Psalm 45:7-8 portrays God's chosen king as uniquely anointed and surrounded by the splendor appropriate to royal celebration. The Hebrew concept of anointing is the source of the title Messiah, while the Greek equivalent gives the title Christ.

Luke 2:11 announces at Jesus' birth that a Savior has been born who is "Christ the Lord." The Gospel does not quote Psalm 45:7-8, but the title Christ identifies Jesus as the Anointed One anticipated throughout the Old Testament's royal and messianic traditions. Hebrews 1:8-9 makes the connection with Psalm 45 itself explicit by quoting these verses concerning the Son. Thus the royal anointing celebrated in the psalm reaches its ultimate Christian significance in Jesus the Messiah.