There are more NT references to Psalm 110 than to any other psalm.
Psalm 110:1-4 (KJV)
‘The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.’
(JPS 1985)
‘The LORD said to my lord,
“Sit at My right hand
while I make your enemies your footstool.”
The LORD will stretch forth from Zion your mighty scepter;
hold sway over your enemies!
Your people come forward willingly on your day
of battle.
In majestic holiness, from the womb,
from the dawn, yours was the dew of youth.
The LORD has sworn and will not relent,
You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree.”
Reference to Psalm 110 is made by Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel.
Matthew 22:41-46:
‘While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Saying, What think ye of Christ? Whose son was 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 saith unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.’
Matthew 26:64
‘Jesus saith unto him [the high priest], Thou hast said [‘whether thou be the Christ’]: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.’
Matthew 28:18
‘And Jesus came and spake unto them [the eleven disciples, in Galilee, after Jesus’ resurrection], saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.’
Mark 12:35-37
‘And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?
For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
David therefore himself called him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.’
Luke 20:41-44
‘And he [Jesus] said unto them, How say they that Christ is David’s son?
And 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.
David therefore calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?’
Luke 24:50,51
‘And he led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.’
Acts 2:33,34,35.
‘Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
Until I make thy foes thy footstool.’
Acts 3:21
‘Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.’
Acts 7:56
‘And [Stephen] said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.’
1 Corinthians 15:25
‘For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.’
Ephesians 1:20-22
‘Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named. Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church,’
Philippians 2:7-9
‘He made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:’
Hebrews 1:3-13
[Verse 13]‘But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?’
Hebrews 5:6
‘As he saith in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.’
Hebrews 7:17
‘For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.’
Hebrews 10:12,13
‘But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.’
1 Peter 3:22
‘Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.’
It’s interesting to note that the scribes and Pharisees who listened to Jesus (Matthew 22, Mark 12, Luke 20) never questioned the authorship of Psalm 110. There was no doubt in their minds that Psalm 110 was a psalm of David. Indeed, most Bibles contain a title ‘A Psalm of David’ in accordance with tradition. The Psalm is also said to have an historical connection to 2 Samuel 7.
So, if David is the true author of Psalm 110, as Jesus states, then David must have had a 'Lord' and a 'LORD', and one Lord is to be distinguished from the other LORD who speaks with him.
Should this be a concern for Torah Jews?
Yes, I believe so, because there is a huge difference between belief in a Messiah who is fully man, and belief in a Messiah who is both fully man and fully God. As Jesus argues, if the Messiah is from earth but not from heaven, then he is not the Christ of scripture! Where do Torah Jews expect their Messiah to come from?
Other important conclusions can be drawn from this scripture. For those of the Bahai faith, it is clear that the Son of man is to be received into heaven until the ‘time of restitution of all things’. The claim that the Messiah (or equivalent) has already returned does not correspond with this description of the ‘restitution of all things’ [see Acts 3:21].
For Muslims, who believe that Allah has no equal, there is a distinct issue of authority. For, according to the scriptures, all authority in heaven and earth is handed to Jesus Christ. His name is exalted above every other name.
Does Psalm 110 convince you that Christ is Lord?
