What Jesus Did! 'Authoritatively Alone!' — Matthew 22:41-46

After Jesus' answer on the "greatest commandment" question, we are brought back to the truth of the situation. The opponents of Jesus aren't really interested in his answers on this important matter. His answers are for us, his disciples; Jesus' opponents don't care to hear the truth of God. They are simply trying to trap him and trick him into a huge mistake. So Jesus' answer in the previous verses stressing the importance of love is saved for us, to help us know what our Savior holds as most important for us to do (Matthew 22:36-40). However, Jesus has no illusions about the hostility he faces in the Pharisees, Sadducees, and teachers of the law. He knows their plan and their purpose. But Jesus still loves them and longs to confront them with the truth. So he asks a question to baffle the hard hearted. At the same time, his question is designed to speak to the seekers in these hostile groups and ask them to look deeper into his Davidic and Messianic claims and come to his authority emanating from God. The groups that are trying to trap him, of course, are silenced and shamed at being tripped up in their own game. On the other hand, the seekers have a seed that is planted in their hearts and that hopefully will germinate when the spring of faith warms with hope at his resurrection.