Controversy
519
it is understood in its relation to the Saviour. Christ had repeatedly
shown that His Father’s law contained something deeper than mere
authoritative commands. In the law is embodied the same principle
that is revealed in the gospel. The law points out man’s duty and shows
him his guilt. To Christ he must look for pardon and for power to do
what the law enjoins.
The Pharisees had gathered close about Jesus as He answered the
question of the scribe. Now turning He put a question to them: “What
think ye of Christ? whose son is He?” This question was designed
to test their belief concerning the Messiah,—to show whether they
regarded Him simply as a man or as the Son of God. A chorus of voices
answered, “The Son of David.” This was the title which prophecy had
given to the Messiah. When Jesus revealed His divinity by His mighty
miracles, when He healed the sick and raised the dead, the people
had inquired among themselves, “Is not this the Son of David?” The
Syrophoenician woman, blind Bartimaeus, and many others had cried
to Him for help, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Thou Son of David.”
Matthew 15:22
. While riding into Jerusalem He had been hailed with
the joyful shout, “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is He that
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cometh in the name of the Lord.”
Matthew 21:9
. And the little children
in the temple had that day echoed the glad ascription. But many who
called Jesus the Son of David did not recognize His divinity. They did
not understand that the Son of David was also the Son of God.
In reply to the statement that Christ was the Son of David, Jesus
said, “How then doth David in Spirit [the Spirit of Inspiration from
God] call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on
My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? If David then
call Him Lord, how is He his son? And no man was able to answer
Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any
more questions.”
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