Matthew 22:43

KJV

He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

He saith {G3004} unto them {G846}, How {G4459} then {G3767} doth David {G1138} in {G1722} spirit {G4151} call {G2564} him {G846} Lord {G2962}, saying {G3004},

Complete Jewish Bible

"Then how is it," he asked them, "that David, inspired by the Spirit, calls him `Lord,' when he says,

Berean Standard Bible

Jesus said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’? For he says:

American Standard Version

He saith unto them, How then doth David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 22:43 presents Jesus' profound counter-question to the Pharisees, challenging their limited understanding of the Messiah's identity. By quoting Psalm 110:1, where David, speaking by divine inspiration, refers to the Messiah as "Lord," Jesus subtly yet powerfully asserts the Messiah's pre-eminence and divine nature, transcending the common expectation of a mere human descendant of David. This verse is central to Jesus' revelation of His own dual nature as both Son of David and divine Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 22:43 is situated within a series of intense theological confrontations between Jesus and various Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem during the Passion Week. Prior to this, the Sadducees attempted to trap Jesus with a question about the resurrection, and the Herodians with a question about paying taxes to Caesar. Jesus masterfully silenced them all. Following these encounters, the Pharisees gathered to challenge Jesus on the greatest commandment [Matthew 22:37-40](/matthew/22-37-40 "Matthew 22:37-40 - The Greatest Commandment"), which He answered with profound wisdom. Having effectively silenced His opponents, Jesus then turns the tables in [Matthew 22:41](/matthew/22-41 "Matthew 22:41 - Jesus Questions the Pharisees"), posing a question about the Messiah's identity that exposes the limitations of their traditional understanding and sets the stage for His own claims. This particular verse, [Matthew 22:43](/matthew/22-43 "Matthew 22:43 - David Calls Him Lord"), is the core of Jesus' argument, citing a revered Old Testament passage to reveal a deeper truth about the Christ.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judaism held strong messianic expectations, primarily envisioning a political-military leader from the lineage of King David who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression and restore the Davidic kingdom. The title "Son of David" was a common and highly respected messianic designation, emphasizing the Messiah's human lineage and royal heritage. However, the prevailing understanding often overlooked or downplayed the divine aspects of the Messiah's nature, focusing almost exclusively on His earthly, kingly role. The Pharisees, as experts in the Law and Prophets, would have been intimately familiar with Psalm 110, traditionally attributed to David and widely understood as messianic. Jesus' question forces them to reconcile the traditional "Son of David" title with David's own inspired acknowledgment of the Messiah as "Lord," a title often reserved for God Himself, thus challenging their fundamental theological framework.
* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Matthew's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it highlights the **Messiah's Divine Nature**, challenging the purely human and political expectations of the time and pointing towards Christ's pre-existence and co-equality with God. Secondly, it underscores **Jesus' Superior Wisdom and Authority**, demonstrating His profound understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures and His ability to expose the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders, even on texts they claimed to master. This exchange powerfully showcases Jesus' role as the ultimate interpreter of Scripture, revealing its deeper, Christ-centered meaning. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of **Spirit-led Understanding of Prophecy**, illustrating that true comprehension of God's Word requires divine illumination, not just intellectual prowess. The Pharisees, despite their extensive knowledge, missed the divine implications of texts that clearly pointed to the Messiah's dual nature as both human and divine, a theme foundational to understanding [the incarnation](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh") and the full identity of Jesus Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **spirit (Greek, _pneûma'_):** From the provided Strong's data, _pneûma_ refers to "a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit." In this context, "in spirit" signifies that David spoke under the direct inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit, indicating a divinely revealed truth rather than a mere human insight or personal reflection. This emphasizes the prophetic authority of Psalm 110:1.
* **call (Greek, _kaléō'_):** Akin to the base of κελεύω, _kaléō_ means "to 'call' (properly, aloud, but used in a variety of applications, directly or otherwise)." Here, it denotes David's act of addressing the Messiah as "Lord," acknowledging His supreme authority and status. It implies a recognition and declaration of identity and position.
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** From the concept of supremacy, _kýrios_ means "supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title)." This title, when used by David for the Messiah, signifies a relationship of ultimate authority and reverence. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), _Kyrios_ is frequently used to translate the Hebrew divine name YHWH (Yahweh) or Adonai, indicating a divine or supremely authoritative figure. David's use of this title for his descendant points to the Messiah's pre-eminence and divine nature, far exceeding that of a mere earthly king.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He saith unto them, How then doth David":** Jesus initiates His counter-question, challenging the Pharisees to reconcile their understanding of the Messiah with David's own prophetic words. The "How then" (Greek: _pōs oûn_) implies a logical dilemma or contradiction in their current theological framework. Jesus is pressing them to explain how their understanding of the Messiah as merely David's human descendant can account for David's own reverence for Him.
* **"in spirit call him Lord":** This crucial phrase explains the source and nature of David's utterance. "In spirit" (Greek: _en pneûmati_) indicates divine inspiration by the Holy Spirit. David was not speaking from his own human reasoning but as a prophet under the direct influence of God. The act of "calling him Lord" (Greek: _kaléō autós kýrios_) refers to David's address of the Messiah in Psalm 110:1, where David says, "The LORD says to my Lord..." (referring to YHWH speaking to the Messiah). This challenges the Pharisees to consider why David, the great king, would refer to his future descendant as "Lord," a title denoting supreme authority, even divine authority.
* **"saying":** This participle (Greek: _légō_) introduces the direct quotation from Psalm 110:1, which Jesus is about to present. It signals that the following words are a direct, authoritative citation from Scripture, forming the basis of Jesus' argument and the core of the theological puzzle He presents to His opponents.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 22:43 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound theological message. The primary device is a **Rhetorical Question**, "How then doth David in spirit call him Lord?" Jesus poses this question not to elicit an answer from the Pharisees (as He knows they cannot adequately explain it given their limited understanding), but to expose the inadequacy of their messianic theology and to provoke deeper thought. This question serves as a powerful **Argument from Scripture** (specifically **Intertextuality**), as Jesus directly quotes Psalm 110:1, a passage universally recognized by the Jews as messianic and attributed to David. By using David's own words, Jesus creates an undeniable internal contradiction for the Pharisees, who revered David and the Psalms. Furthermore, there is an element of **Paradox** or **Juxtaposition** at play: the Messiah is simultaneously David's descendant ("Son of David") and David's sovereign ("Lord"). This paradox is central to understanding Christ's dual nature—fully human and fully divine—which the Pharisees failed to grasp.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 22:43 is a pivotal text for understanding the person of Jesus Christ, particularly His divine nature and supreme authority. It directly challenges the prevailing Jewish understanding of the Messiah as merely a human, earthly king, compelling a re-evaluation of Old Testament prophecy. Jesus' use of Psalm 110:1—where David, by the Holy Spirit, calls the Messiah "Lord"—underscores that the Christ is not merely a descendant of David but is also David's sovereign, pre-existent Lord. This points to the Messiah's co-equality with God and His unique divine identity, a truth essential for Christian Christology. The verse thus serves as a foundational declaration of Jesus' dual nature: truly human (Son of David) and truly divine (Lord of David), a mystery revealed through prophecy and fulfilled in Him.

