He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

MATTHEW 22:43KJV
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Matthew 22:43 (KJV)

What does Matthew 22:43 mean?

Matthew 22:43 shows Jesus questioning the religious leaders about how King David, guided by the Spirit, could call the Messiah "Lord." Jesus is highlighting a puzzle in the Scriptures to make the leaders think more deeply about the identity of the Messiah.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, who were experts in the Jewish law. He refers to a well-known psalm written by David, asking how David could call his own descendant "Lord" if the Messiah was only supposed to be his son. By mentioning that David spoke "in spirit," Jesus points out that David’s words had a special, divinely inspired meaning.

The Greek behind Matthew 22:43

  • ἐν πνεύματι (en pneumati): This phrase means "in spirit." Here, it suggests that David was speaking under the influence or guidance of God's Spirit, not just expressing his own thoughts.
  • κύριον (kurion): Translated as "Lord," this word is significant because it shows that David gave a title of authority and honor to the Messiah, even though the Messiah would be his descendant. This challenges the common view that the Messiah would be just a human king from David’s line.

Why Matthew 22:43 matters

  • This verse challenges the simple idea that the Messiah would be only a human descendant of David, hinting at a greater, possibly divine, identity.
  • By pointing out that David spoke "in spirit," Jesus draws attention to the deeper, inspired meaning of Scripture, encouraging careful reading and reflection.
  • This question sets up the next verses, where Jesus presses the religious leaders to rethink their assumptions about who the Messiah is, which is a key theme in Matthew’s Gospel.

Where else these words appear

“David” Greek G1138 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 1:1 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
  • Mark 11:10 Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
  • Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

“How” Greek G4459 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
  • Luke 12:11 And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
  • Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

“call” Greek G2564 · used in 138 verses

  • Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
  • Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
  • Romans 9:26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.