The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Matthew 22:45,
"If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"
I find Matthew 22 to be fascinating! It begins with a parable, the Wedding Banquet, that follows on the heels of the last parable in the preceding chapter, the Parable of the Tenants.
In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus announced that, although initially offered to the nation of Israel, the administration of the kingdom of God was now going to be taken from them and given to others (the Gentiles), "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." Matthew 20:43.
As I say, the next parable at the beginning of this chapter is the Wedding Banquet, in which Jesus tells the story of guests invited to a wedding (the offer of the kingdom of heaven to the nation of Israel) who refused to come and mistreated the servants (the prophets) sent out to call the guests when the time had come. The same point in the previous parable is made: after destroying the refusing guests, the king of the banquet invited others. In this parable, however, we learn that just because an invitation has gone out does not mean automatic entry. In the parable one of the new guests was found without wedding clothes and so was cast out of the banquet. "'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:13-14. This being a reference that entrance into the kingdom of God is going to require a standing of righteousness before God as represented by clothing. (That standing before God comes through faith in him.)
It is what follows this parable in the chapter that really catches my attention this morning. Accounts are given of the religious leaders trying to trap Jesus with three "trick" questions, followed by Jesus responding with his own question that shut them down, "No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions." Verse 46.
The religious leaders questions had to do with paying tax to Caesar, marriage in the resurrection and what the greatest commandment might be. The questions they asked really were well thought out and designed to delegitimize Jesus. However, no man is a match for the Son of God. As I say, he crushed them with his answers.
And then, to finish them off, he asked them a question, from Psalm 110:1, about how David could call a descendant of his "Lord". "If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" They were all left speechless! This is a must read!
"If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"
I find Matthew 22 to be fascinating! It begins with a parable, the Wedding Banquet, that follows on the heels of the last parable in the preceding chapter, the Parable of the Tenants.
In the Parable of the Tenants, Jesus announced that, although initially offered to the nation of Israel, the administration of the kingdom of God was now going to be taken from them and given to others (the Gentiles), "Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit." Matthew 20:43.
As I say, the next parable at the beginning of this chapter is the Wedding Banquet, in which Jesus tells the story of guests invited to a wedding (the offer of the kingdom of heaven to the nation of Israel) who refused to come and mistreated the servants (the prophets) sent out to call the guests when the time had come. The same point in the previous parable is made: after destroying the refusing guests, the king of the banquet invited others. In this parable, however, we learn that just because an invitation has gone out does not mean automatic entry. In the parable one of the new guests was found without wedding clothes and so was cast out of the banquet. "'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:13-14. This being a reference that entrance into the kingdom of God is going to require a standing of righteousness before God as represented by clothing. (That standing before God comes through faith in him.)
It is what follows this parable in the chapter that really catches my attention this morning. Accounts are given of the religious leaders trying to trap Jesus with three "trick" questions, followed by Jesus responding with his own question that shut them down, "No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions." Verse 46.
The religious leaders questions had to do with paying tax to Caesar, marriage in the resurrection and what the greatest commandment might be. The questions they asked really were well thought out and designed to delegitimize Jesus. However, no man is a match for the Son of God. As I say, he crushed them with his answers.
And then, to finish them off, he asked them a question, from Psalm 110:1, about how David could call a descendant of his "Lord". "If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?" They were all left speechless! This is a must read!
If you are looking for something beyond fascinating, look no further!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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