* [Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Jesus' Exaltation")
* [Hebrews 1:1-3](/hebrews/1-1-3 "Christ's Supremacy")
* [Romans 1:3-4](/romans/1-3-4 "Son of David and Son of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 22:43 calls us to a deeper, Spirit-led understanding of who Jesus truly is. It challenges any superficial or incomplete view of Christ, urging us to acknowledge His full identity as both the Son of David, fully human and relatable, and the Lord of David, fully divine and supremely authoritative. For believers today, this means moving beyond a mere intellectual assent to Jesus as a good teacher or historical figure, to a profound recognition of His divine Lordship over all creation and every aspect of our lives. Do we truly submit to Him as "Lord" in our daily decisions, our priorities, and our worship? This verse encourages us to continually search the Scriptures, not just for information, but for transformative truth, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate Christ's pre-eminence and sovereignty. Our faith must be built on the complete truth of who Jesus is, leading to deeper reverence, obedience, and worship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does my understanding of Jesus as both "Son of David" and "Lord" impact my daily life and worship?**
* **In what areas of my life do I need to more fully acknowledge Jesus' supreme Lordship?**
* **How does this passage encourage me to approach Scripture with a greater reliance on the Holy Spirit for understanding?**

### FAQ
**Why is it significant that David calls the Messiah "Lord" in Psalm 110:1?**

Answer: It is profoundly significant because David was the great king of Israel, and the Messiah was prophesied to be his descendant. For David to call his own future descendant "Lord" (Hebrew: *Adonai*, translated as *Kyrios* in the Greek Septuagint and New Testament) indicates that the Messiah would be more than just a human king, even a great one. The title "Lord" (Kyrios) was often used for God Himself in the Septuagint. Therefore, David's inspired utterance points to the Messiah's divine nature and supreme authority, transcending a purely human lineage. Jesus uses this very point in [Matthew 22:43](/matthew/22-43 "Matthew 22:43 - David Calls Him Lord") to challenge the Pharisees' limited understanding of the Messiah, forcing them to confront the Messiah's divine pre-eminence over David himself.

**What does "in spirit" mean in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "in spirit" (Greek: _en pneûmati_) signifies that David spoke under the direct inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit. This means his words were not merely his own personal thoughts or reflections, but a divinely revealed prophecy. It lends absolute authority and truthfulness to his statement in [Psalm 110:1](/psalm/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord Says to My Lord"), emphasizing that the truth about the Messiah's divine Lordship was revealed by God Himself through David. This highlights the supernatural origin of biblical prophecy and the Holy Spirit's role in revealing God's truth.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 22:43 serves as a pivotal moment where Jesus subtly yet profoundly reveals His own divine identity, fulfilling the very paradox He presents. The Pharisees, expecting a Messiah who was merely David's human successor, were confronted with the truth that the Messiah was also David's Lord. This pointed directly to Jesus' pre-existence and co-equality with God the Father, a truth foundational to the New Testament's Christology. Jesus, the Son of David according to His humanity ([Romans 1:3](/romans/1-3 "Romans 1:3 - Concerning His Son")), is simultaneously the eternal Son of God, who existed before all creation and through whom all things were made ([John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God")). His question forces His listeners, and us, to reconcile His human lineage with His divine nature, culminating in the understanding that He is the unique God-man. The ultimate fulfillment of David's prophetic "Lord" is found in Jesus Christ, who, after His resurrection and ascension, was declared both Lord and Christ ([Acts 2:36](/acts/2-36 "Acts 2:36 - God Has Made Him Both Lord and Christ")), and to whom every knee will one day bow, acknowledging Him as Lord to the glory of God the Father ([Philippians 2:9-11](/phil/2-9-11 "Jesus' Exaltation")). Thus, Matthew 22:43 is not just a clever argument, but a direct pointer to the very heart of who Jesus is: the divine Messiah, sovereign over all, including His own royal ancestor.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Samuel 23:2

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue.

Revelation 4:2

And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and [one] sat on the throne.

Luke 2:26

And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Luke 2:27

And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.

Mark 12:36

For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Acts 1:16

Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.