The Incarnation
The Son Of David
Introduction
There is a passage in the Bible in 1 Cor 1:22 which says;
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
The Bible presents interestingly presents, not only two, but three types of people in the world when it comes to how they perceive something to be true.
Some seek after signs, (the Jews REQUIRED THEM) They look for evidence of proof usually from a divine or supernatural origin, (a lightning strike on command, a lifting of a natural law, an event that could not reasonably come about by chance alone). Sometimes it might be through a dream of a vision, something quite real and that fits a certain criteria in an individuals mind or circumstances.
The Bible indicates that the jews were identified as such people. But it is not unique only to them, the last days deceptions will be filled with “lying signs and wonders, (2Thess 2:9) and, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Mt 24:24).
Some seek after a logical, comprehensive, consideration of the facts, able to be ascertained with the rational mind. The bible presents such people as those who seek after wisdom, the Greeks seek after wisdom: They are wanting ONLY to have a logical understanding of an issue or doctrine, that does not contradict, and do not give much credence to the “signs” the jews have as priority to knowledge. These are the “philosophers” of yesterday and today. Only ideas that makes sense are sensible.
The Bible refers to these two groups as jews and Gentiles, or Jews and Greeks;
But there is a third group, this is a group that combines both the signs and wisdom, but add unto their considerations faith, particularly faith in God.
They don’t profess to understand exactly how it comes together, but admit the truth of what they have learned because, by and large both signs and wisdom meet somewhat imperfectly, but it is confirmed by God as true.
Turn to
Paul here speaking evidently to the greeks, the Gentile church at Corinth Greece.
1 Corinthians 1:17–24
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
This morning we are going to speak about what is known in theology as The Incarnation, about Jesus Christ as “God manifest in the flesh” (1 Tim 3:16), about “the word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:14), the perfect sign filled, wisdom filled and biblical truth that God became man, that when Jesus told Phillip, “he that hath seen me, hath seen the father” (Jn 14:9), Jesus was claiming that he is the fullness of God.
It is one of the most difficult concepts to grasp, and Jesus employs this truth to confound the Jews in the passage we read above.
The Title of the Message is, The Son Of David, (AKA . The Incarnation).
That God the Son, became The Son of God, The son of David and did so that you and I may become the children of God. Jesus became a man and will remain a man forever because you and I could never have been saved otherwise.
The Son Of David
The Incarnation
What Think Ye Of Christ?
Matthew 22:41–46
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
THE CONTEXT
So much had already occurred the day before this particular encounter with the Pharisees.
It began in chapter 18 when Jesus would fulfil two of the most incredible and the most important prophecies of all concerning himself and the people of Israel.
Firstly Jesus presented himself as the King of Israel on the very day spoken of by the prophet Daniel 483 years earlier. This is recorded for you Daniel 9:25.
How it was that Jesus would make his appearance was identified in Zechariah 9:9 and confessed to in the text in the previous chapter of Matt 21:4-5 as to the fulfilment of it;
4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
When the “multitudes” who had understanding of the signs of the times (Mt 16:3), recognised the ancient details concerning his coming, they began to cry out and say “…, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:9,
And thereby fulfilling YET ANOTHER ANCIENT PROPHECY written about 1,000 years earlier in Psalm 118.
You see, it was the common people who understood that he was the Christ.
That this man was the fulfilment of Psalm 118:19-24 concerning the Son of David; that he was the fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9 concerning the coming King of Israel, and that he was
lastly the fulfilment of Daniel 9:25 concerning the promised coming of the Messiah; they were not ignorant of the sings that followed Christ, but their leaders were!
Sadly, the leaders, the Pharisees who were CHARGED to KNOW of the signs of his coming, would not accept what the SAW TO BE TRUE.
John 11:47–48
47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
Unlike Saul, who became the Apostle Paul, it was WILFUL IGNORANCE THAT condemned these leaders, not just ignorance.
