Jesus said to them
In this passage, Jesus is addressing the Pharisees, a group of Jewish religious leaders known for their strict adherence to the Law. This interaction occurs during a series of questions posed to Jesus by the Pharisees and Sadducees, attempting to trap Him in His words. Jesus often used questions to challenge the understanding and beliefs of His audience, prompting them to think more deeply about the Scriptures and their implications.

“How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord’?
Jesus refers to King David, a revered figure in Jewish history, who is traditionally credited with writing many of the Psalms. By saying "in the Spirit," Jesus indicates that David's words were inspired by the Holy Spirit, affirming the divine inspiration of Scripture. The term "Lord" here is significant because it implies a position of authority and divinity. Jesus is pointing out that David, despite being a king, acknowledges a higher authority in the Messiah, whom Jesus claims to be. This challenges the Pharisees' understanding of the Messiah as merely a human descendant of David.

For he says:
Jesus is about to quote Psalm 110:1, a psalm attributed to David. This particular psalm is often cited in the New Testament as a messianic prophecy, pointing to the Messiah's divine nature and eternal priesthood. By quoting this psalm, Jesus emphasizes the prophetic nature of the Old Testament and its fulfillment in Him. This connection between the Old and New Testaments underscores the continuity of God's plan for salvation through Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus Christ
The central figure in this passage, Jesus is engaging in a dialogue with the Pharisees, challenging their understanding of the Messiah.

2. David
The revered king of Israel, who is quoted by Jesus to make a theological point about the Messiah's identity.

3. Pharisees
A religious group in Judaism known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions. They are questioning Jesus about the Messiah.

4. The Holy Spirit
Referred to as the source of David's inspiration when he calls the Messiah "Lord."

5. Psalm 110
The Old Testament scripture Jesus quotes, which is a Messianic psalm attributed to David.Understanding the Messiah's Identity
Jesus challenges the Pharisees to recognize the Messiah as more than a descendant of David, but as the divine Lord. This calls us to deepen our understanding of who Jesus is.

The Role of the Holy Spirit
David's declaration is made "in the Spirit," highlighting the importance of the Holy Spirit in revealing divine truths. We should seek the Spirit's guidance in our study and understanding of Scripture.

Scriptural Consistency
Jesus uses Scripture to validate His claims, showing the consistency and unity of the Bible. We should also use Scripture to interpret and understand other parts of Scripture.

The Authority of Jesus
By calling the Messiah "Lord," David acknowledges His authority. We are called to submit to Jesus' authority in every aspect of our lives.

Engaging with Skeptics
Jesus' interaction with the Pharisees teaches us to engage thoughtfully and scripturally with those who question or misunderstand the faith.(43) Doth David in spirit call him Lord?--The words assume (1) that David was the writer of Psalms 110; (2) that in writing it, he was guided by a Spirit higher than his own; (3) that the subject of it was no earthly king of the house of David, but the far off Christ. On this point there was an undisturbed consensus among the schools of Judaism, as represented by the Targums and the Talmud. It was a received tradition that the Christ should sit on the right hand of Jehovah and Abraham on His left. Its application to the Christ is emphatically recognised by St. Peter (Acts 2:34), and by St. Paul, though indirectly (Colossians 3:1). In the argument of the Epistle to the Hebrews, it occupies well-nigh the chief place of all (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 5:6). The only hypothesis on which any other meaning can be assigned to it is, that it was written, not by David, but of him. Here it will be enough to accept our Lord's interpretation, and to track the sequence of thought in His question. The words represent the LORD (Jehovah) as speaking to David's Lord (Adonai), as the true king, the anointed of Jehovah. But if so, what was the meaning of that lofty title? Must not He who bore it be something more than the son of David by mere natural descent? If the scribes had never even asked themselves that question, were they not self-convicted of incompetency as religious teachers?

Verse 43. - He saith. They had answered glibly enough, not knowing what was to come of their natural admission; now Christ puts a difficulty before them which might have led them to pause and reflect upon what that assertion might connote. How then? Πῶς οϋν; If Christ is David's Son, how is it then, in what sense can it be said, etc.? Doth David in spirit can him Lord. "In spirit" means speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit - an argument surely for the Divine authority of the Old Testament, when "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost" (2 Peter 1:21). Christ proceeds to quote a passage from Psalm 110, acknowledged by the Jews to be Davidic and Messianic. Both these positions have been called in question in modern days, and sceptical critics have hence presumed to infer ignorance or deceit on the part of Christ; i.e. either that he did not know that the authorship was wrongly attributed to David, and that the psalm really referred to Maccabean times, or that, knowing these facts, he deliberately ignored them and endorsed a popular error in order to give colour to his argument. The statement of such a charge against our Lord is a sufficient refutation. Universal tradition, extending to this very time, which gave to the psalm a Messianic interpretation, is surely more worthy of credit than a theory elaborated in the present century, which in no respect regards the natural signification of the language, and can be made to support the novel idea only by forced and unreal accommodations. By speaking of David as having uttered the quoted words, Christ does not formally state that this king wrote the psalm; he merely gives the accepted view which classed it as Davidic. The authorship did not matter in his application; his argument was equally sound, whoever was the writer.

Parallel Commentaries ...


[Jesus] said
Λέγει (Legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

to them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“How
Πῶς (Pōs)
Adverb
Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!

then
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

{does} David
Δαυὶδ (Dauid)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138: David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.

in
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

[the] Spirit
Πνεύματι (Pneumati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4151: Wind, breath, spirit.

call
καλεῖ (kalei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2564: (a) I call, summon, invite, (b) I call, name. Akin to the base of keleuo; to 'call'.

Him
αὐτὸν (auton)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

Lord?
Κύριον (Kyrion)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

[For] he says:
λέγων (legōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 22:43 He said to them How then does (Matt. Mat Mt)