“Ipse ergo David dicit eum Dominum, et unde est filius ejus ? Et multa turba eum libenter audivit.”
“David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.”
“David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.”
“Therefore David himself calls him Lord, so how can he be his son?” The common people heard him gladly.”
“David himself 846, 3767 calleth him Lord; and whence is he his son? And the common people heard him gladly.”
This interrogation of Jesus instructs us how to refute the adversaries of truth; for if any assert that Christ was but a simple and holy man, a mere descendant of the race of David, we will ask them, after the example of Jesus: If Christ be man only, and the Son of David, how does David, under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, call him Lord? The Jews were not blamed for calling him the Son of David, but for denying him to be the Son of God. (Ven. Bede)
Now this galled the scribes, to have their ignorance thus exposed, and, no doubt, incensed them more against Christ; but the common people heard him gladly, v. 37. What he preached was surprising and affecting; and though it reflected upon the scribes, it was instructive to them, and they had never heard such preaching. Probably there was something more than ordinarily commanding and charming in his voice and way of delivery, which recommended him to the affections of the common people; for we do not find that any were wrought upon to believe in him, and to follow him, but he was to them as a lovely song of one that could play well on an instrument; as Ezekiel was to his hearers, Ezek 33 32. And perhaps some of these cried, Crucify him, as Herod heard John Baptist gladly, and yet cut off his head.
Verses 35-40 When we attend to what the Scriptures declare, as to the person and offices of Christ, we shall be led to confess him as our Lord and God; to obey him as our exalted Redeemer. If the common people hear these things gladly, while the learned and distinguished oppose, the former are happy, and the latter to be pitied. And as sin, disguised with a show of piety, is double iniquity, so its doom will be doubly heavy.