Jesus's Redefinition of Psalm 110:1 in Mark: An Intertextual Study

Abstract

Psalm 110:1 portrays an enthroned king to whom the Lord has pledged victory. It stands out as the most frequently quoted and alluded passage in the New Testament. Many scholars, acknowledging the NT’s utilization of Ps 110:1, focus on establishing how this psalm aligns with and finds fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus Himself referenced this passage in Mark 12:36 and 14:62 when addressing questions about His messianic identity. While this article follows this common trajectory, it also diverges by exploring the nuance that, while Jesus applied Ps 110:1 to His messianic vocation, His self-perception of the Messiah’s mission differs from the prevailing notion of a triumphant enthroned king in Ps 110:1. In the psalm, the king’s victory follows His enthronement and is achieved by military force. In contrast, the Markan Jesus secures His path to victory and enthronement through enduring shame and a humiliating death (8:31; 9:9–10, 31–32; 10:33–34), representing a defeat from a socio-political standpoint but a victory from a divine perspective.