Luke 20:44

David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?

David {G1138} therefore {G3767} calleth {G2564} him {G846} Lord {G2962}, how {G4459} is he {G2076} then {G2532} his {G846} son {G5207}?

David thus calls him ‘Lord.’ So how can he be David’s son?”

Thus David calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?”

David therefore calleth him Lord, and how is he his son?

Luke 20:44 is part of Jesus's final public teaching in Jerusalem, where He skillfully deflects and counters the challenges of the religious authorities. After a series of questions posed to Him by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes (about taxes, resurrection, and His authority), Jesus turns the tables and asks them a profound question about the Messiah.

Context

This verse comes at the climax of a series of interrogations where the Jewish religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus. Instead of answering their questions directly, Jesus often responded with a counter-question that exposed their ignorance or hypocrisy. Here, He asks about the identity of the Christ (Messiah). He quotes Psalm 110:1, a widely accepted messianic prophecy attributed to King David: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool." The scribes understood that the Messiah was to be the "Son of David" (a human descendant). Jesus's follow-up question in Luke 20:44, "David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?", highlights the paradox that troubled them: How could David, a great king, call his own descendant "Lord" unless that descendant possessed a nature far greater than human?

Key Themes

  • The Dual Nature of Christ: This verse powerfully underscores the mystery of the Messiah's identity. Jesus is both the human descendant of David (His "son" in lineage) and David's divine "Lord." This points directly to the divine and human natures of Jesus Christ, a foundational truth of Christian theology. He is truly God and truly man.
  • Messianic Prophecy Fulfilled: Jesus uses an Old Testament prophecy to reveal His own unique identity as the promised Messiah, who is not merely an earthly king but also divine. This challenges the limited understanding of the religious leaders regarding the Christ.
  • Jesus's Authority and Wisdom: By posing this unanswerable question, Jesus silences His adversaries (as noted in Luke 20:40), demonstrating His superior wisdom and divine authority over Scripture and tradition.

Linguistic Insights

The core of Jesus's argument hinges on the word "Lord." In Psalm 110:1, the first "LORD" (KJV, all caps) translates the Hebrew `Yahweh` (God's covenant name), while the second "Lord" (my Lord) translates `Adonai`, a term of respectful address, but one that can also denote divine sovereignty. Jesus's use of this passage implies that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recognized in his descendant (the Messiah) a figure to whom he owed supreme reverence, a reverence typically reserved for God Himself. The Greek word used for "Lord" in Luke 20:44 is Kyrios, which can mean master, sir, or Lord, but in this context, especially when referring to the Messiah, it carries the weight of divine authority and status.

Practical Application

Luke 20:44 challenges us to look beyond superficial understanding and embrace the full truth of who Jesus is. For believers, it reinforces the profound reality of Christ's divinity and humanity, which is essential for understanding His atoning work and His role as our Savior and King. It also reminds us that true spiritual insight comes not from human cleverness or adherence to tradition alone, but from a revelation of God's truth, often found in the very Scriptures we study.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.

  • Romans 9:5

    Whose [are] the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ [came], who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

  • Galatians 4:4

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

  • Isaiah 7:14

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

  • Luke 2:11

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

  • Matthew 1:23

    Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

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