COMMENTARY ON ACTS
LESSON NUMBER 133
“ Mark 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. 37 David therefore himself calleth Him Lord; and whence is He then his son? And the common people heard Him gladly.”
(Mark 12:35-37; Matt 22:41-46; Lk 20:41-44)
JESUS INITIATES A DIALOG
INTRODUCTION
Time continues to march forward, leading to the time when Jesus will obey the Father’s commandment to lay down His life, then take it up again. The sacrifice of His life will require His total commitment. He cannot be diverted from the consideration of it, or come to that time unprepared. Yet, this does not mean that He must be isolated from the people – at least not at this time. He is therefore in the Temple – His Father’s house (John 2:16), where service to God was the whole point. Here is where sacrifices were made by the priest (Lk 2:24). Yet, Jesus, according to the Law, is not qualified to be a priest, for He was from the tribe of Judah, not Levi, the tribe from which the priests were selected (Heb 7:14). Because the sacrifice He was going to make was of a different order, therefore the Priest who made it must also be of a different order. The point is that the Temple, together with its ordained activities, was an environment in which the Lord could make His initial preparation. It was a place wholly devoted to activities pertaining to God. This was not a place for mere socializing and community events. At this point, this place, and what occurred there would not interfere with what the Lord was going to do. The communications that took place there would have a proper focus and direction. It seems to me that much can be learned by this manner of Christ. A lot of activities that involve church people are really not conducive to spiritual preparations. They are too casual, and too close to the world. It is not that they are of themselves wrong. They rather tend to dull the conscience, so that the gravity of living in view of death, the end of the world, and the coming of Christ are not brought to the forefront of the mind. While we must zealously avoid making laws and forcing people into a stereotyped religion, we must also master the art of associating the activities of Jesus with our own living toward the Lord.
AS HE TAUGHT, JESUS ASKED A QUESTION
“ Mark 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?”
THE TEACHING JESUS. Here we are being exposed to the teaching Jesus. In the Gospels, there are over forty references to Jesus teaching. They are over two hundred and twenty references to things Jesus “said.” There are eleven references to His “doctrine.” This perfectly coincides with what Jesus is doing now from heaven (Eph 4:20-21).
But we must be able to correlate the fact of a teaching Jesus with spiritual life. Throughout history informed and spiritually intelligent Christians have been rare. Even in the first century, at the forefront of Jesus building His church, holy men had to deal with the prevalence of spiritual ignorance (Rom 11:25; 1 Cor 10:1;12:1;1 Thess 4:13; 3 Pet 3:8, etc.). Some were upbraided because sufficient time had passed for them to be teachers, and yet they were still spiritual juveniles (Heb 5:12). If Jesus is a Teacher, how can these things be? Is it possible that He is recalcitrant in His ministry of teaching, failing to carry out that function? Who would dare to imagine such a thing? He is the consummate faithful One, who is “called Faithful and True” (Rev 19:11). He is “the faithful and true Witness” (Rev 3:14). It is not possible for a person or a church to remain unlearned if they are knowingly in the presence of Jesus. That would be equivalent to being in the Temple, walking along with Jesus, yet never acquiring any knowledge. In such a case, it is hardness of heart and blindness of the mind that have produced the ignorance. That is how serious the condition is. To professing Christians who never grow up into Christ, Jesus says, “Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye cannot hear My word” (John 8:43).
AS HE TAUGHT. The fact that Jesus was teaching confirms that He was the dominant figure in the Temple – for the teacher is always the focus of attention. That is one of the traits of a true teacher. Jesus was not there to listen to the people’s problems like Moses did (Ex 18:13), or arbitrate difficulties like Solomon (1 Kgs 3:16-28). For some people, this defines teaching – answering questions. But that is not the manner in which Jesus teaches. While He did answer questions, such as the one previously put forth by a certain scribe, ourf text now finds Jesus asking the question.
