The Son Of David

Feature 3 – September 2023 – Grace & Truth Magazine

The Son Of David

In the Holy Scriptures we find some very distinctive names connected with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For example, “Son of God” is used to show that our Lord is indeed God in the person of the Son, which is brought to our special attention mainly in John’s gospel. “Son of Man” emphasizes His manhood – the focus of Luke. These two names of the Lord are perhaps spoken more than others, highlighting that our Lord is 100% God and 100% Man. There is no other like Him!

“Son of David” is also brought to our attention in the Gospels. Long ago, during the reign of King David, God promised David a kingdom and throne that would continue forever (1 Chr. 17:4-15). This promise highlighted that it would be God’s house and God’s kingdom: “My house and … My kingdom” (v.14 NKJV). Since that promise, it was understood that the coming Messiah would have to be a descendent of David, or the Son of David.

The Lord Jesus is a direct descendant of David. He is the fulfillment of this prophecy and has the right to sit on the throne promised to David. As Son of David, He would be the One sought after to fulfill the promises to the children of Israel as the coming Messiah who will deliver His people. The name “Son of David” is unique to the children of Israel.

“Son of David” is found most of all in Matthew, where our Lord is shown to be the coming King. We find the actual words “Son of David” ten times in this gospel, in seven specific contexts. With the Lord’s help, we will consider these contexts and see what we can glean from this name of our Savior.

Context One: Declared “Son of David”
Right from the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, our Lord is declared to be “the Son of David” (Mt. 1:1). This is stated even before mentioning His descendancy from Abraham, even though the genealogy begins with Abraham. This forward-looking genealogy hints that our Lord would be displayed as King to the world in a future day. In Luke 3:23-38 His genealogy looks back to view His manhood, traced all the way back to Adam and to God. Still today, we look back to see the record of His manhood displayed at His first coming, and we look forward to the day when He will be recognized as King of Kings and Lord of Lords at His second coming.

In the Hebrew language the name “David” is shown with only three letters – “DVD” – not having any vowels. Each of these three letters has a numerical value, “D” equaling 4 and “V” being 6. When we add the value of the three letters (4+6+4) we arrive at the number 14. This is exactly the perfect number from Abraham to Jesus in the list of Matthew 1: three sets of 14 names! How single, whole and perfect is our Lord! The three sets of double sevens (v.17) were a sign to the Jews to show them He was the promised coming One! No one else can fulfill this unique genealogy.

In the same context, when Joseph was told by the angel in a dream who this coming One would be, he was addressed as “Joseph, son of David” (v.20). Physically speaking, we know that Joseph’s immediate father’s name was Jacob (v.16). This expression, used by the angel of the Lord, was another declaration of the Lord Jesus’ coming from the royal lineage of David, of which Joseph was a part.

As the Jews looked forward to the coming Messiah, they would be reminded of the promises found in Isaiah: “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (9:7). In the first part of Isaiah 11:1, we read: “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse.” These and other Old Testament prophecies indicated the true Messiah must be from the lineage of David, whose physical father was Jesse (Mt. 1:6). We marvel at the perfection of Him and His coming in connection with these fulfilled prophecies.

Context Two: Faith In The Son Of David
Two blind men followed the Lord Jesus after He raised a certain ruler’s daughter from the dead (Mt. 9:27-31). They no doubt heard about the miracle and reasoned that this must be the One whom the prophet foretold would fulfill what is written in Isaiah 35:5-6: “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” Therefore, they seized their opportunity and cried out to the Lord, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” (Mt. 9:27).

This is the cry of faith. They understood who was there with them and that He could heal them. The two followed Him into a house where, away from the public eye, the Lord spoke to them and asked how much they truly believed about Him. As Jews, these two men had already expressed a measure of belief by calling the Lord the “Son of David.” Jesus, wanting them to confirm their faith in His ability to heal them, asked, “‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord’” (v.28).

Both men called Him, “Lord.” They received the measure of their faith individually and were healed immediately by His touch. What a joy that must have been for these two blind men! The first person they saw was the Lord Jesus! These men displayed total faith in the Son of David – a lesson for us all. Blessing flows from acknowledging Him for who He is and recognizing Him as the One God had foretold would be coming. May we all say by faith, “Yes, Lord”!

Context Three: Wonder And Rejection
We next see the Lord Jesus healing a demon-possessed, blind and mute man who was brought to Him (Mt. 12:22-30). Those who were present when the Lord displayed His divine power over Satan and the evil that he had done to this man marveled. Who can heal someone in this condition? They wondered, “Could this be the Son of David?” Here is another example of the impact our Lord’s work had on those who saw it. The crowd reasoned rightly that the One who healed might be the Son of David. Perhaps some of them became true believers, although the Scriptures do not reveal this to us.