But his presentation to the nation as King is so valuable to have been recorded by the Lord that it is one of the rare events recorded in all four of the Gospel accounts (Mt 21:9, Mark 11:9, Lk 19:38 & Jn 12:13).
Yet before the day is out, Jesus makes his way to the temple (His Temple), where he SHOULD sit upon his thrown to the expectation of the Nation (Mt 21:12), instead of the people expecting his coming he sees his holy temple turned into a market place of extortion;
Matthew 21:12–13
12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
This too however is an event John records is the fulfilment of another thousand year old prophecy in Psalm 69:9, saying:
John 2:17
17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
The following morning Jesus returned to the city, cursed a fig tree along the way, encouraged his disciples, and came to the Temple where questions began to be asked of him, first genuine questions it seems, but then malevolent, not sincerely, intending to trap him that they may accuse and kill him.
Then Jesus asked them several questions in the form of parables until the midway point of Matthew 22; this was where a change in motive occurred in the heart of the Pharisees.
Now they determined to entrap him in his speech from Mt 22:15 until Jesus hits them with a checkmate move in the passage we will consider this morning at the end of Matt 22.
When it comes to the reality of Christ, how do the Jews come to the truth? How do the people you share the Gospel with? How do you?
Signs, Wisdom, Faith or all combined?
The question Jesus asked the Jews is the same question we are all to answer;
What think ye of Christ?
This is not an insignificant question, it is more than a matter of life and death.
How you answer that question will determine the single most important aspect of your existence. The right answer based on nothing OTHER than what is said in the Bible, will gain for you eternal life and the greatest ….. I actually don’t think I have the words that could describe the glory that is awaiting those that Love God, even the Bible itself says;
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
What think ye of Christ?
The question must be answered. No answer is an answer, the wrong answer is an answer.
Was he just a man? A good man with good words?
Was he a mythical figment of the imaginations of men? Did we really alter the dating system of the entire world for the sake of a myth? Or did those near the time of Christ understand who he is?
Is he the messiah? The Son of David, the Son of God? The Saviour of the world?
Whose Son Is He?
Matthew 22:41–46
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Immediately we get the impression from the Lord that this may very well be a loaded question. One which, on the surface seems simple enough, but dig a little deeper and we will find its implication to be nothing short of amazing.
What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
It is a question that has no doubt plagued the Jews well before they ever considered this question. But let us consider it for a moment.
Turn to Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 7:10–16
10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying, 11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. 12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD. 13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. 16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
That last verse is important, for both the northern and the southern Kingdom will lose their respective Kings, both will be taken away; the former northern 10 tribes taken by the Assyrian Empire and not seen again, the latter Southern Kingdom of Judah, taken by the Babylonian Empire and restored after seventy years, BUT WITHOUT A KING to govern them.
This Virgin born Child will therefore not be born UNTIL the land is forsaken of both her kings.
To give the proper consideration as to the name of this “son” the virgin shall bear, especially as we recognise that the name in the passage of Isaiah is not ‘Jesus’ but “Immanuel”, it is in the New Testament that we have the inspired interpretation of the name and where we come to realise the Incarnation of Christ.
Matthew 1:18–23
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?
Is that really his name? The name of the one that is to be born of a virgin is “God with us”?
The prophecy concerning the Virgin birth is the most astounding prophecy of all.
King Ahaz lived some 700 years before Christ and was given this “Sign” that the Son of God would come through a virgin and his name by interpretation would be “God with us” Emanuel!
1 Timothy 3:16
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh,justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
John 1:1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Matthew 22:41–46
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
The Son Of David
Matthew 22:41–42
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
We have four gospel accounts in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. They are four accounts that have some great similarities. The synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are very similar compared to that of John.
Each account speak of Christ from a different perspective.
Matthew speaks of Jesus as the fulfilment of prophecy respecting the coming King of Israel. He has a genealogical accounts from the the time of Abraham to Christ and introduces him as ‘the son of David” in the very first verse. It speaks of Christ as The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, AND from the Royal Line of the Kings of Judah, through David. If the kings of Israel had continued to the time of Christ, Jesus would be the legalheir to the throne after his father Joseph.
