Jesus and the Psalms

PSALM 8:2; MATTHEW 21:15, 16—As had been prophetically spoken of the Master, when he presented himself in consecration to his Heavenly Father, he agreed to do all that had been written of him in the “volume of the book.” (Psalm 40:7) Because of this Jesus depended upon the Old Testament Scriptures both to guide and strengthen him in his every time of need. Ofttimes the Scriptures served as a “witness of the Spirit” to assure him that the course he was taking was pleasing to Jehovah.

We have an instance of this latter in the Psalm under consideration and Jesus’ reference to it. There was probably no vital significance attached to the fact that children in the temple should sing the praises of Jesus, saying “Hosanna to the son of David,” but when Jesus was criticized by the chief priests and scribes on account of it, he was quick to recall and to cite the prophecy of Psalm 8:2 to show that it had been foretold, and therefore was quite in harmony with the will of God.

It is doubtful if his critics were convinced by this reference to the Old Testament, but it must have been a source of comfort to Jesus to realize that even small matters of this kind served to confirm the fact that his Heavenly Father was guiding and blessing him. As David had written this prophecy under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, it served as one of the witnesses of the Spirit helping to comfort and sustain the Master when attacked by his enemies.

PSALM 110:1; MATTHEW 22:41-45—In these scriptures we have another example of how Jesus leaned heavily upon the Word of God to support his position as the Son of God and future King of Israel and of the world. Had the Master been contending with trinitarians he would doubtless have used this prophecy of the Psalms and asked for an explanation of why, if he were co-equal with Jehovah, his Heavenly Father would have occasion to invite his Son to sit at his right hand until his enemies be made his footstool.

In Psalm 110:1, two Hebrew words are used, and both translated “Lord.” The first is a translation of “Jehovah,” and this is indicated by its being in large and small capitals. The second is a translation of the Hebrew word, Adown, which simply means a sovereign or mighty one. In the prophecy, the Psalmist recognizes that the coming Messiah would be his Lord, a mighty ruler over Israel and all nations, and that he would be exalted to this high position by Jehovah.

With this prophecy in mind Jesus asked the Pharisees whose son they thought he was, and they answered, “The son of David.” So far as natural descent was concerned this was true enough, and Jesus did not deny it. But he knew also that in addition to being the offspring of David he was destined, in the divine plan, to be the “root of David,” and David’s Lord. (Rev. 22:16) Had the Pharisees been honest of heart and sincerely seeking the truth concerning Jesus this prophecy would have helped them in their understanding of Jesus and of the purpose of Jehovah as centered in him.

PSALM 118:22, 23; MATTHEW 21:38, 39, 42; LUKE 24:44—Through the prophets of the Old Testament the Spirit of God testified concerning “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” (I Pet. 1:11) The prophecy of the Psalm now under consideration is an example of this, for it foretold that the “stone” destined to become the “head of the corner” would first of all be rejected. Jesus associated this prophecy with a parable concerning a householder who planted a vineyard and left it in the care of husbandmen. Servants, or representatives, of the householder, who were sent to inspect the vineyard, were killed by the husbandmen. Finally the householder sent his son, and he also was killed.

It seems reasonable that the vineyard of the parable may represent the arrangements the Lord made for the Jewish nation, and the husbandmen, the religious rulers of the nation—those who sat in Moses’ seat. (See Psalm 80:8-11; Isaiah 5:7.) From time to time God sent his servants, the prophets, to the nation, but they were persecuted and rejected. Then he sent his Son, and they killed him.

After telling the story thus in parable form, Jesus quotes from Psalm 118:22,23, to show that his rejection by the nation did not destroy the plan of God; but instead, that he would be exalted to the chief place in the kingdom arrangements, and that the kingdom privileges originally designed for Israel would be taken from them and given to a “nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”—Matt. 21:43; I Peter 2:7-10

Concerning this wonderful outworking of the divine plan the Psalmist wrote, “It is marvelous in our eyes.” How true! When the two disciples on the way to Emmaus learned that the crucifixion of Jesus had been foretold by the prophets, and that now he had been raised from the dead, they said, “Did not our heart burn within us?” (Luke 24:32) So it has been with all who have come to an understanding of the divine plan of the ages.

QUESTIONS

In what manner did the Old Testament Scriptures serve as a witness of the Spirit to Jesus?

How could Jesus be David’s son and David’s Lord?

In what way is the prophecy of Psalm 118:22,23, one of those which foretold the sufferings of Christ, and the glory which should follow?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |