Matthew 19:1-8
Is Divorce Permissable?
Matthew 19:9-15
Divorce and Adultery
Matthew 19:16-30
The Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 20:1-16
A Right Attitude in Service
Matthew 20:17-28
A Leader Must Be a Servant
Matthew 20:29-34
The Two Blind Men
Matthew 21:1-17
Jesus Enters Jerusalem on a Donkey
Matthew 21:12-22
The Fuitless Fig Tree
Matthew 21:23-32
A Question About Jesus Authority
Matthew 21:33-46
The Cruel Vineyard Tenants
Matthew 22:1-14
Parable of The Wedding Party
Matthew 22:15-22
Political Question About Paying Taxes
Matthew 22:23-33
Doctrinal Question About The Resurrection
Matthew 22:34-46
Ethical Question About David’s Son
Matthew 23:1-12
The Pharisaical Religion
Matthew 23:13-26
Blinded to God’s Truth
Matthew 23:27-39
White Washed Sepulchers
Matthew 24:1-14
The Olivet Discourse
Matthew 24:32-51
The Time of The Lord’s Return
Matthew 25:1-13
The Foolish Bridesmaids
Ethical Question About David’s Son
Matthew 22:34–46
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I remember that in the early years of my ministry a knock came to my door one day. When I answered, the man introduced himself as the State Representative for a certain Bible believing group. I invited him in and after a few words of welcoming me into the area as a new missionary … More
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they asked Him an ethical question about the Law (vv. 34-35). They said, “Master which is the great commandment in the law” (v. 36)? This was not a new question for the scribes and Pharisees as they had been debating it for many years. They had documented 613 commandments in the law and had divided them into “heavy” (important) and “light” (unimportant). To them a person needed to major on the “heavy commandments” and not worry about the trivial ones. Of course, this is contrary to Scripture “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet fails in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
Jesus answered by quoting from the old testament (vv. 37-40). He began by saying to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, strength, possessions and service (Deut. 6:5). Then he went on to say that love for God cannot be divorced from love for one’s neighbor (Lev. 19:18). In other words, one should not view the law in a legal way. The real concern of the law and the prophets is not some external show of conduct that we may put on for others to see but one’s inner spiritual condition. Love for God and love for all those made in His image form the backbone of everything God says to us in His Word. So Paul can say, “love is the fulfillment of the law” (Rom. 13:10).
While the Pharisees were still standing around Jesus had a personal question for them about the Messiah (v. 41). “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is He?” They answered quickly by saying He was “the son of David” (v. 42). Jesus then quoted (Psa. 110:1) in which David referred to the Messiah as the Lord (vv. 43-45). In other words, if David called this Son “Lord” He certainly must be more than a human son. This silenced all of His opponents (v. 46).
Application
How do I think I would have personally answered the question? “What think ye of Christ?” How would have my answer been any different than that of the Pharisees?
Matthew 22:34-46 (English Standard Version)
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