The Day of Conflict

Matthew 22:41 – 23:11

GOLDEN TEXT: “The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.”
—Mark 12:10

THE events of today’s lesson seemed to have occurred on the day following the Master’s dramatic experiences in the temple when He drove out the money-changers. By that act He emphasized the fact that commercialism cannot properly be mixed with the worship and service of God. Today’s lesson brings to light a further fundamental requirement of acceptable service to God, namely, that of humility and self-abnegation.

Service that is rendered to God for any glory the servant may obtain from it, is not acceptable. Not that God doesn’t recognize and honor those who are faithful to Him. He does. We can rejoice when the time comes for God to exalt us, but if we attempt to exalt ourselves, then it will become necessary for God to humble us. If we humble ourselves, God’s part will be to exalt us, and such exaltation will be safe, and to His glory.

Jesus’ teachings came in conflict with those of the Pharisees in almost every instance. Either they were unable to answer His questions, or else their hearts were so far removed from the spirit of His precepts and example, that there was no common ground upon which they could discuss the things of God. Hence, whenever and wherever Jesus and the Pharisees met there was conflict.

Today’s lesson opens with Jesus propounding a question to the Pharisees—“What think ye of Christ? whose Son is He?” This question was not necessarily one intended to draw from the Pharisees an expression as to whether or not they thought Jesus was the Christ. It was a question rather to test their knowledge of and ability to interpret the Scriptures. It was as though Jesus had inquired: “According to your understanding, whose Son will the Messiah be?” This seemed like a simple question, and they were quick to answer, “The Son of David.”

They were right, but when Jesus asked them to harmonize their answer with what David himself had said about the Messiah, they couldn’t do it. Jesus reminded the Pharisees that David had referred to the Messiah as his Lord. It was not customary for a father to refer to his son as lord, and Jesus wanted the Pharisees to explain why David seemingly had done so. As was so often the case, they had no answer.

In this, we have a good illustration of the limited understanding of God’s plan that many have even today. If we do not know the plan of God in which there is a place for all that the Scriptures say, we will find ourselves in much the same position as the Pharisees. We will have some of the answers, perhaps; but won’t be able to harmonize them with other things taught in the Bible. If we have the truth, we can use all of the Bible. If we don’t have the truth, we will be able to use only the parts of the Bible that seem to agree with our views, ignoring other parts and looking upon them as inexplicable mysteries.

Jesus didn’t explain to the Pharisees that the Messiah was to be the Son of David merely according to the flesh; and that He would become David’s Lord by virtue of His spirit begettal, birth, and high exaltation to the throne of God. The Pharisees were not in the heart condition to understand this truth anyway, so Jesus didn’t waste time trying to explain it to them. He explained to the disciples, nevertheless, that these Pharisees still sat in Moses’ seat, and that because of this a certain degree of obedience should be rendered to them.

It is in this connection that the Master presents. His lesson in humility. He points out that the Pharisees had the wrong viewpoint in mind in connection with the position they occupied. They served, yes, but to be “seen of men.” They laid heavy burdens upon others, but weren’t interested in helping others to carry those burdens. They sought the chief seats at feasts, and wanted to be called Master. All of this, Jesus pointed out was wrong. Not only was it wrong to make merchandise of serving God, as exemplified in driving the money-changers from the temple, but it was wrong also to seek power and glory among men in the name of service for God.

While Jesus doesn’t reveal a direct connection between His question concerning whose Son the Messiah would be and the subsequent lesson in proper Christian humility, yet there seems to be a connection. The Messiah was to become David’s Lord, and sit at the right hand of the Majesty on high, because He first of all humbled Himself in becoming a servant. He was the Son of David according to the flesh, and His becoming flesh was a demonstration of His true servant-like qualities.

Jesus came not into the world to be ministered unto, but to minister. This was His position as David’s Son. Because He was thus a humble, faithful servant, He was later highly exalted. And this is the only true path to glory for His followers. The Pharisees had the wrong viewpoint. They were seeking present glory from their service; or, more strictly speaking, they were seeking others to do the serving, while they enjoyed the glory. But it mustn’t be so among you, Jesus said to His disciples.

“Be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren.” This is the time to serve, sacrifice and suffer. If we are faithful in this, God will supply the glory later on. Like Jesus—“the stone which the builders rejected”—we will be humiliated and rejected now; but like Him also, if we are faithful, we will be exalted in due time.

QUESTIONS:

What is the important practical application of today’s lesson?

What is one of the important tests of our having the truth?

In what sense was Jesus “the stone which the builders rejected”?

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