The Royal Son Of David
Or
The Suffering Son Of God
Sunday August 14, 2022
Scripture To Consider:
“While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, ‘What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?’ They said to Him, ‘The Son of David.’ Jesus said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying, “The LORD said to My Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’”? If David then calls Him Lord, how is He his Son?’” Matthew 22.41-45
Something To Consider:
On the surface this question Jesus asked the Pharisees may not appear very important. “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” As mentioned in earlier lessons the word Christ means the Anointed One or Messiah. The Pharisees answered with the standard no surprise Jewish everyday answer, the Messiah will be the Son of David.
Therefore, why did Jesus pose this question that would receive the same answer ten out of ten times if asked of anyone of that time and culture? As discussed before, the nation of Israel had been mistaken in their thinking that the Messiah would come as a conquering king as was King David.
They totally misunderstood that the Messiah must first come as a suffering Savior, die, and be raised from the dead before returning as the final and eternal ruler over the earth. They neglected Scripture such as Isaiah 53.5. “He [the Messiah] was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.”
Isaiah wrote as if from a past tense perspective, because in the mind of God, when a prophecy is proclaimed, it is as if it was already accomplished! The apostle Paul pronounced in 2 Timothy 2.12-13; “If we suffer [as did Jesus], we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him [Jesus, as did the religious leaders of Jesus’ day], He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” Therefore, let us remain faithful! Let us not deny Christ even in the midst of the coming perilous and tumultuous end time events facing true believers!
Something Else To Consider:
By His question, Jesus attempted to awaken the so-called unfaithful religious leaders’ awareness to the true identity of the Messiah. It was to encourage some creative personal individual thinking. Was the Messiah to be merely David’s Son, a flesh and blood likeness of David only? Or was the Messiah to be more?
Is our believing that the Messiah was David’s Son alone enough? Evidently not, according to Jesus! Therefore, Jesus quoted the opening verse of Psalm 110, by stating, “The LORD said to My Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”
Then Jesus followed up with logic that they had never considered. Therefore, Jesus declared, “If David then calls Him Lord, how is He his Son?” Great point! Jesus was so much more than just the Son of David and attempted to teach those who had ears to hear. Are we hearing what the Holy Spirit of God is saying and therefore teaching? And if not, why not? We must be listening in order to hear and learn.
In the I’m OK, you’re OK, we’re all OK, health, wealth, and prosperity above all other things false 21st century so-called religious teaching of the so-called church, there is little to no preaching or teaching of the biblically based suffering Christianity. Peter wisely acknowledged in 1 Peter 3.14; “If you suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are you.”
He also instructed by way of the Holy Spirit in 1 Peter 4.12-13; “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s suffering, that when His glory is revealed, you [we] may also be glad with exceeding joy.” There is coming suffering creating fiery trials for all true born-again believers in Christ. Are we ready?
Something More To Consider:
David, according to Jesus, said; “The LORD [all capitals, meaning Jehovah God the Father], said to My Lord [not all capitals, meaning Jesus]…” Jesus used perfect logic to instill within His listeners a seed of spiritual intrigue. He, at that very moment, had them thinking for themselves for once, concerning exactly what the Scriptures were really teaching. Oh, that this was being done more now!
For up to this time people did not have the Scriptures for themselves as we do today. They were accustomed to having so-called religious leaders tell them what the Word of God meant. And often, the Word of God was misinterpreted even as it is being misinterpreted today many centuries later.
But is it more important that the Word of God teach that the Messiah is the Son of David, or is it more important that the bible teaches that Christ is the Son of God? Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Son of God. But just as important as it is to realize that the Messiah is the Son God, is our understanding that He is a most masterful thought- provoking Teacher, as well as Lord and Savior.
A Few Final Words:
Whether it concerns Jesus Christ, or a particular church doctrine promoted by man, let us diligently search the Scriptures and seek the help and divine influence of the Holy Spirit. For the misinterpretation of the Word of God has misled entire generations away from the truth of Christ’s second coming, just as the misinterpretation of the Word of God misled the people of Jesus’ day concerning His first coming!
And according to Jesus, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” What we think about Jesus will not change who Jesus is and what He has declared, promised, or prophetically communicated concerning His second coming immediately after the yet coming tribulation and eternal life beyond this age. But what we think about Jesus will change our eternal destination. What we think of Jesus and His teaching will determine whether we are prepared for His second coming or not and the biblical fact that there will be no pre-tribulation rapture or gathering of the saints, according to Jesus.
Jesus explained in Matthew 24.4-5, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many [not some but many] will come in My name [as if Christian or religious leaders], saying, ‘I [Jesus] am the Christ [Messiah],’ and will deceive many [not some but will deceive many].” Then Jesus spends the remaining forty-six verses of Matthew chapter 24, describing end time events in advance for our best interest.
And yet, what is not being taught today is the fact that the second coming of Jesus and the gathering of the saints who are alive upon planet earth, happens after the tribulation of those end time days, and not before. The foolish misinterpretation of the Scriptures has led many astray and continue to do so to this day. Yes, Jesus was, from God’s perspective the royal Son of David according to the family lineage through Mary. But Jesus was also the suffering Son of God for our sake.
According to Jesus in Luke 24.46-47, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ [the Messiah] to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, teach us the proper perspective as it relates to Your Son Jesus, who is right now at Your right hand in heaven. Thank You for pointing out His being the Son of David as well as the suffering and soon coming Son of God. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 