The King: David’s Son yet David’s Lord (Matthew 22:41-46)

Introduction

As the day of Christmas draws nearer, let our hearts and minds contemplate the one in whom Christmas is all about all the more. For as we consider what Christmas is, we realize that it is not about trees nor family gatherings nor festival treats. As fine of things as they are. Christmas rather is about God’s anointed one who has come to dwell among man. 

But who is this Christ? That’s the question put before us this morning as we continue to make our way through the Gospel According to Matthew.

Please then take your Bible and turn in it with me to Matthew 22:41-46. If you do not have a copy of the Bible, there is a Red Bible there in your seats. And I would encourage you to grab it and open it with us. You can find Matthew 22:41-46 on page #984. 

As a church, we have been working our way through the Gospel According to Matthew off and on for the last couple of years, going back to Christmas 2023. As we have been on this journey, we have come to see more and more clearly who Jesus is. For even as this gospel account opens, it tells us precisely who Jesus is. For he is the Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham (Matt 1:1). And as the Christ, he comes as one in the line of David. Yet the Christ is born of a virgin. For he was conceived not by man, but by the Holy Spirit. And this Jesus is our Emmanuel, God with us (Matt 1:22). And it is he who has come to save his people from their sins (Matt 1:21). 

How would this salvation come about? Well Jesus begins to preach about the coming kingdom of God. A kingdom that would bring redemption in restoring God’s rule in creation. A kingdom that would begin pushing back the darkness by the light of God’s Anointed King, the King from Psalm 110. 

And because this kingdom was near, the people were called to repent, to turn from their sins and return to the Lord. A message that Jesus began to preach and has continued preaching in his public ministry. A message that was being declared through every teaching and every great work he did. That the kingdom of heaven was near and was already at work. 

Along the way, there were many who repented and believed. We even see Peter confess that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. However, at the same time, as some have believed in Jesus, many others have opposed him. An opposition that we have seen over the last several weeks, going back to Matthew 21:23-27. 

Jesus there was questioned about his authority to do what he was doing and to teach and proclaim what he was teaching. And all throughout that day, Jesus has continued to face strong opposition from the religious leaders in the form of questions to try and trap Jesus. Questions regarding the paying of taxes, the afterlife, and as we saw last week the great commandment. 

Yet, Jesus has resisted the trap and put his questioners in retreat mode. And he now comes to put a question of his own to them. 

Let’s hear the word of the LORD from Matthew 22:41-46…

Main Idea: Jesus is both, son of David and Son of God, so submit to him as both Lord and Redeemer. 

Jesus is David’s Son (Matthew 22:41-42)

Jesus is David’s Lord (Matthew 22:43-45)

Submit to this Jesus (Matthew 22:44, 46)

1. Jesus is David’s Son (Matthew 22:41-42)

Look back with me at V.41. Notice that Jesus here sees the Pharisees gathered where they are likely attempting to plot again against Jesus. But before they can or do, Jesus now asks them a question. Jesus’ question and the Pharisees' response comes there in V.42…

The Pharisees here are certainly familiar with the Old Testament and God’s covenant promise to David. A promise that comes in 2 Samuel 7:1-17 (2x). For that passage begins with David having the desire in his heart to build a house for the Lord, a permanent dwelling place for the ark of God that at that time dwelled in a tent. 

And as David had this desire, the Lord intervenes and speaks through his prophet, Nathan. And the Lord speaks to David that he will not build a house for the Lord. Instead, the Lord would raise up offspring after David. And through this offspring, God’s throne of his kingdom would be established forever. 

The Pharisees knew this covenant promise to David. And so they answer that the Christ, God’s promised Anointed King, would indeed be the son of David. 

Of course they are right in this. We have already seen this affirmed through the Gospel of Matthew. From the introduction of Matthew, we see Jesus Christ being affirmed as the son of David. That he descends from the line of David in the genealogy. 

Even as Jesus’ ministry and fame spread, many  would call out to him as the Son of David. In Matthew 9:27-31, two blind men cry out to Jesus, saying, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” In Matthew 15:22, we see a Canaanite woman cry out the same to Jesus. And even as Jesus entered Jerusalem humble and mounted on a donkey, there were shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David (Matt 21:9)!"

The Christ then is rightly to be understood as the Son of David. As one from David’s line, one even born in David’s royal city of Bethlehem as foretold in Micah 5:2. 

And who is this Christ? Jesus is the son of David. He is the long awaited Christ that was foretold. He was one born in the city of David, in the line of David as one who was fully man. Jesus brings fulfillment to God’s promises to David. And he is David’s Son. 

That’s point #1, Jesus is David’s Son. 

2. Jesus is David’s Lord (Matthew 22:43-45)

But while Jesus is the Son of David, he is more than that. To understand him as only the Son of David is to miss the depth of who Jesus is, to understand who the Christ has been promised to be. 

