sf298 - Lifes Greatest Question (Matthew 22 41-46)
Matthew 22:41-46
Introduction
Background
Ø Tuesday of Passover week
Ø Jesus has confronted the sinfulness of the Jews and the perversion of Judaism
Ø Jesus has successfully answered the questions of the Herodians, Sadducees, and Pharisees.
Now Jesus asks them a question…
Ø The greatest question in the world: “Who is Jesus Christ?”
Ø How a person answers this question will determine their eternity.
Ø The test for true belief is the answer to this question.
Ø The battle lines of biblical Christianity are inevitably drawn at the issue of Jesus’ divinity.
Ø That is the one doctrine apart from which all others are meaningless, because if He were not divine He could not be the Savior and men would have no way of becoming reconciled to God.
Ø It is that supreme issue of Jesus’ full identity with which Matthew 22:41-46 deals.
1A. The Savior’s Question (22:41-42)
1B. The key question (22:42a)
Jesus genuinely wanted the Pharisees to express what they understood to be the truth about the Messiah.
2B. Their careful answer (22 42b)
They were correct but not complete (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
Ø Indeed the Messiah would be a descendant of David.
Ø That promise could not have applied to Solomon. He did build a house for God in the form of the Temple, but his kingdom did not last forever.
Ø Nor could any other descendant (note the singular in 2 Sam. 7:12) of David claim an everlasting throne.
Ø After Solomon, the Davidic kingdom was divided and has never been restored.
Matthew and the other Gospels emphasis that Jesus was a direct descendant of David (Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31)
Ø The Jewish authorities never tried to refute this fact.
2A. The Scriptural Challenge (22:43-45; Psalm 110:1)
1B. Jesus affirms that David was the human author of the psalm
This is significant because liberals have tried to deny the Davidic authorship of the psalm.
2B. Jesus declares the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of the psalm.
The Greek phrase behind in the Spirit refers to being under the control of the Holy Spirit in a unique and powerful way.
Mark 12:36 "For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."
The Jews recognized Psalm 110 as a messianic psalm
3B. Jesus emphasizes the Messiah’s uniqueness
The first Lord in the Hebrew text is Yahweh, whereas the second is Aådoônaôy.
Ø The idea is: the Lord (Yahweh) said to David’s lord (Aådoônaôy), “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
Ø In other words, David addressed the Messiah as his Lord.
4B. Jesus proclaims the Messiah’s deity
The place of the Messiah – “Sit at My right Hand…”
Ø A place recognized by Jews to be a designation of coequal rank and authority.
The position of the Messiah
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 10:30 "I and My Father are one."
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Ø Jesus shares with God all the attributes of omnipotence
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Ø Jesus shares with God all the attributes of omnipresence
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Ø Jesus shares with God all the attributes of omniscience
John 2:25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
3A. The Sad Conclusion (22:46)
The Pharisees and other religious leaders there that day were dumbfounded but not convinced, silenced but not convicted, humiliated but not humbled, reluctantly impressed but still unbelieving
Self-righteous religion has always been and will always be the greatest enemy of the gospel
Matthew 22:41-46
1A. The Savior’s ________________________ (22:41-42)
1B. The key question (22:42a)
2B. Their careful _______________________ (22 42b)
They were correct but not _______________________ (2 Samuel 7:12-16)
Matthew and the other Gospels emphasis that Jesus was a direct descendant of David (Matthew 1:6; Luke 3:31)
2A. The Scriptural ______________________________ (22:43-45; Psalm 110:1)
1B. Jesus affirms that David was the human author of the psalm
2B. Jesus declares the Holy Spirit’s inspiration of the psalm.
The Greek phrase behind in the Spirit refers to being under the control of the Holy Spirit in a unique and powerful way.
Mark 12:36 "For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."
The Jews recognized Psalm 110 as a messianic psalm
3B. Jesus was emphasizes the Messiah’s uniqueness
The first Lord in the Hebrew text is Yahweh, whereas the second is Aådoônaôy.
4B. Jesus proclaims the Messiah’s ________________
The place of the Messiah – “Sit at My right Hand…”
The _____________________________ of the Messiah
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 10:30 "I and My Father are one."
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Ø Jesus shares with God all the attributes of omnipotence
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Ø Jesus shares with God all the attributes of omnipresence
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."
Ø Jesus shares with God all the attributes of omniscience
John 2:25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
3A. The Sad _______________________________ (22:46)