Matthew 22:43 kjv
He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
Matthew 22:43 nkjv
He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying:
Matthew 22:43 niv
He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says,
Matthew 22:43 esv
He said to them, "How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying,
Matthew 22:43 nlt
Jesus responded, "Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah 'my Lord'? For David said,
Matthew 22 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text (Shortened) | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 110:1 | The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until... | The foundational Old Testament prophecy quoted by Jesus, establishing the Messiah as "Lord". |
| Acts 2:34-36 | For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand... Let all Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” | Peter's use of Ps 110:1 to preach Jesus as Lord and Messiah, demonstrating its fulfillment. |
| Mark 12:35-37 | How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord...’ | Parallel account in Mark, emphasizing David's divine inspiration. |
| Luke 20:41-44 | How can they say that the Christ is David's son? For David himself says in the Book of Psalms, ‘The Lord said to my Lord...’ | Parallel account in Luke, also confirming the Messiah as David's Lord. |
| Heb 1:3 | He is the radiance of the glory of God... he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. | Jesus' supreme position at God's right hand, echoing Ps 110:1's theme. |
| Heb 1:13 | And to which of the angels has He ever said, “Sit at my right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? | Direct application of Ps 110:1 to Jesus, distinguishing Him from angels. |
| Heb 10:12-13 | But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, waiting... | Christ's completed work and exalted position, fulfilling the sitting at the right hand prophecy. |
| 1 Cor 15:25 | For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. | Reinforces Christ's present reign and future complete triumph, connected to Ps 110:1. |
| Eph 1:20 | ...which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. | God's power in exalting Christ to the position of supreme authority. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow... | Jesus' universal Lordship and supremacy, aligning with the "Lord" title. |
| Col 3:1 | If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. | Believer's spiritual identity connected to Christ's exalted status. |
| Rom 8:34 | Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God... | Christ's intercessory role from His position of authority. |
| Acts 7:55-56 | But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. | Stephen's vision confirming Jesus' position of honor and power. |
| Matt 1:23 | “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). | The prophecy of Messiah's divine presence among humanity. |
| Isa 9:6 | For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. | Prophecy clearly indicating the Messiah's divine attributes. |
| John 1:1 | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | Declares Jesus' eternal pre-existence and divine nature, necessary for David to call Him "Lord." |
| John 1:14 | And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory... | Highlights the incarnation – how the divine "Lord" became "Son of David." |
| Rev 22:16 | “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” | Jesus identifying Himself as both the source/Lord of David and his physical descendant. |
| Matt 1:1 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. | Establishes Jesus' undeniable physical lineage from David, setting up the paradox of His Lordship. |
| 2 Sam 7:12-16 | When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body... and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. | God's covenant with David promising an eternal throne through his descendant. |
Matthew 22 verses
Matthew 22 43 Meaning
Matthew 22:43 captures Jesus challenging the religious leaders, specifically the Pharisees, concerning their understanding of the Messiah's identity. He uses Psalm 110:1 to reveal a profound truth: the Messiah, though "Son of David" by descent, is also "Lord" to David himself. This demonstrates the Messiah's pre-eminence, divine nature, and unique authority, which transcends mere human lineage and points to a co-equal, co-eternal status with God the Father, thus revealing a deeper mystery of the Messiah's dual nature as both fully human and fully divine. Jesus’ question exposes the limits of their earthly messianic expectations and reveals His own divine Lordship.
Matthew 22 43 Context
Matthew chapter 22 recounts a series of challenging encounters between Jesus and the religious leaders in Jerusalem, particularly leading up to His crucifixion. After silencing the Sadducees concerning the resurrection (Matt 22:23-33) and instructing a lawyer from the Pharisees about the greatest commandment (Matt 22:34-40), Jesus initiates a challenge to the assembled Pharisees themselves. Instead of them questioning Him, He poses a critical question about the Messiah (Matt 22:41). This question aims to expose their incomplete understanding of the Messiah's true identity, which extended beyond merely being a human descendant of David. Historically, the Pharisees held the common Jewish expectation of the Messiah as primarily a political king from the lineage of David, who would liberate Israel. Jesus, by quoting Psalm 110:1, confronts this limited view, emphasizing the Messiah's divine nature and pre-existence, which required David, His ancestor, to refer to Him as "Lord."
