What is the context?
Jesus now poses a question of His own. He asks how the Christ can be called David’s son when David himself calls Him Lord in Psalm 110. The quoted saying places this Lord at God’s right hand until His enemies are put beneath His feet. (Psalm 110:1–4)
The question brings ancestry and authority together. Being descended from David does not exhaust what the Psalm says about the Messiah. David’s own words require attention to the greater standing of the One he calls Lord.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Christian readings commonly understand the Messiah as David’s promised descendant whose authority also surpasses David’s. Calvin reads the question as pointing to Christ’s humanity and divinity, a confession also stated in the Westminster Confession and Methodist Articles. (Calvin on Luke 20:41–44 and Matthew 22:41–46; Westminster Confession 8.2; Methodist Articles II)
Where does this fit in God's plan?
At Pentecost, Peter explicitly connects this Psalm with Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation. David died, but God raised Jesus, seated Him at His right hand and gave Him the promised Spirit to pour out. Peter uses that connection to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:29–36)
Paul also describes Christ reigning until His enemies are under His feet, with death the last enemy to be destroyed. The royal authority raised in Jesus’ question therefore belongs within the New Testament’s hope of resurrection and God’s final victory. (1 Corinthians 15:20–26)
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.