“How say they that Christ is David's son?”
The full verse · Luke 20:41 · KJV
he , they that ?
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, teaching in the temple after His questioners had been silenced (Luke 20:40)
Asked to
Scribes: experts in the law of Moses, some of whom had just said, "Master, thou hast well said" (Luke 20:39)
The Scene
In the temple, after Jesus answered the Sadducees about the resurrection, certain scribes praised His answer and no one dared to ask Him anything more (Luke 20:39-40).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionFor days Jesus had been the one questioned. Now He turns and asks a question of His own. The scribes taught that the Christ would be David's son (Mark 12:35), and Scripture said so (Luke 1:32). Jesus does not deny it. He asks how that title alone can be the whole truth. Barnes, in his notes on the parallel in Matthew 22:41-46, says Jesus asked "not for the purpose of vain parade and triumph," but to show the leaders how little they understood their own prophecies and to bring before them "the true doctrine respecting the Messiah."
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus does not wait for a reply. He points to David's own words: "David himself saith in the book of Psalms, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool" (Luke 20:42-43). Then He presses the point with a second question: "David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?" (Luke 20:44). Luke records no answer from the scribes.
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Son of David" was a title for the promised King. God had promised David a son who would reign, and the angel told Mary that God would give Jesus "the throne of his father David" (Luke 1:32). Matthew opens his Gospel by calling Jesus "the son of David" (Matthew 1:1).
Luke says only "they," but the scribes have just spoken (Luke 20:39). Mark's account reads, "How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?" (Mark 12:35), and Gill notes that the Syriac version, an early translation of the New Testament, reads "how say the Scribes?" in Luke too. Matthew records that the Pharisees were gathered when Jesus asked (Matthew 22:41).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question is about who Jesus is. The scribes were right that the Christ would come from David. Jesus wants them to see that this is true but not complete. Barnes says the only answer to the puzzle is that "the Messiah was divine as well as human."
The question also shows how Jesus taught. He did not simply announce who He was. He led people back to Scripture and let a question open their eyes. Matthew Henry describes the scribes as "puzzled and run aground with a question concerning the Messiah." Their knowledge of the title was right; what they missed was the Person.
Look Closer
What had just happened right before Jesus asked this question?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You asked the scribes to look again at what they thought they knew about You; what have I assumed about You that You want me to see more fully?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The scribes knew the right title but missed the Person. Where might you be satisfied with knowing true things about Jesus without knowing Him?
- Tell about a time a question from Scripture made you rethink something you thought you already understood.
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
You can know a lot of correct things about Jesus and still need to see Him more clearly. The scribes had the right title, "David's son," but Jesus wanted them to see more.
Let Scripture ask you questions. Jesus did not argue the scribes into a corner with His own opinion. He sent them back to the Psalms. When you read the Bible, notice the places that do not fit what you expected, and stay there long enough to ask why.
This does not mean everything you were taught is wrong. The scribes were right that the Christ is David's son. Jesus built on what was true and called them to go further.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources