Jesus said to them
This phrase highlights the authority and direct engagement of Jesus with the religious leaders. The Greek word for "said" is "λέγει" (legei), which implies a continuous or habitual action, indicating Jesus' ongoing role as a teacher and authority. In the historical context, Jesus often engaged with the Pharisees and Sadducees, challenging their understanding and interpretation of the Scriptures. This interaction is a demonstration of His divine wisdom and authority.

How then
The phrase "How then" introduces a logical argument or question. In Greek, "πῶς οὖν" (pōs oun) suggests a reasoning process that invites the listener to think critically. Jesus is leading His audience to consider the implications of their beliefs about the Messiah. This rhetorical question is a common teaching method used by Jesus to provoke thought and self-reflection among His listeners.

does David
David is a central figure in Jewish history, revered as a king and prophet. The mention of David here is significant because he is the author of many Psalms and is considered a forefather of the Messiah. In the Jewish tradition, David's words carry great weight, and Jesus uses David's own writings to make a theological point. This reference to David underscores the continuity of God's revelation through the Old Testament.

in the Spirit
The phrase "in the Spirit" indicates divine inspiration. The Greek term "ἐν Πνεύματι" (en Pneumati) suggests that David's words were not merely his own but were spoken under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This highlights the belief in the inspiration of Scripture, where human authors were guided by the Holy Spirit to convey God's truth. It affirms the divine authority and reliability of the Scriptures.

call Him 'Lord'
The term "Lord" in Greek is "Κύριον" (Kyrion), which denotes authority and divinity. By stating that David calls the Messiah "Lord," Jesus is pointing to the Messiah's divine status. This challenges the prevailing Jewish expectation of a purely human Messiah and suggests a deeper, more profound understanding of the Messiah's identity. It emphasizes the dual nature of Christ as both human and divine.

For he says
This phrase introduces a quotation from the Old Testament, specifically Psalm 110:1. The Greek "λέγει" (legei) again underscores the authoritative nature of the Scripture being cited. By quoting David, Jesus is not only affirming the validity of the Old Testament but also using it to reveal deeper truths about His own identity as the Messiah. This method of teaching through Scripture reinforces the continuity and fulfillment of God's promises through Jesus Christ.

(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.


Matthew 22:43 NIV
Matthew 22:43 NLT
Matthew 22:43 ESV
Matthew 22:43 NASB
Matthew 22:43 KJV

Matthew 22:43 BibleApps.com
Matthew 22:43 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 22:43 Chinese Bible
Matthew 22:43 French Bible
Matthew 22:43 Catholic Bible

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