The gospel of Mark pictures Christ as the suffering servant, a labour intensive book testifying to Christ as the one labouring for the ministry. It moves quickly through the events of Christ, but does not have a genealogical account of him.
Luke sees Christ as The Man. Luke is a physician and it is interesting that he gives the greatest detail as to the birth of Christ. His is also the only account that sees Christ as a twelve year old, “sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.”[1]
The account in Luke is also the only one that portrays the suffering of Christ prior to his crucifixion as praying in the garden “and being in agony”, with “his sweat as it were great drops of blood falling to the ground”, a condition we understand today called “Hematidrosis” and, according to webmd is;
“caused by extreme distress or fear, such as facing death, torture, or severe ongoing abuse”[2](webmd)
Luke also has the ONLY other genealogical account, running backwards from Christ all the way through to Adam. Luke and Matthew are also the ONLY two Gospel accounts that speak of Jesus as “The Son of David”.
John’s Gospel account is itself very different, though it also has similar events, its language is incredibly elevated, it presents Christ, not as the Son of David, but as the Son of God and God the Son.
Interesting parallels that can be traced to Ezekiel’s vision of the Lion, the Ox, the Man and the Eagle in Ezekiel 1
So each account of Christ in the gospels have their own respective presentation of Jesus, but it is Jesus as ‘The son of David’ that draws our attention in this ‘question and answer session’.
As mentioned, Matthew and Luke are the only ones that use the phrase “Son of David” and are ALSO the only ones that have a geological account, is that significant?
Matthew’s account is from Abraham to Jesus, and Luke’s from Jesus back to Adam the first “son of God”.
Curiously however, the accounts in Matthew and Luke are not exactly the same from where they take off at king David.
Indeed, they are the same from Abraham to King David, but Luke’s account takes a dramatic turn after David.
Luke 3:23–24
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli, 24 Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, etc
Go forward to verse 31
Luke 3:31–32
31 Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David, 32 Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, etc,
You can see clearly that in the account of Luke, the text takes us up through the line of Nathan to king David.
Now turn to Matthew’s account in the first chapter;
The first verse presents him as “the son of David” and brings us down through Abraham and verse 6 begins the journey toward David and his first surviving son of Bathsheba, king Solomon;
Matthew 1:6
6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias; 7 And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
Clearly, Matthew has taken a different route and yet both lead to Christ.
Evidently what we see are two lines; one through the line of Joseph, which we see as the Royal Line; but the other evidently through Mary, which, coming from Luke the Physician, shows the “Blood line” as per the virgin Birth;
(Jesus was not of the bloodline of Joseph, but Mary.)
The phrasing when coming to Joseph the husband of Mary in both accounts give away that fact;
Luke 3:23
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
Matthew 1:16
16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
You can see both texts are very careful NOT to speak of Jospeh directly as the father of Christ.
Both accounts present him as The Son of David, and both end at Jesus, one through Joseph in an account that particularly presents Jesus as The King of Israel and the Royal heir to the thrown; the other through Mary, the bloodline continuation from David, by Luke the Physician, that also particularly presents Christ as The Man!
But WHY?
Other than those two interesting facts, Why two accounts? Is there another reason?
Turn back in your Bibles to Jeremiah 22;
We recall earlier that the virgin will conceive but not before the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. (Isa 7:16)
This passage in Jeremiah gives the account of the final King of the house of David, one of the most evil kings in that Royal line;
Read the words of God and hear the strength of the oath laid against the Royal line of David;
Jeremiah 22:28–30
28 Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? 29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. 30 Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.
A blood curse was placed upon this royal line fourteen generations removed from King David.
Though no man of his seed will prosper, Christ is of the legal line through Solomon, while his bloodline comes down through Nathan, the bother of Solomon, the son of David, and also of Bathsheba.
