Then Jesus declared,In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders and the people gathered around Him. This declaration is part of a series of teachings and confrontations with the Pharisees and Sadducees in the temple courts. Jesus often used questions to provoke thought and challenge prevailing interpretations of Scripture. His authoritative teaching style is consistent with His role as a rabbi and a prophet, and it reflects His divine wisdom.
“How can it be said that the Christ is the Son of David?
This question addresses a common Jewish expectation that the Messiah would be a descendant of King David, based on prophecies such as2 Samuel 7:12-16 andIsaiah 11:1. The title "Son of David" was a messianic term, and many Jews anticipated a political and military leader who would restore Israel's kingdom. Jesus challenges this understanding by pointing to a deeper, spiritual interpretation of the Messiah's identity. InMatthew 22:41-46, a parallel account, Jesus further explains by quotingPsalm 110:1, where David refers to the Messiah as "Lord," indicating a status greater than that of a mere descendant. This highlights the dual nature of Christ as both human and divine, fulfilling the prophecies in a way that surpasses traditional expectations.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
JesusThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is teaching in the temple courts, challenging the prevailing understanding of the Messiah's identity.
2.
The Christ (Messiah)The anointed one, whom the Jews expected to be a descendant of King David, fulfilling the promises made in the Old Testament.
3.
DavidThe revered king of Israel, from whose lineage the Messiah was prophesied to come. His relationship to the Messiah is being questioned by Jesus.
4.
Pharisees and Teachers of the LawAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, they are the audience Jesus is addressing, as they held the traditional view of the Messiah as David's son.
5.
Temple CourtsThe setting of this teaching, a place of religious instruction and debate in Jerusalem.
Teaching Points
Understanding the Messiah's IdentityJesus challenges us to see the Messiah not just as a human descendant of David but as the divine Son of God. This calls for a deeper understanding of who Jesus is.
Scriptural InterpretationJesus demonstrates the importance of interpreting Scripture with spiritual insight, encouraging believers to seek the Holy Spirit's guidance in understanding biblical truths.
The Fulfillment of ProphecyJesus' question highlights the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in His person, reinforcing the reliability and divine inspiration of Scripture.
The Nature of Christ's KingdomBy questioning the traditional view, Jesus points to a kingdom that is not of this world, inviting believers to live with an eternal perspective.
Engaging with QuestionsJesus uses questions to provoke thought and reflection, teaching us the value of asking and exploring questions in our faith journey.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Luke 20:41?
2.How does Luke 20:41 challenge our understanding of Jesus' identity as Messiah?
3.What Old Testament prophecies connect to Jesus' question in Luke 20:41?
4.How can we apply Jesus' teaching in Luke 20:41 to our daily faith?
5.Why is it important to recognize Jesus as both David's Son and Lord?
6.How does Luke 20:41 deepen our understanding of Jesus' divine authority?
7.How does Luke 20:41 challenge the understanding of the Messiah's lineage?
8.Why does Jesus question the scribes' interpretation in Luke 20:41?
9.What theological implications arise from Jesus' question in Luke 20:41?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 20?
11.Luke 20:41–44: How can David call the Messiah “Lord” if He is also David’s descendant, and isn’t this genealogically contradictory?
12.What defines a backsliding Christian?
13.What does "The LORD said to my Lord" mean?
14.2 Timothy 2:8 - Why should we accept the resurrection as fact when there is scant historical or scientific evidence to verify it?What Does Luke 20:41 Mean
Then Jesus declared• Jesus initiates the discussion, taking the lead just after the religious leaders have tried to trap Him (Luke 20:27-40).
• His declaration carries authority, reminding us that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16) and that His words will never pass away (Luke 21:33).
• As in the parallel account inMatthew 22:41-46, Jesus now asks the questions instead of answering them, exposing the limits of human tradition when it clashes with revealed truth.
How can it be said• The phrase points to what the teachers of the law commonly taught from passages like2 Samuel 7:12-16 andIsaiah 11:1-10—that Messiah would arise from David’s royal line.
• Jesus is not denying that truth; He is probing their understanding, inviting them (and us) to look more carefully at the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
• By asking “How?” He shows that Scripture’s statements must harmonize; apparent tensions drive us to deeper study, never to disbelief (Psalm 119:160).
that the Christ• “Christ” (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is the central promise of the Old Testament (Luke 24:25-27).
• Jesus implicitly identifies Himself as that Christ, the One foretold inPsalm 2:2,Daniel 9:25-26, andMicah 5:2.
