JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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in a unique and absolute sense. But in these verses He seems to be watering down this claim by
pointing out that He meant no more by this than what the Hebrew Scriptures means when it uses
the word "god" to apply to men.
What are we to make of such an argument? The point Jesus is making is that if there is
any sense in which human beings can be spoken of as "gods," how much more may the term be
used of Him whom the Father set apart and sent!
Jesus says here that the Bible calls "gods" those who were no more than men. They were
themselves the recipients of "the word of God" as they were required to hear and obey the word
of God, primarily, of course, in connection with their calling as judges. Yet these men were on
this occasion called "gods".
In the light of such Scripture Jesus inquires whether these Jews can rightfully say that He
blasphemes when He calls Himself "the son of God" (v. 36).
But notice that His argument is not: "Psalm 82 speaks of men as gods; therefore I in
common with other men may use the term to Myself." Rather the sense of the passage is: "If in
any sense the Psalm may apply this term of men, then how much more may it apply to Him
whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world."
This 82nd psalm that Jesus quotes is a psalm that warns unjust judges to stop their
unscrupulous ways and defend the poor and the innocent. The psalmist concludes the warning
with the words: "I say, 'You are gods, sons of the Most High, all of you.'" (v. 6) The judge is
called a "god" because there is a sense in which he acts as God since he has been entrusted with
the oracles of God as part of a divine call or commission to judge Israel. After all, judgment is a
prerogative that belongs to God. In a limited way, therefore, judges play the role of God.
This terminology has its roots in the narrative of Exodus 21:6 and 22:8-9, in which the
judges (elohim) of Israel have authority to render decisions in civil law cases. Moses tells us how
the Hebrew servant may go free in the seventh year. "Then his master shall bring him to the
judges [literally 'gods' (elohim)]." This same form of expression is used in Exodus 22:28. Even
Scripture aid of men who were specially commissioned to some specific task by God that they
were gods. Jesus' point is: "If Scripture can speak like that about mere men, why should I not
speak this way about Myself"?
This 82nd psalm expresses the failure of Israel's judges to wield their authority in keeping
with God's standard of justice. They have been especially lax in one of God's greatest areas of
concern: the welfare of the poor and needy. The rebuke is clear:
"How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend
the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked" (vv. 2-4).