Learning from Jesus is a constant thing. His Spirit speaks to us all the time–if we will take time to listen.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.

During these days of teaching in the temple courts, Jesus shared some wonderful truths. The first was due to a question by one of the experts of the law. Mark 12:32-34 shows that he really was an expert in the law and had a pretty good grasp on its meaning.

The Greatest Commandment

³⁴ Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together [again]. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind [Deuteronomy 6:5].’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself [Leviticus 19:18].’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40

³² “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ³³ To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices [based on 1 Samuel 15:22].”

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions. Mark 12:32-34

Since that exchange had stopped them asking questions, Jesus asked them one of His own (asking questions to make their students think and come to the right conclusion was the mode of teaching back then).

Whose Son Is the Messiah?

⁴¹ While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, ⁴² “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?”

“The son of David,” they replied.

⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him ‘Lord’? For he says,

⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord:
    “Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
    under your feet [Psalm 110:1].”’

⁴⁵ If then David calls him ‘Lord,’ how can he be his son?” ⁴⁶ No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions. Matthew 22:41-46

The leading question of Jesus was based upon Isaiah 9:6-7 and Jeremiah 33:17-18. The latter reference gives us one more clue, which is that Jesus is not only King, but High Priest:

¹⁷ For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, ¹⁸ nor will the Levitical priests ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.’”

Of course, we know that it is the sacrifice of Jesus that completed all sin offerings. Hebrews tells us so in Hebrews 9:25-26.

Also, Jesus’ use of Psalm 110:1, which was to them a Messianic verse, identified Him with the Messiah. The question was, “How can the King of David be His son at the same time?” Jesus was giving them an explanation of His coming as a person rather than straight from His throne. But, it wasn’t time for Him to do that, yet. He still had to go to the cross, die, be buried, wait, rise again, appear many times, and then ascend back to His throne. Now, He waits for a word from His Father to come and get His Bride. I can hardly wait!

Abba, as we go to our respective churches this morning, may you place upon each of us an awe of being in Your presence in a special way. When we get together as Your children to praise You and worship You, Your Spirit confirms in each of us first our own salvation and relationship with You, and then the connection we all have with each other through that same Spirit. Bind our hearts together this morning, Lord. Have Your way in us. Be magnified in us and by us, O Lord. Amen.