Most of us at one time or another have been asked a trick question, that no matter what we answered, we would be wrong or get into some type of trouble. Throughout His ministry, Jesus had faced opposition, and now, just days before His betrayal and crucifixion, His enemies were desperately trying to trap Him in His words so that they could bring charges of treason or blasphemy against Him. The Pharisees had joined up with the Herodians to try and get Jesus to say words that would bring the Roman officials against Him, or the opposite, by getting nationalistic Jews against Him. Then the Sadducees tried arguing with Jesus about the resurrection. Now, once again the Pharisees were trying to trap Him. Let’s take a look at their disingenuous questions.
As our Scripture opens, the Pharisees sent one of their group, a lawyer who was an expert in the Mosaic Law, to test Jesus (vs. 34-36). In Jesus’ day, and even today, many Orthodox Jewish men like to discuss and even get into friendly debates about various topics from the Pentateuch and the Talmud. One thing that was sometimes debated was which of the hundreds of commands found in the Law was the most important. The lawyer decided to ask Jesus this question, and was likely hoping that His answer would create controversy or provide grounds for accusation.
These Pharisees had a lot of knowledge of the Old Testament Scriptures, particularly the five Books of Moses. However, it was all book-knowledge. It had never reached their heart. They knew the Scriptures intellectually, but rejected the One to whom the Scriptures pointed.
Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5, that loving God with all of the heart, soul, and mind was the first and great commandment (vs. 37-38). The heart is our affections and desires. Loving with the soul is our whole inner being. And the mind is our thoughts and understanding. God does not merely desire outward conformity. He requires wholehearted devotion. The believer’s first responsibility is not service, ministry, or activity, but loving God supremely.
Jesus then followed this up by giving the second greatest commandment (vs. 39). He quoted Leviticus 19:18. When we truly love God, we will treat others according to His standards. We are to seek another person’s good according to God’s truth. Modern culture often elevates love while ignoring truth. Jesus never separated the two. Biblical love speaks truth, seeks holiness, warns against sin, and points people to Christ. If we truly care about and love someone, we will be concerned about their eternal welfare.
The Ten Commandments illustrate this (vs. 40). The first four commandments concern our love towards God. The last six commandments concern our love towards others. If a person perfectly loves God and others, he will perfectly fulfill God’s moral law.
Following this, Jesus became the questioner. He asked them about the Messiah (the Christ), and whose Son was He (vs. 41-42). Their answer, the son of David, was partially correct. The Old Testament taught that the Messiah would come from David’s line, and sit upon the throne of David. Jesus proceeded then to quote Psalm 110:1, where David called the Messiah “Lord” (vs. 43-45). If the Messiah is merely David’s descendant, why would David call Him “Lord”? The only answer is that the Messiah is more than David’s son. He is also David’s divine Lord.
Jesus said that David spoke “in the Spirit”, meaning he was guided by the Holy Spirit when he wrote Scripture. This supports the doctrine of verbal inspiration of the Bible (II Timothy 3:16). These verses also show the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is both fully man (David’s Son), and also fully God (David’s Lord). Jesus was not merely a prophet and a teacher. He is also God manifested in the flesh (John 1:14; I Timothy 3:16. Psalm 110 depicts the Messiah seated at God’s right hand, pointing to His resurrection, ascension, and future victorious reign.
Following this exchange the religious leaders were completely silenced (vs. 46). Every attack against Jesus collapsed because He is truth itself. Many critics have challenged Christianity throughout history, but Jesus Christ remains undefeated.
Today’s Scripture presented two foundational truths. The first is that man’s greatest duty is to love God wholly and love his neighbor as himself. The second foundational truth is that Jesus Christ is both David’s Son and David’s Lord, proving that He is the divine Messiah. The first truth reveals our failure and need for salvation. The second reveals the identity of the Savior who alone can provide that salvation.
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