• The question therefore forces listeners to decide whether they will recognize His identity, as Peter later proclaims: “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36).
is the Son of David?• Scripture plainly states Messiah would descend from David: the genealogies ofMatthew 1:1-17 andLuke 3:23-38 confirm Jesus’ legal and biological right to that title.
• Yet inPsalm 110:1 David calls Messiah “my Lord,” placing the Son above the father. Jesus highlights this to reveal Messiah’s divine nature—David’s descendant is also David’s Sovereign (Revelation 22:16).
• Only in the incarnate Son—fully human, fully divine—do both truths meet: He is David’s Son according to the flesh and God’s Son in power (Romans 1:3-4), seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3).
summary• Jesus’ question exposes a bigger answer: Messiah is more than a royal descendant; He is the Lord Himself.
•Luke 20:41 invites us to embrace the full biblical portrait—Christ as David’s promised heir and the eternal Son who reigns forever (2 Samuel 7:16;Psalm 45:6).
• Recognizing both facets leads to worship, confidence in the reliability of Scripture, and assurance that the same Lord who confounded His critics now reigns as our righteous King.
(41, 42)
How say they that Christ is David's son?--Better,
that the Christ. See Notes on
Matthew 22:41-46;
Mark 12:35-37. The implied subject of the verb is clearly, as in St. Mark, "the scribes." St. Luke agrees with St. Mark in not giving the preliminary question, "What think ye of Christ? . . ," which we find in St. Matthew.
Verses 41-44. -
Thequestion rejecting Christ's being David's Son.Verse 41. -
And he said unto them, How say they that Christ is David's Son? St. Matthew gives us more details of what went before the following saying of Jesus in which he asserts the Divinity of Messiah. Jesus asked the Pharisees, "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," etc.? (
Matthew 22:42-44). This is one of the most remarkable sayings of our Lord reported by the synoptists; in it he distinctly claims for himself Divinity,
partiei. pation in omnipotence. Unmistakably, lately, under the thinnest veil of parable, Jesus had told the people that he was Messiah For instance, his
words in the parable of the "wicked husbandmen;" in the parable of "the pounds;" in his late acts in the temple - driving out the sellers and buyers, allowing the children in the temple to welcome him with Messianic salutation, receiving as Messiah the welcome of the Passover pilgrims and others on Palm Sunday as he entered Jerusalem. In his later
parables, too, he had with startling clearness predicted his approaching violent death. Now, Jesus was aware that the capital charge which would be brought against him would be blasphemy, that he had called himself, not only the Messiah, but Divine, the Son of God (
John 5:18;
John 10:33;
Matthew 26:65). He was desirous, then, before the end came, to show from an acknowledged Messianic psalm that if he was Messiah - and unquestionably a large proportion of the people received him as such - he was also Divine. The words of the psalm (110.) indisputably show this, viz. that the coming Messiah was Divine. This, he pointed out to them, was the old faith, the doctrine taught in their own inspired Scriptures.
But this was not the doctrine of the Jews in the time of our Lord. They, like the Ebionites in early Christian days, expected for their Messiah a mere "beloved
Man." It is most noticeable that the Messianic claim of Jesus, although not, of course, conceded by the scribes, was never protested against by them.
That would have been glaringly unpopular. So many of the people, we know, were persuaded of the truth of these pretensions; Jesus had evidently the greatest difficulty to stay the people's enthusiasm in his favour. What the scribes persistently repelled, and in the end condemned him for, was
his assertion of Divinity. In this passage he shows from their own Scriptures that whoever was Messiah
must be Divine. He spoke over and over again as Messiah; he acted with the power and in the authority of Messiah; he allowed himself on several public occasions to be saluted as such: who would venture, then, to question that he was fully conscious of his Divinity? This conclusion is drawn, not from St. John, but exclusively from the recitals of the three synoptists.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Greek
Thenδὲ(de)Conjunction
Strong's 1161:A primary particle; but, and, etc.[Jesus] declared,Εἶπεν(Eipen)Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036:Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.“HowΠῶς(Pōs)Adverb
Strong's 4459:Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much!can it be said thatλέγουσιν(legousin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 3004:(a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.theτὸν(ton)Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588:The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.ChristΧριστὸν(Christon)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5547:Anointed One; the Messiah, the Christ. From chrio; Anointed One, i.e. The Messiah, an epithet of Jesus.isεἶναι(einai)Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 1510:I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.[the] Sonυἱόν(huion)Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5207:A son, descendent. Apparently a primary word; a 'son', used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship.of David?Δαυὶδ(Dauid)Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 1138:David, King of Israel. Of Hebrew origin; Dabid, the Israelite king.
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NT Gospels: Luke 20:41 He said to them Why do they (Luke Lu Lk) 