This text assists us in understanding what is involved in Jesus’ teaching. He is the One who sets the agenda, and determines the focus of the subject. Even if a question is directed to Him, He will take that question and build upon it, making the answer profitable to all. In our day, there is a distorted view of relevancy and importance. The importance of a subject is imagined to be established by the listeners. That is why contemporary preachers and teachers adapt their messages to the people, and inquire about the concerns they have. Jesus did not teach that way, and He does not send others out to major on such things. This does not mean there are not legitimate inquiries. It does mean that what Jesus says is the central matter. As this text will confirm, fundamental issues relate to Jesus Himself, not the duties of men. This does not mean that duties are ignored, and no one must be so simple as to think in that way. Duty is to be considered within the framework of the Persons of God and Christ. That is why certain commandments under the Law were preceded or followed by the expression, “I am the Lord” (Ex 15:26; 20:2; Lev 11:44; 18:2-6,21,30; 19:4-4, 10,12,14,16,18).
INQUIRY ABOUT THE SCRIBES TEACHING. Matthew says that while the Pharisees were gathered together He asked them, “What think ye of Christ, whose Son is He?” when they answered “The son of David,” He asked the question of our text. Jesus is still keenly aware of what men teach – particularly what they say about Him. It should not surprise anyone to sense Divine interrogation, when the heart seems to shout out, “Why are you teaching” this or that. That is a way in which the Lord probes the thoughts and intents of the heart.
THE SON OF DAVID. As applied to Christ Jesus, the phrase “Son of David” never occurs in Scripture prior to Matthew 1:1. No prophet referred to the Messiah in this manner. He was prophesied to occupy “the throne of David” (Isa 9:7), was referred to as “David” (Jer 23:5; 30:9; Hos 3:5) , “grow up unto David” (Jer 33;15), and God’s “Servant David” (Ezek 34:23-25). However, prior to His coming, the Messiah was never referred to as the “Son of David.”
However, this was a legitimate view, as confirmed in Matthew 1:1. This was a holy conclusion, based on the promise of the seed of David sitting upon His throne forever (1 Sam 7:12-13,16). Although the promise was ambiguous at the time, David himself later concluded that the promise did not apply to Solomon alone, as confirmed by the inspired 89th and 132nd Psalms (89:34-36; 132:11).
The scribes, therefore, had drawn a proper conclusion. They had read and correlated the Scriptures accurately, perceiving the sense of them. However, it appears that at this time this had been reduced to an academic view that was not accompanied by understanding. Therefore Jesus challenges their thinking concerning this saying - which saying was true.
WHAT DAVID SAID BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
“ 36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.”
DAVID HIMSELF SAID. This statement confirms that holy prophets did not speak while in a sort of trace that excluded their understanding. It is true that king Saul, though he bore animosity against David, the Lord’s anointed, prophesied (1 Sam 18:10). Once he did so after he had “stripped off his clothes” (1 Sam 19:23-24). However, we do not have a single word of those prophesies – none of them are recorded, or passed from one generation to another. Although some have cited Saul as an example of being, what they call, slain in the Spirit, that is their own assessment, not that of God. When Jesus said, “David himself said,” He does not mean the saying originated with David, but that he said it with understanding and discernment. His mind and heart were involved in the saying as well as his lips and pen.
SAID BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. Concerning the origin of David’s words, they were brought to him by the Holy Spirit. This was a morsel of heavenly knowledge vouchsafed to David, who was not only empowered to say the revealed words, but to understand them as well. This is the manner in which spiritual understanding is ministered to the people of God – something Paul prayed the saints would receive in full measure (Col 1:9). This is not a procedure in which the mind is sidestepped, but one in which it is illuminated. The understanding is not excluded, but is rather enlightened. This also contradicts the notion that messages from God are given in a language that is not comprehended by the one receiving it. Words spoken in an unknown tongue are from the standpoint of the hearer, not the speaker. The one uttering such words is to seek to interpret them to those who hear him, and not to himself (1 Cor 14:12). Teaching concerning speaking by the Spirit in an unearned language is only and always addressed within the context of the assembly (1 Cor 14). This text is an example of this principle.
THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD. David’s expression refers to two personalities, with One speaking to the other – yet both are termed “Lord.” In the Hebrew text (Psa 110:1), the two words are different (Yehovah and Adoni). One refers to Jehovah, and the other to the Messiah. In the Greek text (Mk 12:36; Matt 22:44; Lk 20:42), the words used are identical (Kurios = Lord). This word means Master, or the One in supreme authority. David is confessing that the Messiah, although a Man, is nevertheless his Lord – not by virtue of human greatness, but by virtue of his nature. He also said this knowing that it referred to One who would come from his own lineage (Psa 132:11).David did not view the coming Messiah as his son, but as his Lord. By the Spirit, he knew the implications of the Messiah sitting on his throne (2 Sam 7:13), building the house of God (1 Chron 17:12), and having an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam 7:16). All three of these areas have been confused by modern theologians. This confirms that, in this day of greater glory, such men actually know less about what David said than he knew during the twilight age of revelation.
This was also a view of the exalted Christ. It did not refer to Him in his humbled state – although He was Lord then as well. It rather refers to Him in His exalted state, after He had been delivered from the realm of the dead, carried back to heaven in a cloud, exalted, and enthroned at the right hand of God.
SIT THOU ON MY RIGHT HAND. This is a summary view of the exaltation of Christ. He is to “sit” as one that has completed His assignment on earth, and has been invested with all power in heaven and in earth. Sitting, in this case, is the posture of a reigning King. As confirmed in Solomon (1 Kgs 2:12; 1 Chron 29:23). When Esther was received by the king, who was her own husband, he was sitting upon his throne (Esth 5:1).
Mark refers to the seating of Jesus in Mark 16:19: “and sat down on the right hand of God.” Peter refers to David’s prophecy, stating that it was fulfilled following Christ’s return to heaven (Acts 2:34-36). Paul refers to it in Ephesians 1:20-22, stating that Jesus is presently “far above” all principalities and powers, with all things being put under His feet. In the epistle to the Hebrews, the Spirit also refers to this, declaring that, from this exalted position, Jesus is now “the Author and Finisher of our faith”(Heb 12:2).
David is one of the few souls who was given to understand the exaltation of the Messiah (Psa 2:8-9; 24:7-10; 68:18). Daniel was also given a view of this (Dan 7:13-14). This confirms the sacredness of this view.
TILL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES THY FOOTSTOOL. It is not that making Christ’s enemies His footstool requires a lengthy period of time. That will be accomplished instantly when He is seen in His glory (2 Thess 2:8). The period covered in the word “until” refers to the “day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2) in which the Lord is bringing “many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10). It is the time when God’s exchange program is taking place (Isa 61:3), and the sons of God are being changed “from glory to glory” (2 Cor 3:18). When the saints have all been duly readied, the time for subduing the enemies will come, and Jesus will leave heaven to gather in the saints and bring an abrupt halt to the activities of the wicked. Until that time, he is “expecting” (Heb 10:13).
IN WHAT SENSE IS HE DAVID’S SON?
“ 37 David therefore himself calleth Him Lord; and whence is He then his son? And the common people heard Him gladly.”
DAVID HIMSELF CALLETH HIM LORD. Matthew says that David “in the Spirit” called Him “Lord” (Matt 22:43). Luke reads, “David himself saith in the book of Psalms” (Lk 20:42). Once again, we see that this is a discerning remark. It was not said without the involvement of David’s intelligence and comprehension. David was like the scribe who is instructed “unto the kingdom of God,” bringing forth “out of his treasury things new and old” (Matt 13:52). Inspiration gives “understanding” as well as information (Job 32:8). In fact, the very word “inspire” means to breathe into. In the creation, God breathed into man’s “nostrils” (Gen 2:7). Inspiration breathes into the heart and mind, bringing understanding as well as utterance.
