The question "Whose Son is the Christ?" is a significant theological inquiry found in the Synoptic Gospels, specifically in Matthew 22:41-46, Mark 12:35-37, and Luke 20:41-44. This question is posed by Jesus to the Pharisees and serves as a pivotal moment in the New Testament, highlighting the dual nature of the Messiah as both human and divine.

Biblical Context:

In Matthew 22:41-46 , the passage reads:

"While the Pharisees were assembled, Jesus questioned them: 'What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?' 'David’s,' they answered. Jesus said to them, 'How then does David in the Spirit call Him Lord? For he says: "The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.’" So if David calls Him Lord, how can He be David’s son?' No one was able to answer a word, and from that day on no one dared to question Him any further."

Theological Significance:

1. Messianic Expectation:
The Jewish expectation of the Messiah during the time of Jesus was that He would be a descendant of King David, fulfilling the promises made in the Old Testament. This expectation is rooted in passages such as 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Isaiah 11:1, which prophesy a ruler from David's line who would establish an everlasting kingdom.

2. Jesus' Question:
By asking the Pharisees whose son the Christ is, Jesus is addressing their understanding of the Messiah's identity. The Pharisees correctly respond that the Christ is the son of David, reflecting the common Jewish belief.

3. Psalm 110:1:
Jesus references Psalm 110:1, a psalm attributed to David, where David refers to the Messiah as "my Lord." This creates a theological conundrum: if the Messiah is merely David's descendant, how can David call Him "Lord"? This implies a status greater than that of a mere human descendant.

4. Dual Nature of Christ:
The question and the subsequent discussion reveal the dual nature of the Messiah. Jesus is both the son of David in His human lineage (as affirmed in genealogies such as Matthew 1:1-16 and Luke 3:23-38) and the Son of God, indicating His divine nature. This dual nature is a cornerstone of Christian theology, affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man.

5. Christological Implications:
The inability of the Pharisees to answer Jesus' question underscores their limited understanding of the Messiah's true identity. Jesus' teaching here points to the mystery of the Incarnation, where the eternal Son of God took on human flesh, fulfilling the prophecies and expectations of the Old Testament in a way that surpassed human understanding.

Conclusion:

The question "Whose Son is the Christ?" serves as a profound theological inquiry that challenges the listener to consider the full identity of Jesus as the Messiah. It invites believers to recognize Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, embodying both the royal lineage of David and the divine nature of God Himself. This passage remains a critical point of reflection for understanding the person and work of Jesus Christ in Christian theology.