NOTES for Mat 22:35-46
The text of the psalm that the Lord quotes to us today is astonishing in its prophetic power. It is simply hard to believe that such a thing could have existed pre factum, before the tri-hypostatic being of God was revealed to us. Therefore, of course, opponents of Christianity have always tried to disprove the fact that this was a prophecy, because it is so powerful.
For this reason John Chrysostom, in his homilies on the Psalms, greets his listeners precisely with apologetics when the discussion turns to Psalm 109. This is what he writes. "When we assert that this is plainly spoken of Christ, the Jews do not accept it, but devise something else." Then he lists the options proposed as God's interlocutor: Abraham, Zerubbabel, or even the whole people. The saint refutes all these versions with great emotion. "Is it reasonable to refer to Abraham the words: From the womb before the morning star I begot Thee?" How can this be applied to David, or Zerubbabel, or the people? What is said here surpasses human nature. Moreover, the text speaks of a "Person who has an extraordinary and wondrous priesthood: Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." But then "they say: 'How do you allow another Lord, when Scripture clearly says: "The Lord your God. The Lord is one, and Him alone shall you serve, and there is no God besides Him" (Deut 4:35, 6:13). But for whose sake, tell me, was this said? Chiefly for the sake of your ignorance, O Jew. Why was nothing like this said to Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob, or Moses, but only to you, when, after coming out of Egypt, you made yourself a calf?"
But we know that we confess monotheism. Of course, it is much easier for a person of our century than for a person of John Chrysostom's time to understand this apparent contradiction. We understand that inter-hypostatic communion is possible, because it has been revealed to us by Christ. Yet the unity is not violated. More than that, we ourselves are called to realize the same unity, a unity undivided and unconfused. "As You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, may they also be one in Us" (John 17:21).