15

David’s Son and Lord
(Luke 20:41–44)

Then He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son? For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?” (20:41–44)

The deity of the Lord Jesus Christ has been denied ever since His incarnation. The general consensus in the unbelieving world is that He was a mere man; noble, insightful, wise, devout, and well-intentioned, but nonetheless only a man. That view is consistent with Satan’s agenda, since if Jesus was only a man and not also fully God, He was not the Savior, the Bible is not true, and Christianity is a lie. But on the other hand, if Jesus is God, then the Bible is true, and Christianity’s truth claims are verified.

Because it is so foundational to salvation, the biblical truth regarding the person of Christ is rejected by satanic cults and false religions. For example the Mormons have succeeded in deceiving many (including some Christians) into believing that they worship the Christ of the Bible. But they teach that the Lord Jesus, the older spirit brother of Lucifer, was one of millions of created spirits born in heaven who became human and attained godhood like many others—including the best Mormons.

Other cults and false religions hold equally aberrant views of Jesus. To the Jehovah’s Witnesses, He was Michael the archangel before His birth, lived as nothing more than a perfect man (like Adam before the fall), and was resurrected as a spirit being after His death. The Jesus of Islam was a human prophet of Allah who taught Islamic truth. In Christian Science, Jesus is a man who manifested the Christ idea; to the Bahá’ís He is one of many manifestations of God; to Hindus He is a guru; to Buddhists He is an enlightened teacher; to Spiritists He was a medium, in communication with the spirits of the dead, and is now Himself a spirit with whom people can communicate.

Historically, Jewish people have also refused to acknowledge Jesus as God. In His own day, they expected the messiah to be a notable, powerful, influential man, who would subdue Israel’s enemies, establish God’s kingdom, in which Israel would play the central role, and fulfill all covenant promises to Abraham and David. The common people accepted that view of the messiah, long taught by their leaders.

His claim to be God was outrageous blasphemy; the most heinous sin imaginable in their view. Jesus’ relentless assault on their theology, power, influence, position, and self-righteousness enraged Jerusalem’s religious leaders especially. Those assaults culminated during Passion Week, when the Lord cleansed the temple, confronted the religious leaders’ corruption, and exposed their hypocrisy, escalating their feverish desire to eliminate Him.

This final conversation between the Lord and the leaders took place late in the day on Wednesday. The Jewish religious authorities’ attempts to discredit Him had been utterly unsuccessful, and as a result, “no one would venture to ask Him any more questions” (Mark 12:34). They could not handle His answers, and then it became clear they could not handle His questions either. This dramatic confrontation began when Jesus posed to them a discerning question, to which they gave a deficient answer, and concluded with the Lord presenting a divine reality.

A DISCERNING QUESTION

Then He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son?” (20:41)

The question arises as to why Jesus initiated this dialogue, since by this time in His ministry it was obvious that the leaders and the nation had rejected Him. Why bother to assert once more His true identity? The answer is found in Mark’s account of this incident. After Jesus thwarted the Sadducees’ crafty attempt to discredit Him by asking a question He could not answer (Mark 12:18–27; cf. the exposition of Luke 20:27–40 in the previous chapter of this volume), a scribe challenged Him to name the greatest commandment in the law (Mark 12:28–34). After the scribe commended His answer, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (v. 34). The dialogue recorded here followed immediately afterward. Jesus’ question introduced one final evangelistic appeal to reach those who might be open to the gospel. Despite the virulent hatred of the leaders and the superficial interest of the fickle, indecisive crowds, Jesus still compassionately presented the truth to them. As God incarnate, He had no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). His joy was and is the salvation of sinners (cf. Luke 15:7; John 4:31–42); their destruction brought Him sadness and moved Him to tears (Luke 19:41–44).

But the unmistakably clear testimony of Scripture is that no one will go to heaven who rejects the truth that Jesus Christ is God. John the Baptist testified concerning Him, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). In John 5:37–38 Jesus said, “The Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.” In John 8:24 He warned the hostile religious leaders, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Jesus made it clear that there is no other way of salvation when He declared, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (John 14:6). The apostles also proclaimed that truth, declaring of Jesus in Acts 4:12, “There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Paul closed his first epistle to the Corinthians by pronouncing a curse on anyone who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 16:22). In his first epistle the apostle John wrote, “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:22–23). Later in that same epistle he added,

In his account of this incident, Matthew records that “while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question: ‘What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The son of David’” (Matt. 22:41–42). His follow-up rhetorical question, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son?” which reflects their belief that the messiah would be a mere man, challenged them to explain how they arrived at that conclusion.

