Bible Study series: Matthew 22:41-46. Jesus is greater than his ancestor David.
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In the next link to the original chapter, I comment more and offer the Greek text. At the bottom you will find a “Summary and Conclusion” section geared toward discipleship. Check it out!
In this post, links are provided for further study.
Let’s begin.
Scripture: Matthew 22:41-46
41 While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.” 43 He said to them, “Then how does David by the Spirit call him Lord, saying:
44 The Lord said to my Lord:
‘Sit at my right hand
Until I put your enemies under your feet’? [Ps. 110:1]
45 If therefore David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him a question any longer. (Matt. 22:41-46)
Comments:
41-46:
Once again, let’s take this pericope or section as a whole, not verse by verse. Jesus’s main point is clear: He is above David, the exemplar king. Jesus is the Lord.
Here’s the verse in the NIV, and note the capitals in LORD:
The LORD says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.” (Ps. 110:1)
The superscription of this psalm says David composed it. The LORD is Yahweh. In the historical context, the Lord (no capitals) applies to the Messiah. David is the third party listening in to Yahweh calling the Lord “my Lord.” So David is affirming the truth that the Lord is his Lord.
Now let’s explore his Lordship and Kingship more thoroughly.
The right hand or side indicates power. The Greek could be translated as “on my right” (without “hand”).
Jesus had a high view of Scripture, because he says David was inspired by the Spirit. We should hold to this belief, too.
During Jesus’s ministry and long before, the people believed that the Messiah was also called the son of David.
Here are some data points which I note in the post about God’s covenant with David:
Ps. 89:20-37 says in the context of God’s love and commitment to David that he has anointed him with sacred oil (v. 20); his hand and arm will sustain him (v. 21); the enemy will not get the better of him and not get victory over him (vv. 22-23); God’s love will go so deeply that that God’s love and commitment will sustain him forever (vv. 25-28). God will establish his lineage forever, and his throne will endure as long as the heavens endure (vv. 28-29). This commitment and love for his specially chosen will last forever, even if his sons and descendants should forsake God’s law and violate his decrees, so God would have to punish their sin with flogging and the rod (vv. 30-33). Still, even in those cases, God will not take his love for him and not violate his covenant with his anointed one. His line will continue forever (vv. 34-37).
So God promised to establish and maintain the Davidic dynasty on the throne of Israel and provide her with a godly king like David and through his descendants bring her to rest in the promised land.
It is mentioned to Solomon (1 Kings 2:2-4) and celebrated by him (1 Kings 8:22-26); it is mentioned to King Jeroboam (1 Kings 11:34-36) and reaffirmed during his reign (2 Kings 8:19); it was celebrated by the psalmists (Ps. 89:3; 132:1-12); it was reaffirmed by Isaiah (Is. 9:6-7) and by Ezekiel (Ezek. 37:24-25).
Jesus fulfilled and is fulfilling and always shall fulfill the Davidic covenant, for he is the righteous ruler for whom Israel had been looking or should have been looking.
Luke 1:32 says that Gabriel himself announced that the Lord God will give the Messiah Jesus the throne of David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; “his kingdom will never end.”
Matt. 1:1 and Rom. 1:3 says that Jesus was the son of David.
John 18:33-37 says that in a dialogue with Pilate Jesus affirmed that his kingdom is not of this world, so his fulfillment of David’s covenant would take place in heaven—for now.
In Acts 13:22-23, 34 Paul preached that Jesus fulfilled the Davidic covenant.
Paul also says that Jesus will hand over his kingdom to his Father when he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power (1 Cor. 15:24-25).
Jesus is called THE KING OF KINGS (Rev. 19:16).
Jesus sits on the throne of David now and will remain there forever, whatever happens to the sun and earth. David will never co-rule on this throne, as if David and Jesus would sit side by side. In heaven David will announce that the KING OF KINGS is the best and most qualified king to sit there, infinitely better than he is.
Before the end, however, Jesus sits on the throne of David in heaven and is watching out for Israel.
The priesthood is said to endure forever, and it does through the great high priest, Jesus. The kingship of David is said to endure forever, and it does through the eternal reign of King Jesus.
Personally, I believe David will kneel before his descendant and Lord and say, “Thank you for fulfilling the covenant God made to me. I was a sinner, but you are the true King and Lord. You sit on the throne by yourself! I submit to you. Thank you, King Jesus!” He will not sit on the throne next to Jesus, who has fulfilled the Davidic covenant, any more than Aaron will stand next to Jesus sacrificing animals in the eternal kingdom. There will be no more sacrifices. Jesus accomplished this, once and for all. To be blunt, both images of David sharing the throne or Jesus sacrificing animals seem silly or worse.
Turner:
That Jesus is greater than David in already clear (12:1-4; cf. 12:6, 8, 41), but now Matthew explains why: the Messiah is the son of David and the Son of God. But the Pharisees will not accept a Messiah who, as David’s Lord, is greater than David. On this extremely sad note ends Matthew’s story of Jesus’s conflict with the religious leaders in Jerusalem. Nothing more can be said, and unfortunately, the conflict remains a theological watershed today, as Judaism expects a human Messiah and Christianity worships a divine one. (comment on 22:45)
Jesus takes over Ps. 110:1, as if it is talking about him. He is called “my lord.”
Blomberg:
[Jesus] bases his argument on Ps 110:1, assuming with the Judaism of his time the accuracy of the Davidic superscription, and the inspiration of the actual text itself, which would therefore imply its truthfulness. Given these assumptions, the second “Lord” (Heb. aḏōnāi, not Yahweh) can only be the Messiah. Again Jesus’ reasoning finds pre-Christian Jewish precedent. This “lord” resides at the position of highest privilege and authority, second only to God the Father. He sits next to the Father’s throne and rules over all his enemies (Ps 110:4), presumably including those in Jesus’ audience! (comment on 22:43-44)
GrowApp Matt. 22:41-46
1. King David called Jesus his Lord. What does Jesus’s Lordship mean in your life?
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1. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels: Introduction to Series
SOURCES AND MORE
To see the bibliography, please click on this link and scroll down to the bottom. You will also find a “Summary and Conclusion” for discipleship.
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