Untitled Sermon

Matthew 22:34–46 ESV

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet” ’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

Sermon #1

Matt 22:34-46

Greater Authority

Big Idea: Jesus proved himself more authoritative than the Pharisees, and is the One in whom we should follow and learn from.

Introduction

Jesus answers with all authority

Pharisees try to test Jesus

His response, to a Pharisee of the Law no less, is spot on

We see the two tables of the Law, those that show us how we relate to God, and the other how we relate to others.

Jesus Speaks with authority on matters of the Law, not in opposition of the Law.

TRANSITION: But that wasn’t the end. Jesus didn’t just pass the Pharisee’s test, but he tested them too. He didn’t just answer correctly when pressed by the Pharisees, but He pushed back against the religious rulers of the day, and asked THEM a question.

Jesus asks with all authority

Jesus asks a question they are unable to answer.

Jesus showed he had an understanding and authority of the scriptures that even the Pharisees didn’t possess.

TRANSITION: Jesus answered the Pharisees with authority, and he asked them questions with authority, because is the Authority.

Jesus is the authority

Authority Over the Law. Jesus fulfills it.

“love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind..., Jesus does this, even though it led him to the cross

We fail at the law. We fail at keeping the 10 commandants

We fail at keeping these two, summarized commandments as Jesus describes here in v.37-39

But not Jesus. He passed the Pharisee’s test. And he passes the test of the Law. Where we fail, Jesus succeeds. Where we miss the mark, Jesus completes the task to perfection

TRANSITION: Jesus isn’t just the authority over the Law. But Jesus has the authority to conquer.

Authority To conquer and rule. Jesus wins.

Jesus quotes from Psalm 110 here.

A psalm of David

The picture of a king dominating over their enemies would have been common.

Jesus, however, didn’t come to conquer in the way the Israelites were expecting.

The Christ wouldn’t only be a physical conquer—not merely another Moses, who would come to deliver the oppressed Israelites from their oppressors.

But one who would come to break the bonds spiritual oppression. Who would defeat the enemy. Who would use the enemy as a footstool. This language brings to mind God’s promise in the garden of Eden, that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head. Jesus authority is more than that even of that great serpent, Satan himself. The one who succeeded to oppress mankind into spiritual death, is no match for the One who would succeed to liberate mankind into spiritual life. The death blow has landed. Your fight is no more. Your king has come to die and rise again. Your sin is forgiven.

Conclusion