A DEFICIENT ANSWER

As noted above, the religious leaders’ answer to the question the Lord asked in Matthew 22:42 was that the Messiah would be the son of David. That was the view taught by the experts in the law (Mark 12:35). And they were correct at that point, since the Old Testament clearly declares that Messiah will be in the line of David. In 2 Samuel 7:12–14 God promised him,

In Psalm 89 God declared,

That was the common belief in Jesus’ day as well. In Matthew 9:27 two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” (cf. 20:30–31). After the Lord healed a man who was blind and mute, “all the crowds were amazed, and were saying, ‘This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?’” (Matt. 12:23). Matthew 15:22 notes that “a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed.’” At His triumphal entry “the crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!’” (Matt. 21:9). There is no question that Jesus was in the line of David, as the genealogies of both Joseph and Mary prove (Matt. 1:1–17; Luke 3:23–38).

None of His opponents ever denied or challenged Christ’s Davidic ancestry. The genealogical records in the temple would have verified it. Of course, David had many descendants, but only one of them was the Messiah. But when the people referred to Jesus as the Son of David, the leaders’ reaction was hostile, because they were intending to affirm Him as the Messiah.

A DIVINE REALITY

For David himself says in the book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?” (20:42–44)

Before they could reply, the Lord pointed out the inadequacy and incompleteness of the notion that the Messiah would be merely David’s son. The testimony comes from David himself, who says in the book of Psalms, “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” Jesus quoted Psalm 110, considered to be a messianic psalm. Peter quoted from it in Acts 2:34–35, the writer of Hebrews quoted from it in Hebrews 1:13 and 10:13, and Paul alluded to it in 1 Corinthians 15:25. The psalm reveals that the Messiah will wield God’s authority and power, symbolized by sitting at His right hand. God will make the Messiah’s enemies a footstool for His feet, a reference to the execution of Messiah’s enemies, as the incident recorded in Joshua 10:24–26 illustrates:

Christ’s point is that if the Messiah was merely a man, as the Jews taught, why did David refer to him as his Lord? No Middle Eastern father, least of all a king, would call his human son Lord. Jesus’ simple argument was so powerful and convincing that when it became widely known following the completion of the New Testament, many Jews abandoned the historical view that Psalm 110 was messianic. Instead, some held that it referred somehow to Abraham; others to Melchizedek; and still others to the intertestamental Jewish leader Judas Maccabeus. Contemporary liberal scholars, who deny the deity of Jesus and the veracity of Scripture, have argued that David was simply mistaken in viewing the Messiah as his Lord. However, in Mark’s account of this incident Jesus introduced His quote of Psalm 110:1 by saying, “David himself said in the Holy Spirit” (Mark 12:36; cf. Acts 4:25). Thus, to deny that what David wrote is also to deny the truthfulness of the testimony by the Holy Spirit to Jesus Christ.

The Lord’s logical query, “Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord,’ and how is He his son?” posed an inescapable and terminal dilemma for the religious leaders. Therefore “no one was able to answer Him a word, nor did anyone dare from that day on to ask Him another question” (Matt. 22:46).

As both David’s son and David’s Lord, Jesus is fully God and fully man. Scripture declares Him to be the eternal Word (John 1:1) who became flesh (v. 14), and His humanity is clearly evident in Scripture. He “was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh” (Rom. 1:3), and “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). The writer of Hebrews says that “since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same” (Heb. 2:14). Later in that chapter he adds that Jesus “had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Heb. 2:17). Jesus became hungry (Matt. 4:1–2) and thirsty (John 4:7), and got tired (John 4:5–6; cf. Matt. 8:23–24). Jesus experienced the full range of human emotions, including joy (Luke 10:21), grief (Matt. 26:37), love (John 11:5, 36; 15:9), compassion (Matt. 9:36), amazement (Luke 7:9), and anger (Mark 3:5).

But Jesus is also fully God. John 1:1 states that “the Word [Jesus; cf. v. 14] was God.” He took for Himself the sacred name of God (YHWH; Ex. 3:14) when He said to His opponents, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58). That the Jewish leaders (unlike modern cultists) understood clearly what He meant is evident from their reaction: they attempted to stone Him for blasphemy (v. 59; cf. Lev. 24:16). In John 10:30, Jesus claimed to be the same essence as God the Father. Once again the Jews attempted to stone Him for blasphemy, because “being a man [He made Himself] out to be God” (v. 33). When Thomas addressed Him as God (John 20:28), Jesus accepted that affirmation of His deity and praised his faith (v. 29). Philippians 2:6 says that Jesus “existed in the form of God” (i.e., that He is God by nature), and Colossians 2:9 adds that “in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.” Titus 2:13 calls Him “our great God and Savior,” and 2 Peter 1:1 calls Him “our God and Savior.” In Hebrews 1:8 God the Father said to Jesus, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.”

