A divine quiz, answer correctly

Luke 20_41-47
“A divine quiz, answer correctly”
4/20/08

Luke_20_41-47 (A divine question, answer correctly)
I. In our last Study after cleansing the Temple the religious leaders had brought questions to Jesus in order to trap Him but were silenced, left speechless by His answers and the profoundness with which His wisdom spoke to the issue they presented, and exposed their insincerity.
Luke 20:39-40 (NKJV)
39 Then some of the scribes answered and said, “Teacher, You have spoken well.”
40 But after that they dared not question Him anymore.
II. Now Jesus goes on the offensive as He presents them with a question, His question is designed not merely to trap them in a political dilemma, but bring them to a place of decision concerning the truth that the Messiah is both human and divine, and that He is indeed the Messiah.
Luke 20:41-44 (NKJV)
41 And He said to them, “How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?
42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “ Sit at My right hand,
43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”
A. What Jesus is doing is setting before them the doctrine of the incarnation, that God became a man and stepped into our world, in order to provide redemption for us.
1. The incarnation reveals to us that the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed one of God, Christ the Savior has two natures, divine and human at the same time: He is both fully God and fully Man.
2. This doctrine of the incarnation is an essential doctrine of the church, and the Apostle John tells us it is the litmus test concerning the source of spiritual truth!
1 John 4:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

John 16:13 (NKJV)
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

John 17:17 (NKJV)
17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

John 1:1-2 (NKJV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.

John 1:14 (NKJV)
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
3. So the question that Jesus sets before them is a question of essential importance, the only possible conclusion is that the Christ is both divine and human
B. There was no debate in their understanding concerning whose son the Messiah would be from a human perspective.
1. The Jews had the belief that the Christ (Messiah) would be a descendant of King David.
John 7:37-44 (NKJV)
37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
40 Therefore many from the crowd, when they heard this saying, said, “Truly this is the Prophet.”
41 Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Will the Christ come out of Galilee?
42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?”
43 So there was a division among the people because of Him.
44 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
a. David's son is a Hebraism speaking of descendant.
(1) No problem so far.
This was a truth firmly rooted in O.T. teaching. (2Sam 7:8-16, Ps. 89:3-4, Isa. 9:2-7, 11:1-9, Jer. 23:5-6, 30:9, 33:15-17,22; also in Ezek., Hosea, and Amos)
2. But here is where it gets tricky
Back to verse-41 and the original question:
“How can they say that the Christ is the Son of David?

In light of the fact that in the psalms (and He quotes from Psalm-110), David the Messiah Lord; look at verses 42-44

42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “ Sit at My right hand,
43 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’
44 Therefore David calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”
a. His question rephrased is - How is it possible that David calls the Christ (Messiah) both son and Lord?
(1) That would be ridiculous and unheard of.
(a) David's future offspring is referred to as possessing greater authority that his father which culturally in the East isn't done.
i) A father is always considered superior to his son.
(b) Two possibilities exist here, one is that Messiah is not a descendant of David, but there is too much scripture that says otherwise so this is not a viable option and must be rejected.
(c) The only other conclusion has to be that Messiah is in some way more than an earthly descendant of David, thus divine.
i) And so the incarnation that Messiah is both human and divine, but that is exactly what was prophesied.
Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV)
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 (NKJV)
23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”
C. Now modern critics attack this because the implications of it are overwhelming.
1. First they attack Psalm 110 and deny that David was the author of the Psalm and therefore does not refer to his descendant as Lord, ot that Jesus was confused about the issue or didn't ant to interrupt there tradition so He ignored it.
a. But the fact is that Jesus Himself attributes authorship of Psalm 110 to David
Luke 20:42 (NKJV)
42 Now David himself said in the Book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “ Sit at My right hand,
b. Secondly Jesus tells us that David did so by inspiration from the Holy Spirit:
Mark 12:36 (NKJV)
36 For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”’

Matthew 22:43 (NKJV)
43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
(1) So the God breathed truth is that Messiah is both of the seed of David and David's Lord as well, i.e. He is both human and divine, which forces us then to look carefully at Jesus to see if there is evidence about Him that show ud He is both human and divine.
(a) A careful examination of the facts declare this to be a substantiated truth concerning Him and that there is none other like Him, never has been (I might add never will be)
(b) And that means He is God and to deny and reject Him is folly with eternal consequence.
i) But it also means that what we believe about Jesus has great implications both this life and that eternal state that awaits us.
ii) We have in the scriptures God's word, His revelation of Himself to mankind, an inexhaustible source of living water that will satisfy our deepest thirsts; it will provoke us to unending depths, and fill us with incomprable awe and wonder, as we search out the eternal truths it contains.
(1) The written word is the revelation of the incarnate word, who restores life to those from a race that is spiritually dead because of sin who turn to Him in faith and receive it.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
D. Now we are not told it here by Luke, but no one was able to answer Him
Matthew 22:46 (NKJV)
46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
III. And in their silence He gives a warning
Luke 20:45-47 (NKJV)
45 Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples,
46 “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts,
47 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
A. In the hearing of all the people He declares that the experts of the law, that is the scribes are dangerous to have around because in there hypocrisy, their desire for adulation, they infected others with false truth, and led them on a road to destruction.
1. And He warns greater is their condemnation, religious leaders, those who teach others and instruct them in the ways of God have a great responsibility and therefore a greater condemnation for getting it wrong, or being self-serving like these men.
James 3:1 (NKJV)
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
2. Watch out for these men are still around, they are wolves dressed to look like sheep...
a. And they are looking to devour you, to pull you into their idea of God and all that goes with it... Rather than God's revelation of Himself.

IV. Religious men like the religious leaders may have missed it or rejected it but let not you and I miss the treasure that is our in Jesus Christ.
A. Paul declared
Ephesians 3:8 (NKJV)
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 2:2-3 (NKJV)
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Romans 11:33 (NKJV)
33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
1. In our hands or on our laps, within our grasp are the Holy Scriptures which contain a treasure map to riches and treasure beyond our wildest dreams, eternal treasure that wont rust, rot, and that thieves can't steal it
Matthew 6:19-21 (NKJV)
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;
20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
2. The key to the treasure is a right understanding and relationship with God.
3. If you want to see what God is like look at Jesus
John 14:9 (NKJV)
9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Colossians 1:15 (NKJV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
4. What is the soil (the condition) of your heart today?
Luke 8:11-15 (NKJV)
11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.
14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.

a. Hard soil - soak it in water (the word) and put a gaurd up so the ground can get soft and the enemy can't rob you of the truth
b. Shallow soil - Add some depth, don't respond only with emotions, take some time to deepen your understanding (study and classes??) apply yourselves.
c. Crowded soil - weed some of the stuff out of your life that keep you from enjoying reading and meditation on the word of God,
d. Good soil - continue to feed the soil of your heart
e. In addition to the word, fellowship, prayer, and service may help (watch out for just business though, it can be a real trap).
B. Enjoy the Lord and the things of God, develop an appetite for Godliness.
Psalm 34:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
9 Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.
10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.