The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 2 — Section 384

Vers. 41-_46.- Wisdom's question. In teaching hie interrogators to love God, Jesus proceeds ~ d1:;ect them to the God theY, ought to love. This question1 "What think ye of Christ? was put to a representative assembly-Herodians Sadducees scribes or Ke.mites. and especially Phe.risees, beside his disciples and the people. By proposing this one question of moment, Jesus proves the folly of those ,vho by malevolent ques- tions would prove his wisdom, It showed them that ignorance of the prophecies was the source of their captiousness. The question is for us. I. WHAT THINK YE OF THE SoNSHIP OF CHRIST? 1. He ls the "&n of David." (1) The covenant of God was established with David. This purported that Messiah Bhould appe0.r in bis line. The promise of the saving Seed was limited to Seth in the family of Adam; then to Shem in the family of Noah; then to Abraham in the line of Shem. The covenant was carried on from Abraham through Isaac to Jacob and from Jacob through Judah to David (cf. 2 Sam. vii. 12-17; Ps. lxxxix. 27-87): (2) Thenceforward "the Son of David" became a prophetic title of Messiah (see Isa. ix. 7; xi. 1; Jer. xxiii. 5, 6; xxriii. 15, 16). The "Son" of whom David sings in his psalms referred to Solomon only as the type of Messiah (see Ps. Ix.xii. 1). (3) "Is not this the carpenter's son? " But the " carpenter" was "of the house and lineage of David." So was Mary the poor virgin. What vicissitudes in families I How God makes grandeur to spring out of humiliation I (4) Why are not the Jews convinced that Messiah must have appee.red before the cl.estruction of Jerusalem? For the national !('enealogies then perished, and nobody can now prove himself to be the son of David. But the !('enealogy of Jesus was proved at the enrolment for the taxation in the days of ClllSar Au,,,"UStus, when the records were intact, and is recited in the Gospels. 2. He is the Son of God. (1) "Jeho-rah said unto .Adonai." This term is properly applied to superiors, sometimes it is by courtesy given to equals, but never to inferiors. David, as an independent monarch, acknowledges no superior but God. (2) "David in the Spirit called him Lord." Note: Jesus here credits the Old Testament writers with Divine inspiration (cf. 2 Sam. xxili. 2; Acts L l6; ii. 30). David in the Holy Spirit of prophecy called him Lord. (3) He was David's Lord before he became his Son. What can more emphatically mark the Divinity of Christ? How else could he be David's Lord, who was not to be born for ages after him. and was certainly to exercise no secular dominion over him ? 3. He is at once the Son of David and the Son of God. (1) .AB the Son of David, his humanity was real. As the Lord of David, his Divinity is evident. Acknowledge here the gloriollB mystery of the Incarnation. (2) This mystery Jesus more fully unfolded after hisresurrection(see Rev. x.xii. 16). (3) So is he quali- fied to be the one Media.tor between God and man. (4) In his Divine humanity Jesus pledges our regeneration and transfiguration. II. WHAT THINK YE OF BIS CBBISTSBIP? AB the Sonship is a rule of nature, the Cbristship is a title of oifice. 1. .As the Ohrist he is our Prophet. (1) Moses calls universal attention to him in this capacity (see Deut, xviii. 15, 19), .And in this capacity he is authenticated (see eh. xvil. 6). (2) In his che.racter of Prophet or Teacher he silenced the gainsaying of Herodians, Pharisees, Karaitee, and Sadducees. (3) .AP. the great Prophet he gives 11B his perfect law of liberty with the institution of the ministry to proclaim it. He also gives 11B with his Word his own Holy Spirit of illumination. ".A wonderful fashion of teaching he bath," 2. ~, the Ohrist he is our Priest. (I) A Priest not after the order of .Aaron. For" our Lord sprang out of Judah" (see Heb. vii. 13, 14-). Yet .Aaron was his type. (2) His priesthood is" after the order of Melchizedek." So we learn from the psalm here quoted (Ps. CL), His priest- hood is royal It is made with an oath. It is a priesthood in the heavens, The ascen- sion of Christ is referred to in every instance in which the hundred and tenth psalm is quoted in the New Testament. It is an unchangeable and an everlasting priesthood. (3) Our great Priest offers himself in sacrifice for us. When Cyrus took the King of Armenia and his son Tigranes prisoners, with their wives and chHdren, and upon their humble submission gave them their liberties and their lives, Tigrane11, as they were returning home, asked his wife, " Wha.t thinkest thou of Cyrus? Is he not a comely and a proper man, of a majestic presence?" "Truly," said she, "I know not what n,anner of man he is ; I never looked upon him." "Why," said he," where were thine eye, e.ll the while?" " I fixed mine eyes all the while," said she, "upon him [ mean- ing her buaband] who, in my hearing, offered to O7rW1 to lay down his life for my on. xxu. 1-46.] THE Go:JPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. 389