”

Matthew 22:42b

THE LORD JESUS KNEW THE UNBELIEF OF THE PHARISEES

1. The Lord Jesus knew the heart of the Pharisees

a) They were hypocritical

b) They took pride in their so-called knowledge

c) But they did not possess genuine faith in God

d) Even if they had given an academically correct answer

2. The Lord Jesus was the Christ

a) There were so many obvious indications in His life

i) The virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Isaiah 7:14

ii) His birthplace in Bethlehem Micah 5:2

iii) His life and ministry foretold Isaiah 42

b) The Messianic Ministry of the Lord Jesus

i) The filling of the Spirit Isaiah 11:2

ii) The mighty miracles Isaiah 43

c) Despite the fulfilment of the prophecies they still rejected Him as the Christ

ANOTHER QUESTION RAISED

‘The LORD said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ’?

Psalm 110:1; Matthew 22:44

1. David regarded the Messiah as his “Lord”

2. He wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit

3. The Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees to interpret the Psalm 110 prophecy

4. None of the Pharisees dared to attempt to explain this prophecy

i) If they concluded that David was right

Why then did they not believe?

ii) If they were to conclude that David was wrong

They would go against their normal understanding of the text

iii) They were caught!

CONSEQUENTLY

1. No one dared to attack the Lord Jesus with trick questions

2. The opponents were silenced

a) Pharisees

b) Herodians

c) Sadducees

d) Lawyers (scribes)

LESSONS FOR US TO LEARN

1. What not to do with the Scriptures

a) Never use it to attack anyone

b) Never allow a wrong spirit to overwhelm us

2. Our challenge

a) To have a deeper knowledge of the Bible

b) To practise its truths

c) To love the Lord and the word of God

ADMONITION FROM THE PSALMIST DAVID

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

10 More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

11 Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.

13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.

Psalm 19:7-14

1. Discover the power of God’s word

2. Develop a love for the Scriptures

3. Determine to walk closely with the Lord