Consider it like this. If I were talking with someone, telling them about who I was. I could say to them that my name is Kyle and that I am an elder at my church where I serve as one of its shepherds. But is that the whole of who I am? Am I not first and foremost a Christian? And after that, before I am an elder, not to first manage my own home? Being that of a husband and a father? 

To understand who I am, you have to get the full picture. Similar here with who the Christ is, whose son he is, who his identity is to be. Jesus knows this. And he knows the Pharisees have not contemplated the depths of who the Christ is. 

And so, to draw this out, he points to David’s own words about his son, about the Christ. V.43…

Jesus asks them how David calls one that is just his son, Lord? Before we press this further, look again there with me at V.43. Looking particularly at how Jesus says, 

“David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord.” 

This here being the means the Scriptures come. They come inspired by God’s Spirit, the third person of the Triune God. Yet, these words come through real, human authors. This is the beauty of how God has revealed his word, his truths to man, through these inspired words. 

As to what these inspired words are that David speaks about this Lord, Jesus turns in V.44…

Jesus here quotes from David’s words in Psalm 110:1. Speaking here of two Lords, as he says,

“The Lord said to my Lord.” 

In English, the first Lord misses something. For these words of David move from Hebrew to Greek, then to English. The English is a good translation of the Greek in which the New Testament was originally written in. However, neither the Greek nor English captures the Covenant name of the LORD that was originally there in David’s words in the Hebrew. The covenant name, YHWH. 

So, the literal rendering of these words, YHWH says to my Lord (κυρίῳ; לַֽאדֹנִ֗י). And what does YHWH say to David’s Lord? That David’s Lord will sit at YHWH’s right hand until YHWH puts David’s Lord’s enemies under his feet. 

Jesus’ point in quoting this verse, is given in V.45…

And so, how then can David call his own son, Lord? For what father calls their son, Lord? That is, unless this son is greater than David. Let us then consider the fullness of Psalm 110 and David’s Spirit inspired words about his greater son. You can follow along with this by either turning to Psalm 110 or turning in your worship guide to our earlier Scripture Reading.

The Lord who vanquishes his enemies (Ps 110:1)

First, here in Psalm 110:1, the verse that Jesus quotes. YHWH says to David’s Lord that he will take the seat of glory next to YHWH. A seat belonging to none but God himself. To quote Christopher Ash from his excellent commentary, The Psalms: A Christ-Centered Commentary [1],

“Here it indicates that Christ will share God’s throne and participate fully in his divine nature and government.”

Further it is acknowledged that this Lord of David will also have all his enemies put under his feet as a footstool. An indicator of an ongoing triumph over all. 

The Lord who extends his rule (to the nations) (Ps 110:2)

Next in Psalm 110:2, this triumph is further expanded. David acknowledges that this greater son of his will rule in the midst of his enemies, extending his scepter over them. This painting the picture of this greater son of David having complete dominion over these enemies of his. 

The Lord who is a priest forever (Ps 110:3-4)

While this rule will come by force against his enemies, those who are the people of David’s Lord will come joyfully and willingly. We see this in the next two verses, Psalm 110:3-4. David here continues on with what YHWH says to his Lord. YHWH tells him that the people will offer themselves to this Lord freely and that he will be a priest for the people before YHWH. 

And not just like any priest, but a priest in the line of Melchizedek. Melchizedek appears out of nowhere in Genesis in coming to Abraham. He has no beginning or ending, nor a previous line to the role of Priest. And yet, he is a priest before Abrham. The book of Hebrews unfolds this for us, making plain that the Christ comes as this one like Melchizedek in having an indestructible life. David here then predicting that unlike other priests who served until death, the Christ would be a forever priest with an indestructible life. 

Therefore, a priest who continues to intercede for his people before the LORD, our God. YHWH himself. 

And so, the Christ was to serve as both King and Priest forever! Both joyfully and willingly served by his people and a conquer of his enemies. 

The Lord who will judge the nations (Ps 110:5-7)

Finally in Psalm 110:5-7, David acknowledges that his greater son will be the one who executes judgment among the nations, having a complete and final triumph over all his enemies. 

For even in V.5, we see that he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath, of his final judgment. This being an allusion back to Genesis 3:15, where it was foretold that a seed of the woman would come and crush the head of the serpent. The seed of the woman is the long-awaited, promised Christ, the Son of David. 

The Lord of David

Psalm 110 is David’s confession that this promised heir would be more than just David’s son. That this son, this heir, this seed of woman was something much more. That he is one being attributed to being one who is more than man. One more like YHWH himself. Indeed, one like YHWH himself. For the Christ would be God himself. 

