What is your Christology?

“Doctrine divides,” say the ecumenists.  They are right. It divides lovers of God from all others.

Matthew 22:41-46

• Now Jesus asks a question of the Pharisees (v. 41).
• It is a theological question: whose son is the Messiah?
• Rightly, but incompletely, they answer: the son of David. Like many today, they know the Messiah only in the flesh, only as a man, only in his humanity. They overlook the truth that Christ is both son of Man and son of God. Many there are, even among modern professional clergy, who deny the deity of Christ!
• But Jesus is fully aware. Acknowledging the inspiration of David, Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1 and shows that David addresses the Messiah as “Lord.”  How can the Messiah be both the son of David and David’s lord?
• No one was able to answer him, of course, because they did not grasp the two natures in one Messiah. This ended the questions for the day. So also should a consideration of Psalm 110 end all of today’s foolish questions about the deity and humanity of Christ. (You should be aware that this is not the only place in scripture that teaches either the deity or humanity of Christ).

Meditation Points:

1. Do you still think that theological accuracy is unimportant?
2. Remember that David spoke “in spirit.” All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16).
3. The Pharisees prided themselves in their knowledge of the scriptures, yet Jesus demonstrated that they did not have answers to the most obvious of questions.

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The First And Second Commandments

No, not from the Decalogue; but the two commandments which summarize all of the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 22:34-40

• Knowing that the Sadducees were unable to trap Jesus, the Pharisees decided to try their hand. Was it pride that made them pick up where the Sadducees had failed so miserably?
• A young Pharisee scribe, expert in the law of God (or thought to be so), advanced and, testing Jesus, asked what seemed to be an innocent question: what is the great commandment in the law?
• Jesus answers briefly and fully: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 – love the Lord wholeheartedly and without reservation, and love your neighbor as you love yourself. These two commandments summarize all of man’s duty to God as revealed in the law and prophets.

Meditation Points:

Did Jesus pass the test? Was his knowledge of the scriptures accurate and complete?

What about you? Did you pass the test? Is your knowledge of the scriptures accurate and complete?  Do you love the Lord with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength? Do you love your neighbor as yourself?  Remember, upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Whatever other Bible knowledge we may have, if we love not God with all our being or love our neighbor, such Bible knowledge is inaccurate and incomplete.

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A Question About The Resurrection

Have you ever noticed that we often ask questions in order to defend our position rather than to acquire new knowledge?

Matthew 22:23-33

• The adversaries are Sadducees who believe there is no resurrection. We are not surprised that their question for Jesus is about the resurrection.
• A little bit of Bible knowledge can be dangerous. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 is the basis of their question/argument. (See also, Genesis 38:8, 11; Ruth 1:11). Often unbelievers create a humorous, mocking question about God’s Word.
• Jesus chides them for their ignorance of scripture and the power of God (v. 29).
• First, there is no marriage relationship in heaven (v. 30).
• Second, (for those of you who mock the resurrection but still claim to be believers) God IS the God of Abraham (Exodus 3:6)—Abraham died and is alive!
• The crowd was astonished at this teaching. The Sadducees were soundly defeated.

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Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s

No discussion of the Christian’s obligation to pay taxes would be complete without considering this text.

Matthew 22:15-22

• Teaming up with supporters of King Herod, some Pharisees attempt (again) to trap Jesus in conversation (v. 15).
• Like many modern managers, they first compliment their adversary, hoping later to swing a death blow (v. 16).
• The conundrum they present is whether or not to pay taxes to Rome. Answer yes and the libertarian populace will reject you as a legitimate Messiah; answer no and the Romans will see you as seditious.
• Jesus wisely (of course) refuses to answer the question directly. Instead he asks for a piece of tribute money to be examined. When it is determined that Caesar’s image and inscription are on the coin, Jesus acknowledges that the coin must belong to Caesar and that it is right and just to return it to Caesar.
• But, Jesus does not stop with the question regarding tribute. He adds that we must as well give back to God that which bears his image and inscription.  Can there be any doubt that he has in mind not only God’s creation but also man, himself, who bears the image of God?

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