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In teaching his interrogators to love God, Jesus proceeds to direct them to the God they ought to love. This question, "What think ye of Christ?" was put to a representative assembly - Herodians, Sadducees, scribes or Karaites, and especially Pharisees, beside his disciples and the people. By proposing this one question of moment, Jesus proves the folly of those who by malevolent questions would prove his wisdom. It showed them that ignorance of the prophecies was the source of their captiousness. The question is for us.

I. WHAT THINK YE OF THE SONSHIP OF CHRIST?

1. He is the "Son of David.

(1) The covenant, of God was established with David. This purported that Messiah should appear in his line. The promise of the saving Seed was limited to Seth in the family of Adam; then to Shem in the family of Noah; then to Abraham in the line of Shem. The covenant was carried on from Abraham through Isaac to Jacob, and from Jacob through Judah to David (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-17; Psalm 89:27-37).

(2) Thenceforward the Son of David" became a prophetic title of Messiah (see Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5, 6; Jeremiah 33:15, 16). The "Son" of whom David sings in his psalms referred to Solomon only as the type of Messiah (see Psalm 72:1).

(3) "Is not this the carpenter's son?" But the "carpenter" was "of the house and lineage of David." So was Mary the poor virgin. What vicissitudes in families! How God makes grandeur to spring out of humiliation!

(4) Why are not the Jews convinced that Messiah must have appeared before the destruction of Jerusalem? For the national genealogies then perished, and nobody can now prove himself to be the son of David. But the genealogy of Jesus was proved at the enrolment for the taxation in the days of Caesar Augustus, when the records were intact, and is recited in the Gospels.

2. He is the Son of God.

(1) "Jehovah said unto Adonai. This term is properly applied to superiors, sometimes it is by courtesy given to equals, but never to inferiors. David, as an independent monarch, acknowledges no superior but God.

(2) David in the Spirit called him Lord." Note: Jesus here credits the Old Testament writers with Divine inspiration (cf. 2 Samuel 23:2; Acts 1:16; Acts 2:30). David in the Holy Spirit of prophecy called him Lord.

(3) He was David's Lord before he became his Son. What can more emphatically mark the Divinity of Christ? How else could he be David's Lord, who was not to be born for ages after him, and was certainly to exercise no secular dominion over him?

3. He is at once the Son of David and the Son of God.

(1) As the Son of David, his humanity was real. As the Lord of David, his Divinity is evident. Acknowledge here the glorious mystery of the Incarnation.

(2) This mystery Jesus more fully unfolded after his resurrection (see Revelation 22:16).

(3) So is he qualified to be the one Mediator between God and man.

(4) In his Divine humanity Jesus pledges our regeneration and transfiguration.

II. WHAT THINK YE OF HIS CHRISTSHIP? As the Sonship is a rule of nature, the Christship is a title of office.

1. As the Christ he is our Prophet.

(1) Moses calls universal attention to him in this capacity (see Deuteronomy 18:15, 19). And in this capacity he is authenticated (see ch. 17:5).

(2) In his character of Prophet or Teacher he silenced the gainsaying of Herodians, Pharisees, Karaites, and Sadducees.

(3) As the great Prophet he gives us his perfect law of liberty with the institution of the ministry to proclaim it. He also gives us with his Word his own Holy Spirit of illumination. "A wonderful fashion of teaching he hath."

2. As the Christ he is our Priest.

(1) A Priest not after the order of Aaron. For "our Lord sprang out of Judah" (see Hebrews 7:13, 14). Yet Aaron was his type.

(2) His priesthood is "after the order of Melchizedek." So we learn from the psalm here quoted (Psalm 110.). His priesthood is royal. It is made with an oath. It is a priesthood in the heavens. The ascension of Christ is referred to in every instance in which the hundred and tenth psalm is quoted in the New Testament. It is an unchangeable and an everlasting priesthood.

(3) Our great Priest offers himself in sacrifice for us. When Cyrus took the King of Armenia and his son Tigranes prisoners, with their wives and children, and upon their humble submission gave them their liberties and their lives, Tigrancs, as they were returning home, asked his wife, "What thinkest thou of Cyrus? Is he not a comely and a proper man, of a majestic presence?" "Truly," said she, "I know not what manner of man he is; I never looked upon him." "Why," said he, "where were thine eyes all the while?" "I fixed mine eyes all the while," said she, "upon him [meaning her husband] who, in my hearing, offered to Cyrus to lay down his life for my ransom."

3. As the Christ he is our King.

(1) He is the King of glory. Sitting on the right hand implies participation in the regal power. But the Lord of David is on the right hand of Jehovah.

(2) His rule is spiritual. The dominion to which David himself is subject implies a heavenly King and a heavenly kingdom.

(3) Christ subdues his enemies by the power of love. Those who comply with his terms of salvation he makes victorious over sin, death, and hell.

(4) Those who refuse the rule of love will be compelled to feel the rod of iron (see Psalm 110:5, 6). We may estimate our character by our views of Christ. Some do not think of him at all. Some think too meanly of him, Some think too hardly of him. His true bride will esteem him "the fairest among ten thousand, and the altogether lovely." - J.A.M.

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KJV: While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

WEB: Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question,