Matthew 22:41-46 - Jesus, David’s Son and Master

The chief priests, scribes, Herodians, Pharisees and Sadducees, all had sought to discredit Jesus as the Messiah. They, each in turn, had asked Him many very difficult questions. But they all failed to realize that Jesus has the unquestionable answer that was beyond their asking. In verse 43, Jesus asked the Pharisees who were gathered, a question that stumped them and left them totally amazed. “Is the Messiah David’s Son or David’s Master?” He asked, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” Without hesitation they answered, “The Son of David.” Quoting Psalm 110:1 Jesus asked them why then did David say, ‘The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”?

What’s the point? Matthew had indeed clearly shown that Jesus was the “Son of David.” But merely addressing Him with that title alone was an incomplete picture. It simply meant that the Jews, at that time, saw Him only as the coming King who would win the military battles over their national enemies. If this was the image they had about the Messiah, how could verses 37-40 be encouraged? How could they be challenged to love God with all their being and their neighbours as themselves? Especially so when God is the God of the whole earth and not just of Israel.

The whole point is this: in Jesus, God had become a human and brought us an entirely different scenario. If David’s Son is also David’s Master, then the war-like Messiah the Jews imagined, would after all, be the one who would bring the saving and healing rule of the creator God to the whole world. He is none other than Jesus.

The “enemies” alluded to in Psalm 110:1 was not talking about the enemies of Israel but the ultimate enemies of the whole human race and the world. It refers to the devil and his cohorts, who brought sin and death into mankind. Jesus knew that these enemies could only be overcome when He the Messiah (like David who went single-handedly in unarmed conflict against Goliath) went all the way to the cross to bring us the triumph over sin, sorrow and death.

With a grateful and thankful heart, let us avail ourselves to Jesus, the Messiah. Let’s give ourselves in His service to continue His mission of redeeming fallen humanity. Let’s join hands with our Messiah to free man, who through fear of death, were subjects to slavery all their lives!