While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them, 42 saying, “What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.” 43 He said to them, “How, then, does David, inspired by the Spirit, call him ‘lord,’ saying: ’44 The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet”’? 45 If David calls him ‘lord,’ how can he be his son?” 46 No one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Following a series of confrontations in the temple where religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus with questions about paying taxes, resurrection, and the greatest commandment (Mt. 22:15-40), Jesus took the opportunity to question the Pharisees about the Messiah and his lineage while they were gathered. Although various Jewish sects had different expectations about the Messiah, the general Jewish expectation was that the Messiah would be a descendant from the house of David who would free them from Roman rule, restore the kingdom of Israel, and bring about God's reign of justice and peace. The Pharisees responded “David,” which was rooted in Old Testament prophecies (2 Sam. 7:12-16; Is. 11:1-10; Jer. 23:5-6).
Jesus challenges the Pharisees’ understanding of the Messiah by referring to Psalm 110:1, which David wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This psalm, recognized as messianic by Jewish texts developed and used after the Babylonian Exile (586 BC to 538 BC), indicates that David acknowledged someone superior as ‘lord’. This ‘lord’ is described as sitting at God's right hand, a position of honor and authority. Therefore, the Messiah is not merely David’s descendant but someone greater than David. He is exalted and shares in divine authority.
Jesus, in his humanity, was a descendant inferior to David, but in his divinity as the Son of God, he was superior to David. Jesus' response implied that the Messiah would not be merely a political figure but more like the “Son of Man” coming with the clouds of heaven as described in Daniel 7:13-14. In challenging the Pharisees' understanding of the nature and identity of the Messiah, Jesus created more tension between his teaching and the OT teaching as understood by the scribes and Pharisees The Pharisees were unable to respond to Jesus and did not attempt to question him further.
Almighty God, You revealed that Your Son was both David’s descendant and our exalted Lord. Strengthen our faith and open our hearts to understand his divine authority and majesty. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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Sources:
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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