And that is the beauty and wonder and awe and joy of Christmas! That God himself was pleased as man with men to dwell as our Emmanuel! As God with us. The beauty of the incarnation of Christmas is that God came to dwell with us by taking on our human form. 

For who should be this Lord of David? The one descended from his line, the Son of David, Jesus himself! 

Jesus came from the royal line of David, but was one who was not conceived as an ordinary man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born by the virgin Mary. Revealing that he is both fully man in being born of a woman and fully God in being conceived by the Spirit. 

This is the start of David’s Lord. A Lord who would then fulfill all of this from Psalm 110. Even though at the moment, we like David only see a shadow of this triumph. 

For Jesus descended from heaven’s glory, born of a virgin, God being pleased to take on human flesh and dwell among men. He lived a life fully pleasing to God the Father, fulfilling all the law and the prophets. A life lived in order to then lay down his own life as the perfect, spotless lamb of God. 

Jesus came to be born to then die. Death not under the curse of sin, but death as a once for all sacrifice. For even as he lay in the manger, Jesus’ eyes were always set towards the cross. Where he the perfect lamb of God would be pierced and wounded for our transgressions. He would take our sin upon himself, so that we might receive his righteousness if we would come to him by faith. 

How though could the conquering Lord of David be given over to death? Because it is precisely in this death that he conquers. For it is in his death that Jesus triumphs over the accuser, Satan himself. For as Jesus dies the death of sinners, he being spotless left death with no claims over him. He being innocent, fulfilling the law and the prophets, meant that the curse of sin could not stand against Jesus. And so, he defeated the grave and rose on the third day as the Christus Victor! 

And then forty days later, Jesus did ascend where he was and is now seated at the right hand of God the Father and is ruling as God’s Anointed King, as the God-Man. A rule in which he compassionately continues to intercede for his people, being both their King and their Priest. And his people, those who have come to him by faith, joyfully and eagerly serve him. 

As Jesus sits on his throne, his rule, his scepter is even now being stretched out. The rule of King Jesus, David’s Lord is advancing wherever the gospel is proclaimed and believed. For it is in the gospel being believed that the rule of God takes root in human hearts. Transforming people as they come out of darkness and into the light of God. 

A rule that will continue to expand, even if ever so seemingly slowly, until the day of King Jesus’ judgment and his final victory once and for all! 

This is the Lord of David, the Lord of all who belong to Jesus as his disciples.  That is point #2, Jesus is David’s Lord. 

3. Submit to this Jesus (Matthew 22:44, 46)

What impact though is this to have on our lives today? How is this to shape our lives as Christians? Or even for those who do not believe? 

First, look at V.46… With this question, Jesus silences his opponents. He had stumbled them by pointing them to not just David’s son, but his Lord. A question that they must wrestle with and see what they rightly believe about the Christ. Was he a mere man or was he both man and God? 

It is this very same question that is now being put to us. What do we think about the Christ? Of his person? Of his offices? What do we think about his life? His death on the cross? What do we think of his resurrection, ascension, and his interceding work at the right hand of God? 

Have we believed that Jesus was revealed by David in Psalm 110? As revealed here according to the gospel of Matthew? Have we come to rest in him by faith? Have we come to the only one who can save us from our sins? 

If the answer is no, then my prayer for you is that even now that the Lord would soften your heart and allow you to see the truth that is before you. That Jesus indeed is the greater Lord of David, who as long foretold, has come as God’s promised King. And that he and he alone will stand victorious against all rulers and authorities and principalities. Seeing that he will be given authority and the right to judge all people. Including you and I. 

And your only hope is to believe in him now, and to repent. To turn from your unbelief, from your love of sin, and come to Jesus. Trusting that by coming to him, that he will intercede before God on your behalf. Allowing you to enter the presence of God and live. 

Friend, repent and believe this morning! Believe in this one who has shattered the head of the Accuser. 

For those of you who have already believed, simply pause and marvel at the one who Christmas is all about! Marvel how God’s promise made to David of a son to sit own his throne has come to have an even greater throne! A throne of glory! 

Marvel at how not just any child was born, but one who is the God-man. Both fully God and fully man. One person with two natures. 

Marvel how this Lord of David sits on the right hand of God following his death and resurrection, and is at work to intercede on your behalf! 

Marvel how we get the joy and privilege of serving this King! Not because we must, but because of who he is! Our Redeeming King! 

The Christ is born in Bethlehem, and so, let us respond by joining the angel chorus, giving glory to the new-born King this Christmas! Remembering that he was born to die so that God and sinners may be reconciled! A reconciliation that comes not by any ordinary man, but by our Emmanuel! God coming to dwell with us, in his taking on our human nature! 

Let’s rejoice and pray!

Endnotes

[1] Christopher Ash. The Psalms-A Christ-centered Commentary, Vol IV. (Wheaton, IL, Crossway, 2024) 166.