Matthew 22:45

KJV

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

KJV (with Strong's)

If {G1487} David {G1138} then {G3767} call {G2564} him {G846} Lord {G2962}, how {G4459} is he {G2076} his {G846} son {G5207}?

Complete Jewish Bible

If David thus calls him `Lord,' how is he his son?"

Berean Standard Bible

So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 22:45 presents Jesus's climactic rhetorical question to the Pharisees, challenging their limited understanding of the Messiah's identity. By quoting [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One"), where David refers to his descendant, the Messiah, as "Lord," Jesus forces His opponents to confront the paradox of a human ancestor calling his future human descendant his divine superior. This question exposes the Pharisees' inability to reconcile the Messiah's anticipated human lineage from David with His pre-existent, divine nature, thereby asserting Jesus's own claim to be both the Son of David and the sovereign Lord.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Matthew 22:45 serves as the culmination of a series of intense public debates between Jesus and various Jewish religious factions in Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. Following attempts by the Pharisees to trap Him with questions about paying tribute to Caesar ([Matthew 22:15-22](/matthew/22-15-22 "Matthew 22:15-22 - The Question of Tribute")), and the Sadducees' challenge regarding the resurrection and marriage ([Matthew 22:23-33](/matthew/22-23-33 "Matthew 22:23-33 - The Sadducees and the Resurrection")), a lawyer among the Pharisees then tested Jesus with a question about the greatest commandment ([Matthew 22:34-40](/matthew/22-34-40 "Matthew 22:34-40 - The Greatest Commandment")). Having silenced all His opponents with His wisdom and authority, Jesus then takes the offensive, turning the tables by posing His own question to the assembled Pharisees in [Matthew 22:42](/matthew/22-42 "Matthew 22:42 - Jesus Questions the Pharisees"): "What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?" When they correctly respond, "The son of David," Jesus presses further by quoting [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One") in [Matthew 22:44](/matthew/22-44 "Matthew 22:44 - Jesus Quotes Psalm 110:1"), where David himself calls the Messiah "Lord." Verse 45 then delivers the piercing rhetorical question that highlights the profound paradox and reveals the Pharisees' limited understanding of the Messiah's true identity.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** First-century Judaism held a strong expectation for the Messiah to be a descendant of King David, fulfilling ancient prophecies (e.g., [2 Samuel 7:12-16](/2_samuel/7-12-16 "2 Samuel 7:12-16 - The Davidic Covenant")). This expectation was primarily for a human king who would restore Israel's political sovereignty and usher in a golden age. The concept of the Messiah also possessing a divine, pre-existent nature was less understood or accepted by many, particularly the Pharisees, who were meticulous in their adherence to the Law but often missed the deeper spiritual truths about God's redemptive plan. The use of "Lord" (Hebrew: *Adonai* or *Yahweh*; Greek: *Kyrios*) was significant. While *Adonai* could be a respectful address for a human master, *Yahweh* (represented by "LORD" in all caps in English translations of the Old Testament) was the ineffable, proper name for God. Jesus's question, drawing from [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One"), forces the Pharisees to grapple with David, Israel's greatest king, referring to his future descendant not merely as a human ruler, but as his *Lord* in a sense implying divine authority and supremacy.

* **Key Themes:** This verse is central to several profound theological and narrative themes within Matthew's Gospel and broader biblical theology. Firstly, it underscores the **Messiah's Dual Nature**, presenting Jesus as both fully human (the Son of David, fulfilling the Davidic covenant) and fully divine (David's Lord, pre-existent and sovereign). The Pharisees' inability to answer highlights their spiritual blindness to this crucial truth, which is foundational to Christian Christology. Secondly, the passage powerfully demonstrates **Jesus's Authority and Wisdom**. By posing this unanswerable question, Jesus not only silences His critics but also asserts His superior understanding of Scripture and His divine insight, revealing Himself as the ultimate interpreter of God's Word. Thirdly, it emphasizes the **Fulfillment of Prophecy**, as Jesus strategically uses [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One"), a widely recognized messianic psalm, to point directly to His own identity as the prophesied Lord, thus affirming His messianic claims. Lastly, the encounter reveals the **Spiritual Blindness and Hypocrisy of the Religious Leaders**, who, despite their extensive knowledge of the Law and Prophets, failed to recognize God's promised Messiah standing before them, because their understanding was constrained by human tradition and political expectation rather than divine revelation.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **David (Hebrew, _Dabíd'_):** Refers to King David, the revered ancestor of the Israelite monarchy and the promised lineage from which the Messiah was prophesied to come. His identity as the one speaking in [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One") is crucial, as it is David himself who acknowledges the Messiah as his "Lord," thereby elevating the Messiah's status above his own.
* **call (Greek, _kaléō'_):** Implies not just a verbal utterance, but an act of acknowledging, recognizing, or designating. When David "calls" the Messiah "Lord," it signifies an authoritative declaration of the Messiah's true nature and supreme status, not merely a casual address.
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** This is the pivotal word. Derived from a root signifying "supremacy," *kýrios* denotes one who is supreme in authority, a controller, or a master. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it is used to translate both the divine name Yahweh and the respectful title *Adonai*. Jesus's use of *kýrios* here forces the Pharisees to confront the idea that David, a king, would refer to his future descendant with a title implying divine sovereignty or ultimate mastery, a status far exceeding that of a mere human king or son.
* **son (Greek, _huiós'_):** Refers to a male descendant, emphasizing the biological and genealogical connection. The Pharisees correctly understood the Messiah to be the "son of David" in this literal, ancestral sense. Jesus's question highlights the apparent contradiction: how can a son, a descendant, simultaneously be the Lord (superior, master) of his own ancestor?

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"If David then call him Lord":** This clause sets up the premise, drawing directly from [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One"). Jesus establishes that David, the revered patriarch and king, prophetically recognized the Messiah as his "Lord." The "then" (G3767, *oûn*) emphasizes the logical consequence or inference drawn from this premise. This is not a hypothetical scenario but a statement of established scriptural fact, challenging the Pharisees to reconcile it with their own understanding.
* **"how is he his son?":** This is the rhetorical question that exposes the theological dilemma. If the Messiah is merely a human descendant ("son") of David, how could David, his ancestor and a king, legitimately call him "Lord" (master, sovereign) in a way that implies divine authority or preeminence? The question forces the Pharisees to confront the inadequacy of their purely human, earthly understanding of the Messiah and points to a greater, divine dimension of His identity.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device employed in Matthew 22:45 is a **Rhetorical Question**. Jesus does not expect a literal answer from the Pharisees, but rather uses the question to expose the limitations of their theological understanding and to challenge their rigid, earthly conception of the Messiah. The question functions as a powerful teaching tool, designed to provoke deeper thought and reveal the inherent **Paradox** in their messianic expectations: how could the Messiah be both David's human descendant and David's divine Lord? This apparent contradiction highlights the mystery of Christ's dual nature. Furthermore, the passage demonstrates **Intertextuality**, as Jesus directly quotes and interprets [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One"), a significant messianic psalm, to make His point. By skillfully weaving Old Testament prophecy into His argument, Jesus asserts His authority as the true interpreter of Scripture and reveals how the ancient texts foreshadow His unique identity.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 22:45 is a profound theological statement on the nature of Jesus Christ. It asserts His unique identity as both the human descendant of David, fulfilling the long-awaited Davidic covenant, and the pre-existent, divine Lord who transcends human lineage. This paradox is central to Christian Christology, affirming that Jesus is truly God incarnate—fully God and fully man. The Pharisees' inability to answer this question reveals their limited, earthly understanding of the Messiah, rooted in political and nationalistic aspirations rather than a full grasp of God's redemptive plan. Jesus, by contrast, demonstrates His divine wisdom and authority, revealing Himself as the one who perfectly embodies this dual nature, thereby fulfilling all messianic prophecy. This truth is foundational to our understanding of salvation, as it is only through the sacrifice of the God-man, the divine Lord who became human, that humanity can be reconciled to God.

