Chapter 95
Jesus Christ - The Only Begotten Son of God
Matthew 22:41-46
Before we begin this study let us pray.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We come before You in the name of Jesus Christ. Father God, as we go through this study, we ask You to please strengthen and our faith and belief that Jesus Christ is truly Your one and only begotten Son.
Amen
INTRODUCTION
We begin this chapter by reading a conversation Jesus once had with the Pharisees. The conversation of interest for this chapter is recorded in,
Matthew 22:41-46
[41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.” [43] He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
[44] ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?
[45] If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?” [46] And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
To see and understand who Jesus Christ really is, this chapter is divided into the following two distinct sections:
1. A study of the above conversation Jesus had with the Pharisees.
2. The message or point of this study.
We begin with an examination of,
THE CONVERSATION JESUS HAD WITH THE PHARISEES
Before we examine this conversation, it is important for us to remember that:
1. This conversation occurred after Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time. In other words, Jesus’ physical stay upon this earth was coming to an end.
The implication of this is that for approximately 3 1/2 years the Pharisees heard Jesus’ teaching and witnessed or heard about His many miracles.
2. The Pharisees took great pride in their understanding and obedience to the Old Testament Scriptures.
With this in mind, we begin our study by rereading Jesus’ question to the Pharisees as recorded in,
Matthew 22:41-42a
[41] While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, [42] saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
It is interesting to note that Jesus did not ask what the Pharisees thought about Him. Instead, Jesus asked what they thought about the Christ, which means “Messiah” or “Anointed One” or “God’s anointed One”.
Let us now reread the Pharisees’ response to Jesus’ question as recorded in,
Matthew 22:42b
They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
This raises the question as to; “Why did the Pharisees, identify the Christ as the Son of David?” Let us remember the Pharisees well versed in the Scriptures. Consequently, they likely recalled the following three of several prophecies concerning,
THE PHICAL LINEAGE OF THE CHRIST
First of all there was the prophecy from,
Isaiah 7:13-14
[13] Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also? [14] Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Let us notice the following verse,
13 … God through the prophet Isaiah was speaking to the house of David.
For the second prophecy we go to God’s prophet Jeremiah and read from,
Jeremiah 23:5-6
[5] “The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. [6] In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness."
In considering the above prophecy we come to realize that the Pharisees, elders, and many of the Jews were correct in believing that the Christ’s physical lineage was that of King David. To verify the validity of this belief we begin by reading Jesus’ physical lineage as recorded in,
Matthew 1:1-6a
[1] “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: [2] Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers,"
"[3] Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, [4] Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon," "[5] Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, [6] and Jesse the father of King David…,"
It is noted that up to this point of Jesus’ lineage both Joseph's and Mary's genealogies are the same (see Luke 3:23-34 for the lineage of Mary). In other words, from Abraham to King David both Joseph's and Mary's genealogies are identical.
In addition, from King David, Mary's lineage continues from Nathan, one of David's sons, where as Joseph's lineage continues from King Solomon, another one of King David's sons. Consequently, the physical lineage of Jesus Christ completely fulfills the Old Testament prophecies for the ancestry of the promised Messiah.
The third prophecy of interest is recorded in,
[2] “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me. The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”
It is noted that Bethlehem was identified as the house of David. To see this, let us read why Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem to register for Caesar Augustus’ Census. This is recorded for us in,
LUKE 2:1-5
[1] And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [2] This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. [3] So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. [4] Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [5] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.
Actually, King Herod, the chief priests and scribes were well aware that the king of the Jews would be born in Bethlehem. To see this, let us read the following conversation King Herod had with them after Herod’s conversation with the Magi. To do this we go to,
Matthew 2:1-6
[1] Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” [3] When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4] And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5] So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
[6]‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”
It is interesting to note that Jesus did not tell the Pharisees that their response was incomplete. Instead, Jesus asked them another question. To read what He asked, we go to,
Matthew 22:43-45
[43] He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
[44] ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?
[45] If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
This raises the question as to; “What was Jesus teaching the Pharisees, the elders and many of the Jews then and now us?” The answer to this question was that Jesus was revealing to them that they only spoke of the Christ’s physical lineage. More specifically, they did not provide the whole truth. In other words, they did not consider or recall many of the prophecies that reveal,
THE SPIRITUAL LINEAGE OF JESUS CHRIST
To see this let us review the following two of many prophecies that bring to light the Christ’s spiritual heritage.
First of all, the Pharisees did not consider or accept or forgotten what was also given through the prophet Isaiah and recorded in,
Isaiah 9:6-7
[6] For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[7] Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
The second prophecy they did not consider or accept or forgotten was given through the prophet Ezekiel. The prophecy of interest is recorded in,
Ezekiel 34:1-6
[1] And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, [2] “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? [3] You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. [4] The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. [5] So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. [6] My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.”
In other words, the Lord God sent Ezekiel to tell the shepherds of Israel how they failed to perform the duties He anointed them to do on His behalf.
The Lord God then, through Ezekiel, told the shepherds how He was going to remedy the situation. To read what the Lord God said to the apostate shepherds, we go to,
Ezekiel 34:7-10
[7] ‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: [8] “As I live,” says the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock”— [9] therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the Lord! [10] Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them.”
Instead of appointing new shepherds to care for His flock, the Lord God said He was going to do it Himself. To read what the Lord God said, we go to,
Ezekiel 34:11-16
[11] ‘For thus says the Lord GOD: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. [12] As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. [13] And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. [14] I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. [15] I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD. [16] “I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.”
It is interesting to note that prior to Jesus’ discussion with the Pharisees, Jesus made it clear that He was the promised good Shepherd. To read what Jesus said we go to,
John 10:11-18
[11] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. [12] But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. [13] The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. [14] I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. [15] As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. [17] “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. [18] No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”
Let us notice the following verses,
14a … Jesus knows His sheep, and
14b … Jesus’ sheep know Him.
