Bible Strands
Matthew 22:45
So if David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how can He be David’s son?”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses the gathered religious leaders in the temple after quoting Psalm 110, directly following His citation of verse 44. He poses this question to close a series of confrontations before His crucifixion.
The words — The Greek term κύριον (kurion) translates literally to “Lord,” while υἱὸς (huios) means “son.” Jesus juxtaposes these titles to highlight the paradox of the Messiah’s dual nature.
The thread — This Davidic lineage and lordship tension echoes Romans 1:3 and Revelation 22:16, which both affirm Jesus as both descendant and root of David. The question also anticipates the pre-existence claims found in John 8:58.
Why it lands — The text forces a reader to reconcile how the Messiah can be both human descendant and divine sovereign. It demands acceptance of Jesus’ authority without offering a neat theological formula.
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
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
Cross-references
- Romans 1:3 regarding His Son, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh,
- Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”
- John 8:58 “Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
- Philippians 2:6 Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
- 1 Timothy 3:16 By common confession, the mystery of godliness is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was proclaimed among the nations, was believed in throughout the world, was taken up in glory.
- Hebrews 2:14 Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
- Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen.