Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 22:44
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
41 46. The Son of David
Mar 12:35-37; Luk 20:41-44
44. The Lord said unto my Lord ] Psa 110:1. According to the Hebrew, “Jehovah said to Adoni,” i. e. to my sovereign Lord, the Messiah, the Son of David.
said ] The Hebrew word translated “said” implies divine inspiration, hence “in spirit” ( Mat 22:43). Canon Perowne translates, “the oracle of Jehovah unto my lord.”
Sit thou on my right hand ] As My co-regent, having power equal to Mine. This verse is quoted in 1Co 15:25; Heb 1:13; Heb 10:12-13. (Cp. for the expression ch. Mat 20:21.)
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 44. The Lord ( Yeve or Jehovah) said unto my Lord, ( Adni or Adonai, my prop, stay, master, support), Sit thou on my right hand] Take the place of the greatest eminence and authority. Till I make thine enemies thy footstool – till I subdue both Jews and Gentiles under thee, and cause them to acknowledge thee as their sovereign and Lord. This quotation is taken from Ps 110:1; and, from it, these two points are clear:
1. That David wrote it by the inspiration of God; and
2. That it is a prophetic declaration of the Messiah.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Lord said unto my Lord,…. By the Lord that said, is meant “Jehovah” the Father, who said the following words at the time of Christ’s ascension, and entrance into heaven, after he had finished the great work of man’s salvation; prophetically delivered by the Psalmist, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, being what was before purposed and promised: by “my Lord”, the person spoken to, the Messiah is designed, who was David’s “Adon”, or Lord, by right both of creation and redemption: as God, he made him: and as the Messiah and Saviour, redeemed him; and on both accounts had a right to rule over him. The words said unto him are,
sit thou on my right hand; which is a figurative phrase, and expressive of the exaltation, dignity, power, and authority of the Messiah; and of an honour done to him, which was never granted to the angels, nor to any mere man:
till I make thine enemies thy footstool; till all the enemies of him, and his people, are subdued under him; carnal professors, as the Pharisees, and profane sinners, who neither of them would have him to rule over them; the world, the devil, antichrist, and all the powers of darkness, and the last enemy, death itself. That these words were spoken of the Messiah, and therefore pertinently cited, and properly applied to him, by Jesus, is evident from the silence of the Pharisees; for had it not been the generally received sense of the Jewish church, they would, at once, have objected it to him; which might, in some measure, have relieved them under that distress, into which they were brought by this passage proposed unto them: but by their silence they acknowledged, that the Psalm was wrote by David; that it was wrote by him under the inspiration of the Spirit of God; and that the Messiah was the subject of it. And the same is owned by some of their doctors, ancient, and modern.
“Says R. Joden, in the name of R. Chijah, in time to come the holy blessed God will cause the king Messiah to sit at his right hand; as it is said, “the Lord said unto my Lord”, c. f.”
And the same says, R. Berachiah, in the name of R. Levi, elsewhere g. And, says, another of their writers h,
“we do not find any man, or prophet, whose birth was prophesied of before the birth of his father and mother, but Messiah our righteousness and of him it is intimated, “from the womb of the morning”, c. i.e. before the womb of her that bore thee was created, thy birth was prophesied of: and this these words respect, “before the sun, his name is Yinnon”, Ps 72:17 i, e. before the creation of the sun, the name of our Messiah was strong and firm, and he shall sit at the right hand of God and this is what is said, “sit at my right hand”.”
In some writings of the Jews, esteemed by them, very ancient i, the “Adon” or Lord, to whom these words are spoken, is interpreted of Messiah ben Joseph, whom they make to sit at the right hand of Abraham; which, though a false interpretation of the words, carries in it some marks and traces of the ancient sense of them: yea, even some of the more modern Jews k have owned, that they belong to the Messiah, and apply them to him. Though others, observing what confusion their forefathers were thrown into by Jesus, and what improvement his followers have made of this sense of the words since, have quitted it, and introduced strange and foreign ones. Some l of them would have Abraham the patriarch to be the subject of this Psalm; and that it was composed either by Melchizedek or by Eliezer, the servant of Abraham; or by David, on account of the victory Abraham obtained over the four kings, in rescuing his kinsman Lot: but Melchizedek could not be the author of it, because he was a far greater person than Abraham; he blessed him, and took tithes of him, and therefore would not call him Lord. Eliezer might indeed, as being his servant; but then he could not assign to him a seat at the right hand of God, or say of him, that he had an everlasting priesthood, after the order of Melchizedek: and though the Psalm was composed by David, yet not on the above account, for the same reasons. Nor is David the subject of it, as others m have affirmed; for it cannot be thought that David would say this of himself, or call himself his Lord, which this sense of the words makes him to do: and whereas others of them say, that it was wrote by one of the singers concerning him; it may be replied, that the title declares the contrary: besides, David is not ascended into heaven, nor is he set down at the right hand of God, nor had he any thing to do with the priesthood, much less was he a priest after the order of Melchizedek, and that for ever: but all is true of the Messiah Jesus, of whose kingdom and priesthood, sufferings, and exaltation, conquest of his enemies, and success of his Gospel, this whole Psalm is a very plain and manifest prophecy
f Midrash Tillira in Psal. xviii. 35. apud Galatin. de Cath. ver. arcan. l. 8. c. 24. g R. Moses Hadarsan in Gen. xviii. 1. apud ib. h R. Isaac Arama in Gen. xlvii. 6. spud ib. l. 3. c. 17. i Zohar in Num. fol. 99. 2. & Raya Mehimna, in ib. in Gen. fol. 37. 3. k R. Saadiah Gaon in Dan. vii. 13. Nachman. disp. cure Paulo. p. 36, 55. l Zohar in Gen. fol. 60. 3. Jarchi in Psal. cx. 1. Vet. Nizzachon, p. 179, 180. m Kimchi & Aben Ezra in Psal. cx. 1. R. Isaac Chizuk Emuna, par. 1. c. 40. p. 321.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
44. The Lord said to my Lord. Here the Holy Spirit puts into the mouth of all the godly a song of triumph, that they may boldly defy Satan and all the ungodly, and mock at their rage, when they endeavor to drive Christ from his throne. That they may not hesitate or tremble, when they perceive great emotions produced in the earth, they are commanded to place the holy and inviolable decree of God in opposition to all the exertions of adversaries. The meaning therefore is: whatever may be the madness of men, all that they shall dare to contrive will be of no avail for destroying the kingdom of Christ, which has been set up, not by the will of men, but by the appointment of God, and therefore is supported by everlasting strength. Whenever this kingdom is violently attacked, let us call to remembrance this revelation from heaven; for undoubtedly this promise was put into the hand of Christ, that every believer may apply it to his own use. But God never changes or deceives, so as to retract what has once gone out of his mouth.
Sit at my right hand. This phrase is used metaphorically for the second or next rank, which is occupied by God’s deputy. And therefore it signifies, to hold the highest government and power in the name of God, as we know that God has committed his authority to his only-begotten Son, so as to govern his Church by his agency. This mode of expression, therefore, does not denote any particular place, but, on the contrary, embraces heaven and earth under the government of Christ. And God declares that Christ will sit till his enemies be subdued, in order to inform us that his kingdom will remain invincible against every attack; not that, when his enemies have been subdued, he will be deprived of the power which had been granted to him, but that, while the whole multitude of his enemies shall be laid low, his power will remain for ever unimpaired. In the meantime, it points out that condition of his kingdom which we perceive in the present day, that we may not be uneasy when we see it attacked on all sides.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
44. The Lord said unto my Lord Our Lord quotes from Psalms 110. In this Psalm, (which has been applied by both the Jewish and Christian Church to the Messiah) David describes the Messiah as his own Lord sitting at the right hand of God, who subdues all his enemies beneath his feet. On my right hand The place of honour. The heir or highest dignitary customarily sat at the royal right hand nearest the king, the next in dignity on the king’s left. Till Sit until then; but the words do not imply that his royal state shall then cease. Thy footstool An allusion to the mode of ancient conquerors, who put their foot upon the heads of subjugated foes in token of their own supremacy.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“The Lord said to my Lord, You sit on my right hand, until I put your enemies underneath your feet?”
He then amplifies that further by citing the Psalm. On Jesus’ interpretation the LORD (YHWH) had said to David’s Lord, “You sit on my right hand, until I put your enemies underneath your feet?” To be placed on the right hand was to be given supreme honour (compare Psa 45:9; Psa 80:17. See also Mar 16:19; Luk 22:69; Act 7:56; Heb 1:3). It was a position regularly reserved for the King’s heir apparent or the prince regent, or failing him the highest ranking person at the court. The Messiah was thus to be supremely honoured by God and vested with His authority (compare Mat 26:64 where the same Psalm is in mind, and see Mat 28:18). To have all enemies put under His feet indicated total victory over all His enemies. Thus the Messiah was to be totally supreme enjoying the very authority of God Himself, and acting in His Name (Mat 28:18-20).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Ver. 44. The Lord said unto my Lord ] God the Father to God the Son; these two differ no otherwise than that the one is the Father, and not the Son, the other is the Son, and not the Father.
