Mark 12:36-37

Mark focused the readers’ attention on Jesus’ authoritative teaching by omitting the Pharisees’ answer, which Matthew included to discredit them (Matthew 22:42). Here only in the sayings of Jesus did He trace the authority of an Old Testament passage to its divine inspiration. How could Messiah be both lesser than David (his son) and greater than David (his lord) at the same time?

". . . Jesus uses his superior knowledge of the legal and prophetic writings to justify his actions and to defend against criminal accusations." [Note: Rhoads and Michie, p. 85.]

Psalms 110:1 showed that the Messiah was not only David’s junior in age but also his senior in rank. [Note: Moule, p. 99.] He is the Son of God, God as well as man.

"Only through the Virgin Birth does Jesus possess the dual nature that allows Him to be both David’s Son and David’s Lord." [Note: Bailey, p. 90.]

Mark’s record of the crowd’s positive response to Jesus’ teaching further stressed its authority. Israel’s religious leaders challenged it, but the multitudes acknowledged it.