Bible Strands
Matthew 22:42
“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is He?” “David’s,” they answered.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to a gathered group of Pharisees, posing a direct question about the Messiah’s identity during a teaching session. The exchange occurs immediately before Jesus challenges their understanding of David’s own testimony.
The words — The Greek phrase τι ὑμῖν δοκεῖ (ti hymin dokei) literally translates to “what is thinking to you” or “what do you suppose.” The word χριστοῦ (christou) means “anointed one” and refers to the expected deliverer.
The thread — The inquiry about the Christ’s lineage runs through Jeremiah 23:5, Ezekiel 34:23, and Amos 9:11, where God promises to establish a righteous ruler from David’s line. These passages ground the Pharisees’ correct answer in earlier prophetic declarations.
Why it lands — The text records a straightforward question and answer about the Messiah’s human ancestry before Jesus introduces a spiritual paradox. It asks a reader to confront whether they accept Jesus as the promised Davidic king without reducing him to merely a political descendant.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David.
Cross-references
- Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
- Ezekiel 34:23 I will appoint over them one shepherd, My servant David, and he will feed them. He will feed them and be their shepherd.
- Amos 9:11 “In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old,
- Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He questioned His disciples: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
- John 6:68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
- Isaiah 7:13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?
- Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
- Isaiah 11:1 Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit.
- Matthew 1:1 This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:
- Matthew 9:27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”