Matthew 22:43 Meaning and Explanation
“He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks how David, speaking by the Spirit, can call his own son Lord.
What Does Matthew 22:43 Mean?
Jesus takes them to Psalm 110, a psalm of David, and notes how it was written: David spoke "in spirit" -- carried along by the Spirit of God (2 Peter 1:21). And in that Spirit, David calls the Messiah "my Lord."
No patriarch called his descendant his lord; sons honored fathers, not the reverse. If David bows to his own offspring, the Messiah must be more than the heir of David. Jesus is teaching them how to read: Scripture, taken seriously, keeps opening upward, until the promised son of David is seen to be David's Lord -- and ours.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 22:43
What does Matthew 22:43 mean?
Jesus asks how David, speaking by the Spirit, can call his own son Lord.