Matthew 22:34-46 "The Greatest Commandment" and "David's Son"

This past Sunday's sermon covered the "Greatest Commandment" and the verses that stymied Jesus' detractors concerning "Whose Son is the Christ".  The question I'll ask of you is "How best do we show our love for our God"? and the answer that I will assert is best suited is "by loving God's children".  If we love our Lord, we must then love His children.  By loving our neighbor as much as we love ourselves we are living out our love for God.

The verses on the "Son of David" are a warning to not be overly literal in our approach to scripture. If we take the verses literally, then it is indeed befuddling as to how David can call the Messiah "Lord" when the Messiah is to be David's son. (any male child that is a descendant of David's no matter how many generations down the line would be considered his son)  But, if we focus not on the earthly genealogy of Christ, but rather stay focused on His spiritual genealogy, we can understand that this "Son of God" whom we call Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah. As followers of Christ, we are not to fixate on His earthly heritage but to recognize His heavenly heritage.

Remember to... "be a blessing to someone today"!

In His Grace & Love,
Roy

Matthew 22:34-46  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The Greatest Commandment
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, 35 and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

The Question about David’s Son
41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 “What do you think of the Messiah?[a] Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David by the Spirit[b] calls him Lord, saying,

44 ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,
    until I put your enemies under your feet”’?
45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Footnotes:
a) Matthew 22:42 Or Christ
b) Matthew 22:43 Gk in spirit


Leviticus 19:18  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Deuteronomy 6:5  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.

Psalm 110:1  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1 The Lord says to my lord,
    “Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Hosea 6:6  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,

    the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Mark 12:33  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
33 and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”