Matthew 22:45

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

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

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

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

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

Context

This verse is the culmination of Jesus's final public debate with the religious leaders in Jerusalem, specifically the Pharisees, just days before His crucifixion. After the Pharisees had attempted to trap Him with questions about taxes (Matthew 22:15-22) and the Sadducees about the resurrection (Matthew 22:23-33), a lawyer among them asked about the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:34-40). Having silenced His opponents, Jesus then turns the tables on the Pharisees, asking them in Matthew 22:42, "What think ye of Christ? whose son is he?" They correctly answered, "The son of David." Jesus then quotes Psalm 110:1 in Matthew 22:44, where David himself calls the Messiah "Lord." Verse 45 poses the rhetorical question that exposes their limited understanding of the Messiah's true nature.

Key Themes

  • The Messiah's Dual Nature: This verse highlights the profound theological truth that the Messiah is both fully human (a descendant of David) and fully divine (David's Lord). The Pharisees understood the Messiah as a human king from David's lineage but struggled to grasp His pre-existent, divine nature. This concept is central to Christian belief in Jesus as both God and man.
  • Jesus's Authority and Wisdom: By posing this unanswerable question, Jesus demonstrates His superior understanding of scripture and His divine authority, silencing His critics and revealing their spiritual blindness.
  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: Jesus uses Psalm 110:1, a significant messianic psalm, to point to His own identity as the prophesied Lord. This underscores the Old Testament's foreshadowing of Christ.

Linguistic Insights

The key linguistic point here revolves around the word "Lord." In Matthew 22:44, Jesus quotes Psalm 110:1, which in Hebrew uses two different words for "Lord." The first "LORD" (all caps) is Yahweh, the proper name for God. The second "Lord" is Adonai, which can mean master, lord, or ruler. In this context, when David calls his future descendant his "Lord," it implies a status far greater than a mere human king. In the Greek Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) and the New Testament, both are translated as Kyrios (κύριος), which can mean master, sir, or Lord. Jesus's question forces the Pharisees to confront how David could call his future human descendant his Kyrios in a way that implies divine authority, unless the Messiah was more than just a man.

Practical Application

Matthew 22:45 challenges believers today to fully grasp the identity of Jesus Christ. It reminds us that Jesus is not merely a historical figure, a good teacher, or a prophet, but He is the divine Lord who created all things and holds ultimate authority. This understanding impacts our worship, our obedience, and our trust in Him. The verse also encourages us to dig deeper into scripture, allowing it to challenge our preconceptions and reveal new truths about God's nature and plan.

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.

  • 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.

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