By saying “calleth,” the text means that this is how David viewed the coming Messiah. He did not see Him as an impersonal deliverer, but as his own Lord, Master, and Controller. Calling refers to words that are pushed from the mouth by insight and persuasion. David not only saw that the Messiah was his Lord, but he gladly acquiesced with the condition, joyfully agreeing with it, and seeing it as a blessing and asset to him personally. This was the Old Covenant equivalent of confessing Christ “before men” (Matt 10:32).
WHENCE IS HE HIS SON? Ordinarily, a son is subservient to the one who begat him. That is what makes David’s confession appear unreasonable to the flesh. The fact that the people in general also made no association of the Messiah with Divinity complicated the matter for them.
There were not many references in Moses and the Prophets that clearly declared the Messiah would be Deity as well as a Man. Isaiah said His name would be “Immanuel,” which is interpreted “God with us” (Isa 7:14; Matt 1:23). He also said His name would be “The mighty God” and “Everlasting Father” (Isa 9:6). Isaiah’s prophecy of John the Baptist said he would cry out “Prepare ye the way of THE LORD” (Isa 40:3). Jeremiah said His name would be “The LORD our righteousness” (Jer 23:6). Yet, for those without insight, there is a certain vagueness in these texts. The person who is “unskillful in the word of righteousness” (Heb 5:13), cannot process truth, see the sense of it, or reason upon it.
Jesus was “the son of David” in the sense of His kingly lineage (Matt 1:1; 2 Sam 7:12). He was the “Seed” of the woman, in the sense of His birth as a Man (Gal 3:15; Gal 4:4). He was the “Seed” of Abraham in the sense of being the promised Offspring (Gen 22:18; Gal 3:16). He is “of the tribe of Judah” as regards His High Priestly ministry (Heb 7:14; Rev 5:5). However, all of these associations are secondary. None of them are primary. Jesus is first of all the Son of God (Mk 1:1; John 1:34; Acts 9:37; Rom 1:4; 1 John 4:15). That is the association that sanctifies all of the others. If He was not the Son of God, it would have made no salvational difference if He was the offspring of the woman, Abraham, David, or Judah.
Jesus asked this question because those to whom He was speaking did not see His affiliation with God the Father. They only saw Him as a man – perhaps even a teacher or miracle worker. While He was, indeed, a man, it was His Divinity that sanctified His humanity, like the Temple sanctified the gold that was in it (Matt 23:17).
THE COMMON PEOPLE HEARD HIM GLADLY. Other versions read, “the great crowd enjoyed listening to Him,” NASB and “The large crowd listened to Him with delight.” NIV The “common people” were the non-professional people – as compared with Pharisees, scribes, Sadducees, the Sanhedrin, and the priests. Their delight with the Lord’s teaching was owing to the fact that He did not speak with the theological monotony of the scribes (Mk 7:29), the institutional aggressiveness of the Pharisees (Matt 23:15), or with the harsh legalistic tone of the Lawyers (Lk 11:46). Although Christ’s words were challenging, and anything but shallow, the majority of the people seemed to profit from them, while the religious elite was only stymied by them.
At some point, the individual must find delight in listening to Jesus. That is certainly not the essence of true discipleship, but it is one of the beginning requirements. If a person is not attracted by what Jesus is saying, no progress will be made toward the experience of what He came to do. It is not possible than an approach to religion that does not major on the communication of the truth of God is either right or truly profitable.
NO MAN WAS ABLE TO ANSWER. Matthew says of this occasion, “And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions” (Matt 22:46). Christ’s words were so weighty they actually smothered the opposition. Their theological minds dried up, withering in the blast of truth. Jesus did not resort to apologetics, scientific proofs, or some hermeneutical principle. Instead, He challenged his critics with calling for a diagnosis of Scripture – plain, unvarnished Scripture. He took one of their own observations, and asked them why they said it. Furthermore, their observation was true – yet they still could not answer Him, because their view of the Christ did not allow them to give a discerning answer to the question. Their traditions had robbed them of perspective.