Bible Study series: Luke 20:41-44. In Psalm 110:1, David, who wrote the Psalm, called him “my Lord.” That’s Jesus. He is David’s Lord.
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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: Luke 20:41-44
41 Then he said to them, “How do they say that the Christ is the son of David? 42 For David himself says in the book of Psalms:
‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit on my right
43 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ [Ps. 110:1]
44 Therefore, David calls him Lord. How can he be his son?” (Luke 20:41-44)
Comments:
41-44:
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.
Bock on the prophecy in Psalm 110:1 and whether a prophet is speaking in v. 1 and who addresses the king:
The phrase my Lord must means David’s Lord, or else the tension evaporates and Jesus’ key messianological point is lost. In the first-century context this implies Davidic authorship of this psalm—especially of the utterance. It is conceivable, however, that one could see Ps. 110 in terms of David’s inspired declaration about his descendant Solomon … David’s declaration is recorded and passed on by a prophet under inspiration as a description of the Davidic family’s regal hope. Even though this approach to Ps. 110 looks a little sophisticated, it cannot be ruled out because of the uncertain origin of the cultic [temple ritual] materials of Israel and the possibility that a prophet addressed it to the king in the hopes that his descendant would be a king worthy of the dynastic hope and thus fulfill God’s promises.” (p. 1636).
The right indicates power. The word “hand” is not on Greek, but it could be translated as “Sit at my right hand” because “hand” is implied.
During Jesus ministry and long before, the people believed that the Messiah was also called the son of David.
Here is Paul’s restatement of Jesus’s descent from David.
3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. (Rom. 1:3-4, NIV)
Here is how Peter corrects the notion as he preaches to a crowd in Jerusalem:
34 For it was not David who went up into heaven, but he himself says:
‘the Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
35 until I put your enemies
Under your feet for a footstool” (Ps. 110:1)
36 Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God made him Lord and Christ, whom you crucified.” (Acts 2:34-35)
Jesus is exalted over 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, Jesus!”
GrowApp for Luke 20:41-44
1. When you submit to Christ, whose enemies have been subject to him, how does he protect you from the enemy? For ideas, read Eph. 6:10-18 and Col. 2:13-15.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY 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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