Matthew 22:41-45
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
41 (A)While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus questioned them,[a] 42 [b]saying, “What is your opinion about the Messiah? Whose son is he?” They replied, “David’s.” 43 He said to them, “How, then, does David, inspired by the Spirit, call him ‘lord,’ saying:
44 (B)‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
until I place your enemies under your feet”’?
45 [c]If David calls him ‘lord,’ how can he be his son?”
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- 22:41 The Pharisees…questioned them: Mark is not specific about who are questioned (Mk 12:35).
- 22:42–44 David’s: this view of the Pharisees was based on such Old Testament texts as Is 11:1–9; Jer 23:5; and Ez 34:23; see also the extrabiblical Psalms of Solomon 17:21. How, then…saying: Jesus cites Ps 110:1 accepting the Davidic authorship of the psalm, a common view of his time. The psalm was probably composed for the enthronement of a Davidic king of Judah. Matthew assumes that the Pharisees interpret it as referring to the Messiah, although there is no clear evidence that it was so interpreted in the Judaism of Jesus’ time. It was widely used in the early church as referring to the exaltation of the risen Jesus. My lord: understood as the Messiah.
- 22:45 Since Matthew presents Jesus both as Messiah (Mt 16:16) and as Son of David (Mt 1:1; see also note on Mt 9:27), the question is not meant to imply Jesus’ denial of Davidic sonship. It probably means that although he is the Son of David, he is someone greater, Son of Man and Son of God, and recognized as greater by David who calls him my ‘lord.’
Mark 12:35-37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
35 As Jesus was teaching in the temple area he said,(A) “How do the scribes claim that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, inspired by the holy Spirit, said:
‘The Lord said to my lord,
“Sit at my right hand
until I place your enemies under your feet.”’(B)
37 David himself calls him ‘lord’; so how is he his son?” [The] great crowd heard this with delight.
Denunciation of the Scribes.[a]
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- 12:38–40 See notes on Mk 7:1–23 and Mt 23:1–39.
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