Sit thou on my right hand ] As my fellow and co-equal, Zec 13:7 ; Phi 2:6 . And as Christ is at the right hand of his Father, so is the Church at the right hand of Christ, Psa 45:9 , which is a place both of greatest dignity and safety.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
The LORD said, &c. = Jehovah said unto Adonai. Quoted from Psa 110:1. See App-4; App-98. For the principle underlying the form of quotation, see App-107 and App-117.
till, &c. = until I shall have (Greek. an) set Thine enemies as a footstool for Thy feet. The first of seven references to Psa 110:1 in the N.T. (here; Mar 12:36. Luk 20:42. Act 2:34. 1Co 15:25. Heb 1:13; Heb 10:13). All refer to Messiah’s session on the Father’s throne until His enemies shall be placed “as a footstool for His feet”, except 1Co 15:25, where they are at length put in subjection to the Son (Adonai) “under His feet.” In all the six, the enemies are placed as a footstool by Jehovah, but in 1Co 15:25 they are placed “under” by Adonai Himself. This was subject to Israel’s repentance. See notes on Mat 10:23; Mat 16:28; Mat 23:39; Mat 24:34. Act 8:19-26; Act 28:25-26.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mat 22:44. , …, the Lord said, etc.) The whole of this verse agrees verbatim with the S. V. of Psa 110:1.- , to my Lord) Therefore He was Davids Lord, before the Lord said to Him, Sit Thou on My right hand, etc.-, sit) in token of command; see 1Co 15:25.- , on My right hand) in token of power.- , until) The eternity of the session is not denied; but it is denied that the assault of the enemies will interfere with it. The warlike kingdom will come to an end (as in earthly wars the heir of a kingdom commonly resigns the command which he held during the war, when the enemy has been conquered); the peaceful kingdom, however, will have no end. Cf. 1Co 15:25, etc. Even before that, the Son was subordinate to the Father, but did not then appear so, on account of the glory of His kingdom: even after that, He will reign, but as the Son, subordinate to the Father.-, …, I place, etc.) The enemies will lie prostrate.-, enemies) and amongst them the Pharisees.-, Thy) i.e. of Thee. The hatred of the enemies is directed especially against the First-born.-, footstool) The enemies will themselves be the footstool of Christ by right of conquest. Cf. Jos 10:24; Psa 47:4.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
The Lord: This passage is expressly referred to the Messiah by several of the Jews. Rabbi Joden says, “In the world to come, the Holy Blessed God shall cause the king Messiah to sit at his right hand, as it is written, The Lord said to my Lord,” etc. So Rabbi Moses Hadarson; and Saadias Gaon says, “This is Messiah our righteousness, as it is written, The Lord said to my Lord,” etc. Psa 110:1, Act 2:34, Act 2:35, 1Co 15:25, Heb 1:3, Heb 1:13, Heb 10:12, Heb 10:13, Heb 12:2
my Lord: Joh 20:28, 1Co 1:2, Phi 3:8
till: Gen 3:15, Psa 2:8, Psa 2:9, Psa 21:9, Isa 63:1-6, Luk 19:27, Rev 19:19-21, Rev 20:1-3, Rev 20:11-15
Reciprocal: Jos 5:14 – my lord Dan 10:17 – the servant of this my lord Luk 20:42 – the Lord Luk 22:69 – on Act 10:36 – he is Col 3:1 – where 1Pe 3:22 – is on
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2:44
The first Lord is God and the second is Christ. The pronoun my in the first instance refers to David and the second to God. Using names instead of pronouns, the verse means that God invited Christ to sit on His right hand until He had made Christ’s enemies his (Christ’s) footstool. The point at issue is that in this statement David acknowledged Christ to be his Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 22:44. The Lord (Jehovah) said to my Lord. From Psa 110:1, entitled, a Psalm of David, probably written after the prophetic address of Nathan, 2Sa 7:12. It is quoted frequently in the New Testament as referring to Christ. The Jews referred it to the Messiah, since no objection was raised at this point My lord implies superiority, not only to David himself, but to his own royal race and the people of Israel, or the inquiry would not cause perplexity.
Sit thou at my right hand (the place of honor and trust and power), till I put thine enemies underneath thy feet (until He is complete victor). This refers to an exaltation, exceeding any attainable by a mere man; and to a triumph beyond any political one. The latter thought opposes the false hopes of the Jews, while the whole passage shows the superhuman exaltation of the Messiah.