Matthew 22:41-46

MATTHEW—NOTE ON Matthew 22:41 Jesus now asked the Pharisees about the long-awaited Messiah (the Christ), Whose son is he? Their reply, The son of David, reflected the common understanding that the Messiah would be a descendant of David (see 2 Samuel 7:12; Psalms 89:3; Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5). Jesus then cites Psalms 110:1, one of the messianic texts most quoted in the NT. In the psalm, David said that the coming Messiah (that is, David’s “son”) will not be just a special human descended from David. He will also be David’s Lord. The fact that the descendant (Jesus) would have a more prominent role and title than the ancestor (David) further indicates the uniqueness of the Messiah and the greater honor that is due him as the Son of God. Psalms 110:1 emphasizes the Messiah’s deity. The Messiah is to be God in the flesh (see John 1:14).