The Messiah: David’s Son, or David’s Lord? †

Matthew 22:41-46 *

Mark 12:35-37a *

Luke 20:41-44 *

41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them this question: 42 "What do you think of the Messiah? Whose son is he?" They said to him, "The son of David." 43 He said to them, "How is it then that David by the Spirit calls him Lord, saying,

44 'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet" '?

45 If David thus calls him Lord, how can he be his son?" 46 No one was able to give him an answer, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (Matthew 22:4-46, NRSV)

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he said, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the son of David?

36 David himself, by the Holy Spirit, declared,

'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand,

until I put your enemies under your feet." '

37 David himself calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?"

41 Then he said to them, "How can they say that the Messiah is David's son?

42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand,

43 until I make your enemies your footstool." '

44 David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?"

The LORD says to my lord,

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool” (Psalm 110:1, NRSV)

Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees †

Matthew 23:1-36 *

Mark 12:37b-40 *

Luke 20:45-47 *

NOTE: Most of Luke’s passages parallel to Matthew 23:1-36 are found in Luke, chap. 11.

They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. 6 They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues,

[Mt. 23:14 in some mss.: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation.]

And the large crowd was listening to him with delight.

38 As he taught, he said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

39 and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets!

40 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples,

46 "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,

and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.

47 They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

The Widow’s Mite †

Mark 12:41-44 *

Luke 21:1-4 *

41 He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. 43 Then he called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. 44 For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on."

21:1 He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury;

2 he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.

3 He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them;

4 for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."

† Cf. Kurt Aland, ed., Synopsis of the Four Gospels, rev. printing, 1985, secs. 283, 284, 286, pp. 249-254.

*NRSV – The bold print highlights some of the differences.