Jesus Denounces His Opposers

JESUS has so thoroughly confounded his religious opposers that they fear to ask him anything further. So he takes the initiative to expose their ignorance. "What do you think about Christ?" He inquires. "Whose son is he?" "Davids," the Pharisees answer.

Although Jesus does not deny that David is the physical ancestor of the Christ, or Messiah, he asks: "How, then, is it that David by inspiration [at Psalm 110] calls him 'Lord,' saying, 'Jehovah said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies beneath your feet?" ' If, therefore, David calls him 'Lord,' How is he his son?" The Pharisees are silent, for they do not know the true identity of the Christ, or anointed one. The Messiah is not simple a human descendant of David, as the Pharisees apparently believe, but he existed in heaven and was David's superior, or Lord.

Turning now to the crowds and to his disciples, Jesus warns about the scribes and the Pharisees. Since these teach God's Law, having: "seated themselves in the seat of Moses," Jesus urges: "All the things they tell you, do and observe." But he adds: " Do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform."

They are hypocrites, and Jesus denounces them in much the same language that he did while dining in the house of a Pharisee months earlier. "All the works they do," he says, "They do to be viewed by men." And he provides examples, noting: "They broaden the scripture-containing cases that they wear as safeguards." These relatively small cases,worn on the forehead or on the arm, contain four portions of the Law: Exodus 13:1-10., 11-16; And Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 11:13-21. But the Pharisees increase the size of these cases to give the impression that they are zealous about the Law.

Jesus continues that they "enlarge the fringes of their garments." At Numbers 15:38-40 the Israelites are commanded to make fringes on their garments, but the Pharisees make theirs larger than anyone else does. Everything is for show!" "They like the most prominent place," Jesus declares.

Next time: Conclusion of Jesus Denounces His Opposers

The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived, 1991