* [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed")
* [John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God")
* [Romans 1:3-4](/romans/1-3-4 "Romans 1:3-4 - Jesus, Son of David and Son of God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 22:45 is a timeless challenge to all who seek to understand Jesus. It compels us to move beyond superficial or incomplete understandings of His identity and to embrace the profound truth that He is not merely a historical figure, a wise teacher, or a prophet, but the divine Lord, sovereign over all creation, who condescended to become human for our salvation. This understanding should profoundly impact our worship, moving us to adoration for His majesty and humility. It calls us to absolute obedience, recognizing His supreme authority in every area of our lives. Furthermore, it encourages us to trust implicitly in His power and wisdom, knowing that the one who is both David's son and David's Lord is fully capable of accomplishing His redemptive purposes. The encounter also serves as a reminder to approach Scripture with humility, allowing it to challenge our preconceptions and reveal new, deeper truths about God's nature and His plan, rather than forcing it to conform to our limited human expectations.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding Jesus as both David's son and David's Lord deepen your worship and reverence for Him?**
* **In what ways might our own preconceptions or cultural biases prevent us from fully grasping the multifaceted truths of God's Word, similar to the Pharisees?**
* **How does Jesus's demonstrated authority and wisdom in this encounter impact your trust and obedience in your daily life?**
* **What practical steps can you take to allow Scripture to challenge your understanding of Jesus, rather than confirming what you already believe?**

### FAQ

**Why was this question so difficult for the Pharisees to answer?**

Answer: The question was difficult for the Pharisees because it exposed a fundamental flaw in their understanding of the Messiah. They correctly understood that the Messiah would be a human descendant of David (the "son of David"), a king who would restore Israel's earthly kingdom. However, they struggled to reconcile this with the idea that the Messiah could also be divine—David's "Lord"—a figure of supreme authority and pre-existence, transcending mere human lineage. Their messianic expectations were primarily earthly and political, preventing them from grasping the spiritual and divine nature of the promised Christ. Jesus's question, by quoting [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One"), forced them to confront a paradox that their theology could not resolve without acknowledging Jesus's dual nature as both human and divine, a truth they were unwilling to accept. Their spiritual blindness and resistance to Jesus's claims prevented them from seeing the clear implications of the very Scriptures they claimed to uphold.

**What is the significance of Psalm 110:1 in this context?**

Answer: [Psalm 110:1](/psalms/110-1 "Psalm 110:1 - The Lord's Anointed One") is one of the most frequently quoted Old Testament passages in the New Testament, and it is profoundly significant here. The psalm begins: "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." In the original Hebrew, the first "LORD" is Yahweh (the divine name of God), and the second "Lord" is *Adonai* (a term for master or lord, but often used for God). Jesus's use of this psalm forces the Pharisees to consider why David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, would call his future descendant (the Messiah) his "Lord" in a way that implies divine authority and preeminence. This points to the Messiah being more than just a human king; He is the divine co-regent with Yahweh. By quoting this verse, Jesus subtly yet powerfully identifies Himself as this divine "Lord" whom David prophetically acknowledged, thereby asserting His own deity and messianic claims in a way that was unassailable by the Pharisees' limited interpretation of Scripture.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 22:45 finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ, who perfectly embodies the paradox presented in the question. Jesus is indeed the "Son of David," tracing His human lineage directly back to the great king, fulfilling the ancient prophecies that the Messiah would come from David's royal line ([Matthew 1:1](/matthew/1-1 "Matthew 1:1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Romans 1:3](/romans/1-3 "Romans 1:3 - Jesus, Son of David")). Yet, as this verse powerfully asserts, He is simultaneously David's "Lord"—the pre-existent, eternal God who existed before David and indeed before all creation ([John 1:1-3](/john/1-1-3 "John 1:1-3 - The Word Was God and Creator")). The incarnation of Jesus Christ, where the divine Son took on human flesh ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")), is the ultimate resolution to the theological dilemma posed to the Pharisees. He is the unique God-man, fully divine and fully human, who humbled Himself to become a servant, even to death on a cross ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - The Humiliation of Christ")), before being exalted to the highest place, where every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord ([Philippians 2:9-11](/philippians/2-9-11 "Philippians 2:9-11 - The Exaltation of Christ")). Thus, Jesus is not merely a king from David's line, but the King of Kings and Lord of Lords ([Revelation 19:16](/revelation/19-16 "Revelation 19:16 - King of Kings and Lord of Lords")), who reigns eternally at the right hand of the Father, having accomplished salvation for all who believe in His name.

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

Romans 1:3

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

Romans 1:4

And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Philippians 2:6

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Philippians 2:8

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

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.

John 8:58

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

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.