15 … Jesus foretold that in order to save the life of His sheep, He was going to lay down His own physical life. Later in verses 17 &18 Jesus no one will take away His life. No! Jesus said, to save the lives of His sheep, He would freely lay down His Own physical life.
16a … The other flock Jesus referred to are the Gentiles.
16b … Jesus came to unite the two flocks, the Jews and Gentiles together. In other words, there will be one flock and one shepherd.
To expand upon this, let us read what the Holy Spirit said to the Gentile (non- Jewish) born again believers as it is recorded in,
Ephesians 2:11-21
[11] Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—[12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, [15] having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, [16] and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. [17] And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. [18] For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. [19] Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
Perhaps the best way to summarize this incredible blessing is by reading from.
Galatians 3:26-28
[26] For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. [27] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
This now brings us to,
THE FEAST OF DEDICATION
Before we read what occurred, it is noted that the Feast of Dedication was not one of the feasts instituted by Moses.
The Feast of Dedication, commonly titled Hanukkah, was yearly observed around December 23. The purpose of the feast was to celebrate the 165 BC rededication of the Temple after King Antiochus Epiphanes’ sacrificed of a pig on the altar and the poured out its blood upon the scrolls of the Old Testament.
It was during this Feast of Dedication that Jesus told the Jews He was the Christ. In other words, Jesus told them He came to fulfill God the Father’s promise that He, God, would shepherd His people.
To read what Jesus said, we go to,
John 10:22-30
[22] Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. [23] And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. [24] Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” [25] Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. [26] But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. [27] My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. [28] And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. [29] My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. [30] I and My Father are one.”
Let us notice the following verses,
25a … Jesus told the Jews that He already told them He is the Christ. Unfortunately, they did not believe Him.
25b … Jesus told them all the miracles He did bore witness to the truth that He is the promised Christ.
26 … Because they were not His sheep, they did not believe Jesus the Christ.
27a … Jesus’ sheep hear, understand, and know His voice.
27b … Jesus knows those who are His.
27c … Jesus’ sheep follow Him.
28 … Jesus Christ came to give His sheep eternal life.
30 … Jesus said; “I and My Father are one.”
The question arises as to whether or not the Jews understood what Jesus just told them. To find out, we return to the Feast of Dedication and read from,
John 10:31-33
[31] Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32] Jesus answered them, “Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?” [33] The Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a Man, make Yourself God.”
SUMMARY
In reflecting upon all we have covered thus far, we come to realize that it was only the physical lineage of Jesus Christ that traces back to King David. However, in addition His spiritual lineage comes directly from God the Father.
In other words,
JESUS IS THE CHRIST AND THE ONE AND ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD
Let us now return to Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees and reread how His conversation with the Pharisees ended. To do this we go to,
Matthew 22:43-45
[43] He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
[44] ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?
[45] If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
[46] And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
The question may arise as to; “Why the Pharisees, elders and the scribes, who were experts in the Law, did not completely recognize or accept Jesus’ true identity?” The answer to this question is provided in,
THE MESSAGE OR POINT OF THIS STUDY
Actually, there are three main points to be made,
First of all,
It is God the Father who reveals to us that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son.
To be sure we understand this correctly let us read about the time when Peter professed his faith in Jesus. To do this we go to,
Matthew 16:13-16
[13] When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” [14] So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” [15] He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” [16] Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
This brings us to the second point of our study.
We must first realize the words Jesus spoke and those written in the Bible are spiritual words. To see this, we go to the time when Jesus finished teaching the Jews that He is the Bread of life. To read what occurred we go to,
John 6:58-66
[58] “This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.” [59] These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum [60] Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” [61] When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? [62] What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? [63] It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Consequently, as it was for the apostles and the previous disciples of Jesus the Christ; it is the same for us. In other words, God the Father, through the ministry of God the Holy Spirit, reveals to us that Jesus Christ is His only begotten Son. He primarily does this through the written, the Bible, or through the spoken, preaching/teaching Word of God.
To see this we begin by reading the following background from the pen of the Apostle Paul. The Scripture of interest is found in,
1 Corinthians 2:7-9
[7] But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, [8] which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [9] But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Let us now read from,
1 Corinthians 2:10-14
[10] But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. [11] For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. [13] These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Let us notice the following verses,
12a … We, the born-again believer in Jesus Christ have received the Holy Spirit of God.
12b … We have been given the Holy Spirit so we can know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
14 … The natural man (those not filled with the Holy Spirit) cannot receive or understand the things of God. The reason for this is because things of the Spirit of God can only be spiritually discerned.
This raises the question of: “How does one receive the Holy Spirit so we can understand the Words of God?”
The answer to this question brings us to the third point of our study.
Specifically, we must go to God the Father and whole heartily ask Him for the Holy Spirit. To see this let us read from,
Luke 11:9-13
[9] “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. [11] If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? [13] If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
To summarize, let us read from,
Romans 10:17
[17] So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
In other words, faith comes by hearing (listening or reading) the Word of God.
However, hearing (understanding and accepting) the Word of God can only come from by the Word of God, that is God the Holy Spirit.
To expand upon this, let us read from,
John 20:30 -31
[30] And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; [31] but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
CLOSING
Let us recall that after Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisees, they did not ask Jesus or God the Father to help them to understand or explain to them what He was teaching them. Instead they just simply walked away.
What about us? Do we truly believe that Jesus is the Christ and the one and only begotten Son of God?
If not, are we going to behave like the Pharisees did and just simply walk away?
Remember, the issue at stake is whether or not you will have eternal life in the Paradise of God.
Shall We Pray?