Then he said to them, “How do they claim that the Messiah is the Son of David? 42 For David himself in the Book of Psalms says: ‘The Lord said to my lord, “Sit at my right hand 43 till I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 44 Now if David calls him ‘lord,’ how can he be his son?” 45 Then, within the hearing of all the people, he said to [his] disciples, 46 “Be on guard against the scribes, who like to go around in long robes and love greetings in marketplaces, seats of honor in synagogues, and places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers. They will receive a very severe condemnation.”
Jesus addresses the Pharisees and scribes who have been questioning him. The title "Son of David" was commonly used to refer to the Messiah, as it was believed that the Messiah would come from David's lineage (cf. 2 Sam. 7:12-16; Is. 11:1). Jesus acknowledges the traditional belief about the Messiah but uses Psalm 110:1 to challenge their limited understanding of the Messiah's identity. The quote emphasizes the divine nature of the Messiah and his exaltation to the right hand of God. David, the author of the Psalm, refers to someone greater than himself as “my Lord.” Jesus is making the point that according to Scripture, the Messiah is not simply a descendant of David but someone whose identity transcends David’s earthly kingship.
In Jewish thought, the "right hand" of a king was a position of honor, authority, and power. By quoting Psalm 110:1, Jesus points to the Messiah's divine kingship and authority, which far exceeds any earthly reign of David or his descendants. Jesus then poses the rhetorical question that if David himself calls the Messiah "Lord," how can the Messiah be merely an earthly descendant of David? Jesus points to the dual nature of Christ: fully human and fully divine, and challenges the Pharisees' narrow expectation of a purely political Messiah.
Jesus focuses on the scribes and warns his disciples about the dangers of pride, vanity, and hypocrisy. The scribes were experts in the Law, but they often sought recognition and status rather than serving the people. The long robes, greetings in marketplaces, and places of honor in synagogues and banquets were symbols of their desire for social distinction and respect. Their outward piety was a cover for their internal pride and greed. They exploit vulnerable widows, who were often defenseless and in need of protection (cf. James 1:27). Their long prayers are a pretext for self-righteousness and for garnering respect, but they fail to practice true justice and mercy. Jesus declares that such actions will lead to severe judgment.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for revealing the fullness of your identity as both the Son of David and the Son of God. Help us to understand your call to humility and service, and guide us to avoid the pitfalls of pride and hypocrisy. Amen.
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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