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WHOSE SON?
SATURDAY, MARCH 5
Mark 12:35-44

Matthew 23:1-39

 

“…How say the scribes that

Christ is the Son of David?”

 

WHOSE SON?
 
Jesus asked a simple and yet profound question, “How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?” (Mark 12:35). The scribes themselves knew full well that the Messiah was from David’s line (cf. 2 Sam 7:12- 14). It must be said that the Messiah was not only the Son of David, but also Son of God. This is clearly seen in the book of Psalms, where David called Jesus “Lord,” saying, “The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son?” (Mark 12:36,37 cf. Ps 110). David, who wrote this psalm under divine inspiration, presented the LORD (YHWH, i.e. Jehovah) as telling David’s Lord (Adonai, i.e. the Messiah) to sit at His right hand of kingship and authority. If the Messiah was David’s son, why did David address Him as Lord? Why and how was David inferior to his son? The Pharisees were stumped. They could not answer for they were spiritually blind. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor 2:13,14).
 
Jesus not only taught the truth, but also warned against error. Here, He publicly denounced the hypocrisy of Israel’s religious teachers, pronouncing eight woes on them (Matt 23:13-33). Teachers indeed shall receive the greater judgment (James 3:1). In the temple, there were receptacles for people to put their monetary offerings to God. Jesus saw the rich throwing in a lot of money. Then there came a poor widow, and she dropped in two cents. Jesus told His disciples that this poor widow had given much more than all the rest. The rest gave out of their wealth, but she out of her poverty. Jesus revealed that she gave all that she had—her very last cent. She did not care that she would end up having nothing at all. She loved God and trusted in Him. She believed that the Lord would provide for her, and even if He did not, she would still give up all, even her life. Do we have such faith?
 
THOUGHT: Have you been rendering to God your tithe and offerings?
PRAYER: (Praise the Lord our God with your lips, and worship Him with your substance.)

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