Matthew 22 43 Word analysis
He saith: (λέγει - legei, from λέγω - legō, meaning to speak, say). This signifies Jesus' authoritative teaching and rhetorical initiative, as He now shifts from answering questions to posing His own.
unto them: (αὐτοῖς - autois, to them). Refers specifically to the assembled Pharisees (Matt 22:41), directing His challenge directly to their understanding.
How then: (πῶς οὖν - pōs oun, how therefore/then). A crucial rhetorical phrase, implying a logical dilemma or an unresolved contradiction. Jesus points out a logical flaw or a missing piece in their messianic understanding, forcing them to reconsider their premises.
doth David: (Δαυὶδ - Dauid, David). Refers to King David, the revered Psalmist, whose authority and prophetic insight were universally accepted. Jesus uses their own sacred texts and revered figures to make His point.
in spirit: (ἐν πνεύματι - en pneumati, in Spirit). This is a critical theological assertion. It denotes divine inspiration by the Holy Spirit. David was not merely expressing a human thought but was speaking prophetically under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit. This emphasizes the divine origin and authority of Psalm 110:1 and its infallible truth.
call him: (καλεῖ - kalei, from καλέω - kaleō, to call, name, invite). Implies addressing, acknowledging, or declaring the identity of someone. Here, David is addressing the future Messiah by a title of ultimate respect and submission.
Lord: (Κύριον - Kyrion, Lord). This is the absolute core of the verse. In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), Kyrios is often used to translate the divine name YHWH (LORD) and signifies ultimate authority, ownership, and sovereignty. When David, an earthly king, calls his future descendant 'Lord', it conveys the Messiah's supremacy, not just over Israel but even over His own royal ancestor, implying a divine nature superior to human lineage.
saying: (λέγων - legōn, saying, quoting). Introduces the direct citation from Psalm 110:1, which is the scriptural foundation for Jesus' entire argument.
"How then doth David in spirit call him Lord"This entire phrase constitutes a penetrating rhetorical question designed to expose the incomplete understanding of the Pharisees. If the Messiah is only David's human son (as they commonly understood), how could David, by divine inspiration, declare Him as his "Lord"? This paradox directly challenges their purely humanistic view of the Messiah and necessitates the recognition of the Messiah's pre-existence, divine identity, and ultimate authority that transcends earthly kinship. It subtly reveals Jesus as the fulfillment of this very paradox – being both the Son of David and David's divine Lord.
Matthew 22 43 Bonus section
This dialogue encapsulates a key christological theme: the dual nature of Christ – fully human ("Son of David") and fully divine ("Lord" of David). The Pharisees' inability to answer Jesus' question demonstrated a critical flaw in their theology; they correctly anticipated a Messiah from David's line, but they failed to grasp His divine nature. This spiritual blindness hindered their recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. The passage also highlights the enduring authority of the Old Testament scriptures, affirmed and interpreted by Jesus Himself, particularly when understood "in the Spirit," revealing depths not apparent from a purely literal, humanistic reading. The inability of the Pharisees to answer Jesus’ question leads to no one daring to question Him further (Matt 22:46), indicating their intellectual defeat and Jesus' undeniable authority.
Matthew 22 43 Commentary
Matthew 22:43 is a pivotal verse in Jesus' ministry, strategically employed to confront the limited messianic expectations of the Jewish leaders. By posing the question about Psalm 110:1, Jesus directly challenged their focus on the Messiah as merely a human descendant of David. His use of "in spirit" emphasizes the divine authorship of prophecy, grounding His argument in infallible Scripture. The crucial point hinges on "Lord" (Kyrios), a title conveying absolute divine authority. For David to call his own descendant "Lord" implies a unique divine nature far superior to any earthly ruler, including David himself. This moment highlights Jesus' self-awareness of His divine pre-existence and Lordship, pressing the Pharisees to acknowledge that the Messiah must be more than just a Son of David; He must be David's divine Lord, a truth powerfully manifested in Jesus' dual identity as fully God and fully man. It underpins the reality of the incarnation, where God's ultimate authority comes in human form.