Psalm 110:1 - He will be called Lord

PROBLEM SUMMARY

In Matthew 22:43-45, Jesus argues with the Pharisees, asking, "How can the Messiah be the son of David if David also refers to him in Psalm 110 as 'Lord' (capital 'L')?" The Pharisees had no answer for him.

I would like to think the Pharisees were more clever and literate than that, but the New Testament often portrays them polemically, which may not reflect reality.

The key issue is that Matthew 22:43-45 doesn't "fulfill" Psalm 110:1, which is not a prophecy that a Messiah would be called "Lord." It's simply Jesus posing a puzzle to his audience.

So, Jesus didn't fulfill anything since there was no prophecy to fulfill.

Psalm 110 is one of those many a retributional fantasy songs that we find in the book of Psalms. It's your typical "God is on our side and we will win" song.

Psalm 110 begins with a powerful image of an enthroned king "sitting at God's right hand," metaphorically representing divine authority, protection, and influence, with his enemies' bodies (see verse 6) piled up as a footstool, an expression of dominance.

God certainly didn't massacre Jesus' enemies; in fact, they massacred him.

Therefore, Jesus didn't fulfill verse 1 of Psalm 110 (which isn't a prophecy) during his lifetime because he was killed.

If you argue that it refers to after his death and ascension into Heaven (which doesn't exist in Tanach literature), and that he will one day judge and destroy at some end-time period, then he hasn't done it yet.

So, Jesus didn't fulfill Psalm 110:1, even though there are claims he will one day do so.

You don't get to say he did fulfill when you mean he will fulfill...maybe.

Let's diverge for a bit, just for fun, by looking at other facets that are useful to know.

IMAGINE THERE'S NO HEAVEN

First, there is no "the righteous die and go to heaven" narrative in the Tanach. In fact, there's no "Heaven" in the Tanach. Death in the Tanach was a dark and dreary matter that was rarely mentioned, as the writers were generally more concerned with what people do while they live rather than what might happen afterward. The strange anonymous book "The Book of Job" is somewhat of an exception, speaking more of a Hades-like existence, of darkness and grey.

So, to force an "after death" narrative onto a song about a king who had his enemies crushed by YHVH after the king is dead is anachronistic.

RETRIBUTIONAL FANTASIES

Many of the Psalms refer to war, exile, and domination. Some deal with how the Babylonians will get what's coming to them. Others deal with fearsome nations wanting to decimate Jerusalem. Think of them as patriotic songs written during wartime, reflecting patriotic idealism more than reality.

This is true of many Psalms, and Psalm 110 is no different.

It is important to note that actual messianic verses within the Tanach contain elements of war, a warrior messiah, the defeat of his enemies (which are the enemies of the Jews), crushing, subduing, dominating, and after all of that, the establishment of a theocracy with a Jewish king, reminiscent of David, as its head and the dominant power in the world. Psalm 110 is somewhat different in that it isn't the king who will kill his enemies, but God. But the end result is the same. (There are two traditional views of a messiah, one who comes in peace and one who comes in war).

In any case, such a vision is messianic, making it difficult to separate the literal from the symbolic.

And that is Psalm 110 in a nutshell.

Jesus didn't fulfill the required core of the song—crushing his enemies.

ADONEE OR ADONEY?

Let's touch upon the word "adoni" (pronounced "ah-do-nee") as expressed in the first verse, "YHVH said to adoni, 'Sit at My right hand, and I will make your enemies your footstool.'" Adoni is a term of endearment and personal honor. Others in the Tanach were also referred to by that term, such as Abraham (Genesis 23:6), and it should not be confused with the Divine title of "Adonai" (pronounced "ah-do-nahy").

Interestingly, the Greek translation uses the same word, "kyrios" (κύριος), for YHVH, adoni, and Adonai.

So, perhaps the story where Jesus cited Psalm 110:1 was based on the Greek form of the verse, leading to confusion between adoni and Adonai.

Style: "Anachronistic, word redefinition, Jesus didn't fulfill"

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