They didn’t believe he was who he said he was. It’s why he was regularly challenging them on his identity. And here, he used David’s words which they believed to challenge them.
35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, “Why do the teachers of the law say that the Messiah is the son of David? 36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared:
“‘The Lord said to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I put your enemies
under your feet.”’
37 David himself calls him ‘Lord.’ How then can he be his son?”
The large crowd listened to him with delight.
Jesus poses the question to the crowd: David says that the Messiah is a descendant of His. And yet David calls him Lord. How can this be?
Why would David call one of his descendants Lord? He could look into the future and say his descendants would be great and amazing people. Even leaders in the David line.
But David calls him, “my Lord.”
This is a claim to deity.
Through the Holy Spirit, David was saying that the Messiah, God in flesh, would come through the David line.
Where in the Old Testament do we see that God will enter into humanity?
Genesis 3:14-15
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,
“Cursed are you above all livestock
and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly
and you will eat dust
all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
between you and the woman,
and between your offspring[a] and hers;
he will crush[b] your head,
and you will strike his heel.”
Psalm 2:9-12
You will break them with a rod of iron[b];
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Isaiah 9:6:
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Proverbs 30:4
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son?
Surely you know!
Yes, the Scripture spoke about God coming and clothing himself with human flesh. This came through the Davidic line.
This happened through Jesus. Jesus’ rule and reign now is forever.
It’s why David could call a descendant of his, “My Lord.”
But would the people get it? Would they understand he was Messiah? God in the flesh?