Many names or titles used in the Old Testament to refer to God are used in the New Testament to refer to Christ:

• YHWH (cf. Isa. 6:5, 10 with John 12:39–41; Jer.23:5–6)

• Shepherd (cf. Ps. 23:1 with John 10:14)

• Judge (cf. Gen. 18:25 with 2 Tim. 4:1, 8)

• Holy One (cf. Isa. 10:20 with Acts 3:14; cf. Ps. 16:10 with Acts 2:27)

• First and Last (cf. Isa. 44:6; 48:12 with Rev. 1:17; 22:13)

• Light (cf. Ps. 27:1 with John 8:12)

• Lord of the Sabbath (cf. Ex. 16:23, 29; Lev. 19:3 with Matt. 12:8)

• Savior (cf. Isa. 43:11 with Acts 4:12; Titus 2:13)

• I AM (cf. Ex. 3:14 with John 8:58)

• Pierced One (cf. Zech. 12:10 with John 19:37)

• Mighty God (cf. Isa. 10:21 with Isa. 9:6)

• Lord of Lords (cf. Deut. 10:17 with Rev. 17:14)

• Alpha and Omega (cf. Rev. 1:8 with Rev. 22:13)

• Lord of Glory (cf. Ps. 24:10 with 1 Cor. 2:8)

• Redeemer (cf. Isa. 41:14; 48:17; 63:16 with Eph. 1:7; Heb. 9:12)

Jesus Christ possesses the incommunicable attributes of God (those that are unique to God and have no analogy in man):

• Eternalness (Mic. 5:2; Isa. 9:6)

• Omnipresence (Matt. 18:20; 28:20)

• Omniscience (Matt. 11:23; John 16:30; 21:17)

• Omnipotence (Phil. 3:21)

• Immutability (Heb. 13:8)

• Absolute sovereignty (Matt. 28:18)

• Glory (John 17:5; 1 Cor. 2:8; cf. Isa. 42:8; 48:11)

Jesus Christ also did the works that only God can do:

• Creation (John 1:3; Col. 1:16)

• Providence (sustaining the creation) (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3)

• Giving life (John 5:21)

• Forgiving sin (Mark 2:7, 10)

• Having His word stand forever (Matt. 24:35; cf. Isa. 40:8)

Finally, Jesus Christ accepted worship, even though He taught that God alone is to be worshiped (Matt. 4:10), and Scripture records that both men (Acts 10:25–26) and angels (Rev. 22:8–9) refused worship:

• Matthew 14:33

• Matthew 28:9

• John 5:23

• John 9:38

(see also Phil. 2:10 [cf. Isa. 45:23], Heb. 1:6)

Another way of demonstrating Christ’s deity is to ask the question, “If God became a man, what would we expect Him to be like?”

First, if God became a man we would expect Him to be sinless, because God is absolutely holy (Isa. 6:3). So is Jesus. Even His bitter enemies could make no reply to His challenge, “Which one of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46). He is “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:26).

Second, if God became a man we would expect His words to be the greatest words ever spoken, because God is omniscient, is perfectly wise, and has infinite command of the truth and the ability to perfectly express it. Jesus’ words demonstrated all that. The officers sent to arrest Him reported back to their superiors, “Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks” (John 7:46; cf. Matt. 7:28–29).

Third, if God became a man we would expect Him to display supernatural power, because God is all powerful. Jesus controlled nature, walked on water, healed the sick, raised the dead, dominated the kingdom of Satan and the demons, supernaturally avoided those who tried to kill Him, and performed miracles too numerous to be counted (John 21:25).

Fourth, if God became a man, we would expect Him to exert a profound influence over humanity. Jesus did. He changed the world like no one else in history.

Fifth, if God became a man, we would expect Him to manifest God’s love, grace, kindness, compassion, justice, judgment, and wrath. Jesus did.

Jesus Christ was in every way the exact representation of God’s nature (Heb. 1:3). But although they never confounded His infinite wisdom, refuted His matchless words, or denied His powerful miracles, the majority of the Jewish people and their leaders ultimately rejected Him. They failed to hear and obey God incarnate’s voice (cf. Heb. 3:7), but instead hardened their hearts against Him, just as their ancestors had done (v. 8). For all those who, like them, “go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26–27). Truly, “it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31).