Devine Scripture

Matthew 22:45

What does Matthew 22:45 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 22:45 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 22:45 means

Jesus, having quoted Psalm 110:1, now delivers His piercing rhetorical question: 'If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?' This question directly exposes the Pharisees' theological dilemma. If the Messiah is merely David's human descendant, why would David, by the Holy Spirit, address his own future descendant as 'Lord,' a title implying superior authority and even divinity? This challenge forces them to confront the truth of the Messiah's divine nature, which they, in their limited understanding, could not reconcile.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

If David then calleth him Lord, how is he his son?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

If David then gives him the name of Lord, how is he his son?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

If then David doth call him lord, how is he his son?'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

If therefore David call him Lord, how is he his son?

Context

This verse presents Jesus' culminating rhetorical question, directly following the quotation of Psalm 110:1. This question effectively encapsulates the paradox and presses the Pharisees to resolve the apparent contradiction between the Messiah being David's son and David's Lord. This unanswerable question immediately precedes their silence, marking Jesus' definitive triumph in this final confrontation.

v.44The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet?

v.45This passage

v.46And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Revelation 22:16

    I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things for the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, the bright, the morning star.

  • 1 Timothy 3:16

    And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

  • Philippians 2:6

    who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

  • Romans 9:5

    whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

  • John 8:58

    Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was born, I am.

  • Romans 1:3

    concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

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