My Walk Through the Book of Matthew by Annette Godtland

Jesus: How Can David Call His Descendant Lord? (Matthew 22:41-46)

The Jews were all waiting for their Savior, the Christ. They referred to their coming Savior as the Son of David. How could David call Him Lord if He was to be a Son not yet born? This text makes it very clear that their Savior, the Christ, was not simply to be a common man born in the lineage of David, but was David’s Lord already long ago. This presented a problem to those who were waiting for the Son of David and they were not able to answer Jesus’ question.

Jesus was just asked several questions, questions that the Pharisees, Sadduccees, and the Scribes had all thought would stump Jesus, or entrap Him. But Jesus was able to answer each question easily. Jesus then posed this question to them. A question that they were unable to answer. Did Jesus just do this as an attempt to stump those who were trying to stump Him? Was He just trying to show that He could give as good as He got?

Actually, I think there was more to the reason for this question than is indicated when you just look at this text by itself. Starting with Matthew 21, it is interesting to see the progression that lead up to this question. Jesus sent two of His disciples asking them to get a donkey with its colt and bring it to Him. He said if anyone asks, to tell them that the Lord has need of it.

Then Jesus made His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The multitudes gathered and shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David!”. Then Jesus cleared out those who bought and sold in the temple and He healed the blind and the lame. And the children cried out in the temple “Hosanna to the Son of David!”. The chief priests and scribes became indignant at all that Jesus did here, but Jesus called the children’s praise perfection.

When Jesus left, he cursed the fig tree which bore no fruit. The tree which would never bear fruit withered away.

When Jesus returned to the temple, the chief priests and elders of the temple asked where Jesus got the authority to do what He did. Jesus would not tell them but told them the parables of the two sons where one said he would do right and never did, and the one who came to do right later, the parable of the wicked vine dressers who tried to claim the inheritance of the landowner, and the parable of the wedding feast where all were invited but few were chosen.

Jesus was then asked these questions by the Pharisees, Sadduccees, and the Scribes. But I wonder if Jesus’ question is more to answer their first question about where He got His authority. Before His entry into Jerusalem, Jesus said to refer to Him as the Lord when procuring a donkey. In His triumphant entry and in the temple, the multitude and children hailed Him as the Son of David. But in Jesus’ question to them, He is making them realize that their promised Son of David will be more than just a common man. He will be the Lord who sat at the right hand of God. And Jesus is the One born as a Son of David, but also the One who sat at the right hand of God, for whom God would make of His enemies His footstool. Whose Son is He? God’s Son. That is where Jesus got His authority.

In telling them the parables before asking this question, I believe He is letting them know that they can still change their ways to do right, that they should make sure they are not simply trying to claim for themselves what is God’s, and that all are invited to God’s side.

But no one was able to answer His question, and no one dared ask Him any more. Will they be like the fig tree and simply wither away because they could bare no fruit?

I don’t think Jesus ever tries to stump us. I think if you really look into what He is telling us, He is giving us the helping hand that we need.