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.

– Mark 12:35-37 (NKJV)

When I was in seminary I showed up early for a workshop and was eating in the cafeteria. I got into a great conversation with a man who was also there for the workshop. I was blown away when I showed up at the workshop and found out that he was actually one of the speakers on a panel! He was there for the workshop, but he wasn’t there to study like I was. He was there to teach!

The scribes in Jesus’ day had deduced that the Messiah would be a descendent of David. Which was true and there are many times in the New Testament where Jesus is referred to by the messianic title, “Son of David.” Even the blind man earlier in Mark called Jesus by the title, “Son of David” (Mark 10:47). Jesus is not disputing that the Messiah is descended from David. What Jesus wants folks to see is that He, the Messiah, is more than descended from David.

Jesus points to the scripture in Psalm 110. The Messiah is greater than David because David calls Him “My Lord.” David under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit shows honor and deference to the Messiah.

Jesus was pointing out something that was already written in the Old Testament. He is helping people understand what is already plainly there in the text. That is called exposition. He is helping make God’s word clear to the audience. He isn’t pitting his teaching against the Scribes as much as he is saying, “here is a place where they have half the truth, but there has to be more to it than that because of what David says in Psalm 110.”

Ultimately the truth Jesus was pointing out was about him. He was the son of David, but he was more than the son of David. He is the Son of God! Jesus isn’t leaving us room to call him just a great man. We must recognize that he is more than just a great guy or a teacher, but that he is God!

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. Thankyou for the gift of your word that helps us know about you. Please give us insight and understanding into every part of your word, even small things like pronouns help us understand great things like the divinity of Jesus. We ask for guidance to know your word in it’s context and application to our daily lives. Please give us discernment as we seek to live out you word. In Jesus Name, Amen.