The meaning of “The Lord said to my Lord”…

LET’S EXAMINE THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE “THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD” IN MATTHEW 22:44…

As most know, in order to properly understand Scripture, it is necessary to first, view it through the Hebrew, instead of the Greek mindset; and secondly, to figure out the CONTEXT – which is usually accomplished by reading the previous or following passages (and sometimes even entire chapters).

For instance, let’s take a look - from the Hebrew/Aramaic viewpoint - the phrase “The Lord said to my lord” in Matthew 22:44. To figure this out, we need to start with verse 33:

Matthew 33. And when the crowds heard this, they were amazed by his teaching. 34. But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they assembled together. 35. Then one of them who knew Torah asked testing him. 36. “Teacher, which Commandment in Torah is the greatest?”

37. And Y’shua said to him, that “You should love Master YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might and with all your mind.” 38. This is the first and the greatest Commandment. 39. And the second is like it. That “You should love your neighbor as yourself.” 40. On these two commandments hang[1] Torah and the prophets.

41. Now while the Pharisees were assembled, Y’shua asked them, 42. and said, What do you say about the Mashiyach? Who is he the son of? They were saying to him, “The son of Dawid.”

43. He said to them, How then did Dawid in the spirit call him Master YHWH? For he said, 44. “that Master YHWH said to my master, ‘You sit at my right hand until I place your enemies under your feet.’” 45. Therefore, if Dawid calls him Master YHWH,[2] how is he his son? 46. And no man was able to give him an answer. And no man dared to question him again from that time on. (AENT)

FOOTNOTES:

[1]  In other words, this passage does NOT mean that there are only two commandments; rather, that Torah and Prophets hang or “hold on by” these two great Commandments of Love. Those who do the Commandments, are they who love YHWH (Matt 19:17; 1 John 5:2 and 3). Without love, observance of Torah is vanity, and without Torah one’s “love” is vanity.

ADONAI’s commandments are perfectly outlined in the Torah, which means they are holy and good instructions … instructions that cannot and should never be ignored. The death of Yeshua didn’t automatically abolish the rest of God’s commandments. Torah was NOT abolished; rather, he removed the certificate of debt for our sins…

[2] This footnote is a little more difficult to explain, and will require some real attention to detail: “Therefore, if Dawid calls him Master YHWH, how is he is son?” (Matthew 22:45)

First of all, the Greek Kurios (Lord), and Adon/Adonai, (Master) can easily be applied to either Y’shua or YHWH; therefore, few scholars have noted that the Greek Kurios could mean YHWH in Matthew, and “human masters” in Mark and Luke, as referenced in the Aramaic Peshitta readings.

Compare the Aramaic readings of Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 12:35-40; Luke 20:39-47: Notice that Mark and Luke say: “Dawid, calls Him ‘my master’; so how is He his Son?” But in Matthew: “Dawid calls Him ‘YHWH’; how is He his Son?” Both Mark 12:39 and Luke 20:39 read: Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well.” And they no longer dared to ask Him anything. Then He said to them, “How can they say that the Mashiyach is the Son of Dawid? Matthew 22:41-42 reads: While the Pharisees were together, Y’shua questioned them, “What do you think about the Mashiyach? Whose Son is He?” “Dawid’s,” they told Him.”

Compare the differences:

1. Luke says that Y’shua first silenced the Pharisees, and then asked his question. Matthew says that Y’shua first asked the question.

2. Luke and Mark do not provide the Pharisees’ initial answer that Matthew includes. In other words Luke and Mark record Y’shua responding to the answer!

3. Luke writes “no one dared ask him anymore questions” at the beginning of the phrase.

4. But look at Matthew 22:45-46: “If, then, Dawid calls Him ‘YHWH’ how is He his Son?” No one was able to answer Him at all, and from that day no one dared to question Him anymore.” Matthew puts “no one dared ask him any questions” at the end, not the beginning like the others. This is also how it has been translated into Greek. Which version of the story is correct? Both! They are providing accounts of different stages of the same exchange.

5. Mark does not record “no one dared ask him any questions” in his narrative. Some suggest that is because his writing style is much more abbreviated than the others; however, Mark frequently includes details that others don’t: Matthew: “while the Pharisees were together”. Mark 12:35: “while teaching in the temple”. Luke: “while he taught the people in the temple”.

The Aramaic word korseya (Hebrew cognate kisseh- see Genesis 41:40) specifically means “throne”, exactly as in the Aramaic portion of Daniel 7:9. Y’shua is describing a seat of judgment that implies YHWH’s authority. So while Y’shua vigorously rebukes the scribes and the Pharisees for rebellion, hypocrisy, and their man made traditions that make void the Torah; he also recognizes them as the rightful inheritors of Torah-based halakha (applying the Word of YHWH to our lives).

This would include the ancient Priesthood calendar that the Pharisees followed for keeping the Feasts. There are no accounts in the New Testament or in Jewish history of Y’shua or the Apostles departing from the calendar that the Pharisees sanctified. Y’shua and the Apostles routinely taught in synagogues of the Pharisees and in the Temple and observed the moedim (Set Times) in unity.