Let’s read that interesting passage: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The Son of David. He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions” (KJV).

Why did Jesus ask the Pharisees this question? Ah, because He knew they were rejecting Him because He not only claimed to be “The Son of David”; He also claimed to be “The Son of God.” They tried to kill Him for saying God was His Father, He was “making Himself equal with God.” We read of this in John 5:18, “Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD.” In their minds He was guilty of blasphemy. This was the reason they gave later for wanting Him to die by crucifixion. Matthew 26:65-66 says, “Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is worthy of death.’” The religious rulers failed to see that their promised Messiah would not only be a Man; He would also be God. And thus He took them back to their Old Testament scriptures and quoted those words of David in Psalm 110:1, “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”

When David said those words, he was acknowledging that “His Son” would also be “His Lord.” If David had been there when the Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees the question, “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”, he could have stepped in and said, “As GOD He is my Lord; as MAN He is my Son.” Sadly, the Pharisees failed to see this although the Old Testament scriptures had revealed this truth. In 2 Samuel 7:12-13 God gave David this promise: “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM FOREVER.” This promise of David’s seed (his Son) sitting on “the throne of his kingdom forever” spoke of Jesus Christ! Later, in Psalm 89:35-37, we read: “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; It shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky.” They should have connected this with Isaiah’s prophecy in Isaiah 9:6-7, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” The “Child” that was to be born was “David’s son”; The “Son” that was given was “David’s Lord,” the Lord of glory and God the Father’s only begotten Son. 

I will close with two more references which prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus Christ was both “David’s Son” and “David’s Lord.” In Luke 1:30-33 we read, “Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the SON OF THE HIGHEST; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of HIS FATHER DAVID. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” This truth is amazing! The “Son of the highest” (the eternal Son of God) would become the “Son of David” (a true Man and descendant of David). The very last chapter of the Bible reveals this same truth, for we read in Revelation 22:16, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning star.” As the “ROOT of David” Jesus was “David’s Creator and Lord” from which he was born. As the “OFFSPRING of David” Jesus was “David’s Son.” Does my reader believe this? I pray you won’t reject this truth like the Pharisees did. Their mouths were silenced by the words of Jesus (for no one can refute the truth of God’s Word) and in a coming day THEY WILL KNOW He is indeed “David’s Lord.” They will be made to “bow the knee before Him and confess that He is Lord” (see Philippians 2:5-11), yet it will be too late to be saved (see John 8:24 with Revelation 20:11-15).  (DO)  (656.5)