David's Son

Jesus is the son of David, the heir to the Messianic Throne, the beloved Son of God, and the Suffering Servant of Yahweh.

The Gospel of Matthew calls Jesus the “Son of David.” In his life and death, he demonstrated what it meant to be the King of Israel and the “Son of God.” Traditionally, the last designation was linked to the House of David; but in Matthew’s account, the old understanding of the Messiah is altered radically. The Greater Son of David is far more than the Ruler of Israel or the Nations. He is a King and Messiah of a very different kind.

Matthew’s account presents Jesus as the Messiah and royal heir to David’s Throne by applying scriptural citations and allusions to him, even though Christ was destined to die on the Roman cross.

[Photo by Joshua Earle on Unsplash]

At his baptism, for example, the Spirit descended on Jesus “like a dove,” and the voice from heaven declared: “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I delight.” The description combines words from two messianic prophecies:

• (Psalm 2:7) – “Yahweh said to me: You are my son; this day have I begotten you.”

• (Isaiah 42:1) – “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights. I have put my Spirit upon him. He will bring justice to the Nations.”

The Gospel of Matthew does not simply accumulate proof texts to validate Christ’s genealogical credentials. By combining these two prophecies, a messianic figure emerges who fulfills the roles of King and the Servant of Yahweh, the latter description being from the Book of Isaiah.

First, Jesus is the “Son of David” destined to reign from Zion. Second, he is the “Suffering Servant” described in Isaiah who is “cut off out of the land of the living for the transgression of my people.”

One role cannot be understood apart from the other. Though they appear incompatible, they are inextricably linked. The same words are heard again at the Transfiguration when “a voice out of the cloud declared: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him!” – (Isaiah 53:8, Matthew 17:5).

The Second Psalm is applied to Jesus in his present role as the Messiah who reigns at God’s “right hand.” He fulfills the promise that one of David’s descendants would reign from Mount Zion, but he attained this position through the humiliation and horror of the Cross - (Psalm 2:1-9).

As predicted in the Second Psalm, Jesus endured the conspiracy to overthrow God’s “Anointed One” when the religious leaders of Israel plotted to destroy him - The “chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus that they might put him to death. This is how the early church interpreted the Second Psalm - (Matthew 26:59, 27:1, Acts 4:24-28).

In Acts 4:24-28, for example, Peter also combined the image of the Suffering Servant with the royal figure from the Psalm.

It was not just the nations of the Earth that raged “against Yahweh and His Anointed,” but even the priestly authorities of Israel. Since they rejected and persecuted God’s Anointed One, they were no better than pagan Gentiles or Roman officials.

Christ’s murder was anticipated in his Parable of the Vineyard and its tenants. At harvest time, the owner of the vineyard sent several servants to “receive the fruit” that was due. However, the “tenants” abused and even killed his agents. Then he sent his “son,” expecting them to respect the heir. But the “tenants” were determined to “seize the inheritance” for themselves, so they murdered him - (Matthew 21:33-45).

This Parable echoes the words of the Second Psalm that described the conspiracy against the Messiah. Christ’s parable was directed against the very priestly authorities who were plotting his death, and they certainly understood his meaning:

• “When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking of them.”

THE ROYAL ROAD

Jesus was the heir of David, but before his exaltation and enthronement, he suffered for his people as the “Servant of Yahweh.” He was exalted and given “all power in Heaven and on Earth” but only after his Death and Resurrection. Christ conquered his enemies by enduring an unjust death, dying for his enemies rather than slaying them.

Since his Resurrection, he has reigned on the Davidic Throne as the Messiah of Israel and the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” This is why he now sends his disciples as his envoys to herald his Good News and Sovereignty “to the uttermost parts of the earth” – (Psalm 2:12, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:6-9).

The final scene of the Gospel of Matthew is the “commissioning” of the disciples by Jesus. The picture is not of a political revolutionary or dictator dispatching his armies to destroy his opponents, but of an already ruling monarch sending his heralds throughout his domain to announce his victory – (Matthew 28:18-20).

Jesus of Nazareth is the heir to the Throne, the “Son of David,” but he first became the “Servant of the LORD” who suffered and “gave his life as a ransom for many.” The royal road to Mount Zion must pass through Golgotha.

[PDF Copy]

SEE ALSO:

• The Salvation of Yahweh - (‘Jesus’ means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In the man from Nazareth, the salvation promised by the God of Israel arrived in all its glory)

• Beginning of the Good News - (The promised Kingdom of God arrived in the ministry of Jesus the Messiah, commencing with his baptism – Mark 1:1-3)

• The Son of Abraham - (Jesus is the Son of Abraham, heir of the promises, the Anointed King who fulfills and implements the inheritance of his people)

• The Shepherd King - (The Lamb’s reign commenced with his death and resurrection, and since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem)