41 While the Pharisees were still gathered, Jesus asked them, 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”
They answered him, “David’s.”
43 He said to them, “Then how can David, guided by the Spirit, call him Lord? David says,
44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Take the honored position—the one next to me [God the Father] on the heavenly throne
until I put your enemies under your control.”’
45 If David calls him Lord, how can he be his son?”
46 No one could answer him, and from that time on no one dared to ask him another question.
Read Matthew 22:41-46 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
If there was something in Jesus’ ministry that bothered Him, most likely it was being challenged by the Pharisees and other religious leaders. One does not need to move too far into any one of the gospels before reading about someone coming to question or trap Jesus.
However, what prompts me to think that this bothered Jesus is from what we read in this entry’s passage. After a series of trap questions, Jesus counter-challenges the challengers with a question of His own: “If David calls him [the Messiah] Lord, how can he be his son?” (v. 45)
From Matthew’s details of this event, we learn that this question stumps and silences all those present – and “from that time on no one dared to ask him another question.” (v. 46)
This event teaches us an important aspect of Jesus’ character – and God’s character too. Up to this point, it would seem as though Jesus was taking a passive or reactive role to those who challenged Him. Basically, He would wait for a challenge before countering it. In this regard, the Pharisee’s and religious leaders have the upper hand, because they can think and craft the question and options over time, while Jesus has to respond with something on the spot. Even with all the time in the world – up to that point – the Pharisees and leaders didn’t succeed in their attempts.
However, Jesus seems to be tired of the constant challenges, so He turns the tables and asks the leaders a question of His own – a question that stumps all of them.
This tells me that after all the challenges we choose to throw at God, we should be ready for a counter-challenge to return. While God starts off accepting and answering the challenges, there is a point where He turns the tables and will challenge those who challenged Him.
In the broad span of recent history, it seems as though God has been silent to the challenges sent His way, but we can learn from this passage that there will be a point when He answers – and then gives a counter-challenge that no one will be able to refute.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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