Mary is identified with the bloodline of King David, while Joseph is the Legal, Royal descendant of King David, THE VIRGIN BIRTH THEREFORE makes Jesus Christ, the ONLY POSSIBLE RIGHTFUL CURSE-LESS HEIR to the Throne of Israel, as THE SON OF DAVID!!!!
How then doth David … call him Lord
David Called Him Lord
Matthew 22:41–46
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. 43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, 44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? 45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? 46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
It is simply not possible for David the King, to refer to any son of his, let alone one 28 generations removed, as LORD, with a Title referencing him as having a legal and hierarchical standard above his own, UNLESS he was LORD over him.
To this the Pharisees could not answer, and from this point durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions..
You however, have the answer, it is given you.
You can see by wisdom the truth laid out before you, YOU saw also by the sign of the virgin birth the miracle of Christ, you now are left ONLY with the need of faith to believe God at his word;
“What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?”
You have seen that his incarnation was spoken of and written off centuries before it occurred as a sign, a great sign, even the greatest sign in Isaiah 7.
You have seen how carefully the Bible handled the matter concerning the purity of his coming and the impossibility of any contradiction in the Bible respecting his birthright to the throne of David.
You witnessed it today, that Christ and Christ alone, indeed, none other but Christ could EVER sit on the Throne of David and prosper, not with such a curse placed upon it; his adopting father Joseph COULD NEVER HAVE BEEN King, because he is descended from the cursed line after Jeconiah, though he is the LEGAL Heir; it REQUIRED the virgin birth to carry both the bloodline AND the LEGAL ROYAL line to be the Son of David.
It required THE INCARNATION OF THE SON OF GOD.
“What think ye of Christ?”
Charles haddon Spurgeon furnishes us with a good summary on the matter;
By coming down from Heaven to this earth, and taking upon Himself our nature, He bridged the otherwise bridgeless gulf between God and man;
What amazing condescension is it that God, who made all things, should assume the nature of one of His own creatures, that the Self-existent should be united with the dependent and derived, and the Almighty linked with the feeble and mortal!
How can it be that God would become man that is but dust?
Yet, to realize in it something that is still more remarkable, remember that the creature whose nature Christ took was a being who had sinned against Him. I can more readily conceive of the Lord taking upon Himself the nature of a race which had never fallen; but, lo! man stood in rebellion against God, and yet a man did Christ become, that He might deliver us from the consequences of our rebellion, and lift us up to something higher than our pristine purity.[3]
In the courts of law in nations around the world, a man is judged by a jury of his peers, carefully selected to ensure the judgment is as just as man can have it.
The judge who sits upon his throne, is also a man who lays out the judgement to the man condemned or sets him free.
God the Son, eternal and from everlasting, with neither beginning of days nor end of life, became a man, that he may, as a man, is able to judge man as his peer.
Christ alone has the right to both judge and condemn man, or set him free if his crime is paid for.
As man, Christ suffered and died the death man should die, and gave himself as a sacrifice for the crimes all have committed against God. A just sacrifice as a man, and a full payment for all men as God manifest in the flesh.
Therefore, Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone, as both man and God, as both the sacrificial lamb of God that “taketh away the sin of the world” and Judge of all mankind, having paid the penalty of our sins, rose again and now sits at the right hand of the father, able to both acquit those who will believe CHRIST IS LORD and paid for their sins, or condemn forever the sins of the wicked.
The only question that remains is “What think ye of Christ?”
He is coming to judge both the quick and the dead, he is coming for his church, and every day the news tells us his return is getting closer.
Every day you are given life to continue is a gift only, every breath is only ever taken in anticipation for the next one…no promise is given you if you remain dead in trespass and sin.
“What think ye of Christ?”
Maranatha.
Amen.
{$NOTE_LABEL}. https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/hematidrosis-hematohidrosis
[3]. Spurgeon, C.H. (2009) Christ’s Incarnation: The foundation of Christianity. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, p. 46.
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