How can we ensure our beliefs align with Jesus' teachings in Mark 12:35? Rooted in the Text: Mark 12:35–37 “While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, ‘How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’ ” David himself calls Him Lord. So how can He be David’s son?’ And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.” Why This Matters • The scribes taught a half-truth: Messiah would descend from David. • Jesus exposes the limitation—Messiah is also David’s Lord. • Right belief must embrace the whole Scriptural witness, not popular fragments. Key Insights from Jesus’ Question • Scripture is self-interpreting—Jesus quotes Psalm 110 to correct human teaching. • The Holy Spirit inspired David (“speaking by the Holy Spirit”), affirming Scripture’s authority. • Messiah is fully human (“son of David”) and fully divine (“my Lord”)—neglect either and belief drifts. How to Keep Our Beliefs in Line with Jesus 1. Saturate our minds with the whole counsel of God – Acts 20:27; 2 Timothy 3:16–17. 2. Compare every doctrine with Scripture, not opinion – Acts 17:11 “examining the Scriptures daily.” 3. Hold the tension of revealed mysteries – John 1:14; Colossians 2:9 show both natures of Christ. 4. Submit cherished traditions to biblical correction – Colossians 2:8 warns of human philosophy. 5. Rely on the Spirit who inspired the Word – John 16:13 “He will guide you into all truth.” Supporting Passages to Revisit • Psalm 110:1—foundation of Jesus’ argument. • 2 Samuel 7:12–16—promise of Davidic descent. • Matthew 22:41–46—parallel account, same lesson. • Hebrews 1:13—apostolic affirmation of Psalm 110. • Revelation 22:16—Jesus calls Himself “the Root and the Offspring of David.” Practical Takeaways • Read Scripture systematically; avoid cherry-picking verses. • When a text puzzles us, let Scripture interpret Scripture, just as Jesus did. • Measure sermons, books, and cultural ideas against clear biblical teaching. • Confess both the humanity and deity of Christ; this guards against error in every area of faith. |
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