Inferior and Superior...At the Same Time

It is still Tuesday.  It is still Passion Week, and Jesus is still dialoging with those who want to trap Him in the temple courts. 

 

He has taken several tests given by the religious leaders of the day, all of which He has aced! He aced the political test from the Pharisees concerning paying taxes.  He aced the theological test from the Sadducees concerning the resurrection.  He aced the religious test from the Scribes concerning the greatest commandment.

 

After attempting to trap Him on several occasions with several different tests, Mark 12:34 says, “But after that no one dared question Him.”  However, it was now time for Jesus to ask some questions of His own, and He would ask them of the Scribes who previously questioned Him.

 

Today’s Message from Mark 12:35-40 is entitled, “Inferior and Superior…At the Same Time.”

 

 

1. A Clarification about the Son’s Being, Mark 12:35-37

35 Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? 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.”’  37 Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?”  And the common people heard Him gladly. 

 

In these first three verses, Jesus asked two questions.  Jesus’ first question is in verse 35, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David?”

 

Remember, the scribes were more than likely Pharisees, and they were experts in the Law.  They knew the Scriptures well, and it was standard Jewish belief and conviction that the Christ or Messiah would come from the physical line of David.  The scribes were right in their understanding as see in the OT and NT.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7, 6 For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

Jeremiah 23:5-6, 5 “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord,

“That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

6 In His days Judah will be saved,

And Israel will dwell safely;

Now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

 

Matthew 1:6, 16, 6 and Jesse begot David the king.  David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah.  16 And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.

 

Luke 3:23, 31, 23 Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, 31 the son of Melea, the son of Menan, the son of Mattathah, the son of Nathan, the son of David,

 

Jesus’ second question is in verse 37, “How is He then his Son?”  Before Jesus asked this second question, He reminded the scribes of that which David said in the most quoted Psalm in the NT.  Peter quoted this Psalm in Acts 2.  Paul used it in 1 Corinthians 15, and the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 1.

 

In Psalm 110:1, God the Father (Jehovah or Yahweh) is talking to the Messiah (Adonai).  In Mark 12:37, Jesus sprung His punch line. 

 

David called the One who would come from his line “Lord” or “Messiah.”  How can this be?  A father would never be in subjection or inferior to his son.  He would never call his son a name of authority or superiority.  In what sense was and is Jesus David’s son?

 

He certainly is the physical son of David, and at the same time, He is David’s Lord.  He is the Son of God.  The Jesus they were talking to was the Christ, the Messiah.  He was the physical son of David, and He was the Son of God making Him divine! 

 

Jesus was and is both man and God.  He is inferior in that He is David’s Son.  However, is superior at the same time as David’s Lord.

 

 

1. The Condemnation of the Scribes’ Behavior, Mark 12:38-40

38 Then He said to them in His teaching, “Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, 39 the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, 40 who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”

 

In verses 38-40, Jesus warned and condemned the scribes’ hypocritical behavior.  They liked to walk around in long robes.  These were white robes designating devout and noted scholar as opposed to the colorful robes of the common people.

 

They liked respectful greetings in the market places.  These included Rabbi, Teacher, Master, and Father.

 

They liked the best seats in the synagogues.  These were situated in front of the chest containing the sacred scrolls of Scripture and facing the congregation.

They liked places of honor at banquets.  These spots next to the host so as to receive preferential treatment.

                                                             

Verse 40 perhaps speaks to their most atrocious behavior.  The scribes received no monetary pay for their temple services.  However, they were often estate planners for the widows and would convince them of their own piety through long prayers that encouraged them to serve God by supporting the temple or the scribe’s holy work.  The longer they prayed, the more they would get paid!  Jesus pronounced severe punishment for their actions!

 

 

Conclusions/Applications

First, we must be settled on the fact that the Bible is true.  In verse 36, Jesus reminded us that Psalm 110 was not just David’s words but the Holy Spirit’s.  That is also true of Moses and Solomon and Matthew and Mark and John and Paul and Peter. 

 

2 Timothy 3:16, 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

 

If God cannot lie, His word must be true in whatever it addresses.  That includes science, history, geography, whatever.

 

Second, we must be settled on the fact that Jesus is God.  He is man, but He is also God.  He is inferior and superior at that same time. 

 

Students, and Moms and Dads, your student will hear in college philosophy 101 that He was possibly a liar.  He was not.

 

Others will say He was just a great moral teacher with the likes of Moses and Confucius and Socrates and Gandhi.  He was not. 

 

There will even be those that say He was a crazy man.  He was not. 

 

The Biblical fact is that was and is Son of the God and Savior of the world and only way to be at peace with the Father. 

 

Finally, sin is bad.  We often say that all sin is equal.  Is that true?  It is not equal in earthly consequences.  It doesn’t appear to be true here.  These scribes will receive greater condemnation.

 

However, the greatest sin is rejecting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord.  You cannot save yourself, but Jesus can and will when you answer that call to put your faith and trust in Him.