However, we do see the reaction of unbelief with the Pharisees. They attributed the Son of David’s divine power to Satan. This is the unforgivable sin, because it is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was showing who the Lord Jesus Christ is by displaying His divine power! Anyone who rejects this revelation will not be forgiven. The lesson for us today is that we must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, who displayed the power of God.

Dear reader, please understand that it is not enough to wonder. One must put his or her faith in Christ for salvation. He declared that what He did by healing this person was a revelation that the kingdom of God has come! It is the kingdom where God rules and overcomes evil with good, revealed on that day and a warning to us against unbelief. Unbelief has eternal consequences that cannot be changed once someone departs this life. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:2). Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ now, “while He may be found” (Isa. 55:6).

Context Four: Unique Name For Israel
In Matthew 15:21-28 we read the story of a Gentile Canaanite woman who asked the Lord to deliver her daughter from demon possession. When she spoke to the Lord she addressed Him as the “Son of David,” requesting His mercy for her daughter (v.22). On the surface it would appear to be a very appropriate request, for the woman showed respect and displayed faith in the only One who could heal her daughter. However, not being of the children of Israel, it was wrong for the woman to call out “Son of David,” as only the descendants of Israel could rightly use that name to address Him. The Lord “answered her not a word” (v.23). The woman continued to cry out, so the disciples asked the Lord to send her away.

This became a teachable moment. The Lord explained that He was sent “to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (v.24). The woman was not of this group. No amount of pleading would result in a response until she humbled herself before the Lord. Finally, we read in verse 25 that “she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’” How wonderful. She took her rightful place as a lost sheep from among the Gentiles. The Lord answered, showing that His priority was for those of Israel. She then displayed even more humility and faith by accepting His instructions and taking a very low place, recognizing herself as a dog eating crumbs which had fallen off the Master’s table (see vv.26-27).

The Lord was touched with compassion when He heard her confession and granted her request. He elevated her from being described as a “dog” to being called “O woman,” even declaring that her faith was “great” (v.28). May we consider her example and always approach the Lord with a humble heart, acknowledging who He is, without mixing up His purposes for Israel and our place with Him as being part of the Church.

Context Five: Two More Blind Men Healed
In Matthew 20:29-34 we find the Lord traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem. We cannot help but see the similarity of this event with the story the Lord told of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37. In that story those who could have helped a man in distress were unwilling to do anything. In fact, they – a religious priest and Levite – avoided getting involved. Then, the Lord highlighted the Good Samaritan, who portrayed Him! The Good Samaritan showed compassion and helped the man, going beyond what most would be willing to do, even paying for the injured man’s lodging and food until he recovered fully.

In Matthew 20 the Lord was traveling that same road between Jericho and Jerusalem when two blind men along the way heard of His passing and begin to cry out, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David” (v.30). The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet. Nevertheless, they cried out even more with the same expression. The Lord heard their cries and stood still. No doubt, they were of the household of Israel and it was appropriate for them to call the Lord “the Son of David.” He asked them what they wanted. Immediately, the Lord showed compassion for them and granted their request, healing them miraculously by touching their eyes (v.34).

Once they were healed, they followed Him. This is so important! After the Lord brings us into relationship with Himself by saving us, we must turn our eyes to Him and follow Him the rest of our lives. With the healing of the two blind men in Matthew 9, we read that they shared with others what the Lord had done for them. They did this out of joy, and we should do so as well. Following Christ and sharing the good news should be the results of receiving our spiritual sight from the Lord Jesus!

Context Six: Triumphant Entrance
What is known as “The Triumphal Entry,” recorded in Matthew 21:1-17, took place during the last week before the Lord went to the cross of Calvary to die for us. In this, He would fulfill the prophecy found in Zechariah 9:9. The Lord entered the city of Jerusalem riding on a colt which no man had ridden. He displayed Himself as the coming King, and the people praised Him and shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Mt. 21:9).

Expressions of praise are what the Lord desires from us, His people. We should be worshipers and give Him glory. He accomplished the “Hosanna,” which means “Save now,” by offering Himself on the cross. This was the only way to accomplish salvation and the purpose of His first coming. Having done so, “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow … and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).

In this same setting we read in Matthew 21:14-16 that after entering the temple the Lord healed the blind and the lame who were there. We are told that little children began repeating the expression heard earlier on the road into Jerusalem, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (v.15). This was in fulfillment of prophecy, “Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise” (v.16, see Ps. 8:2).

All of this displeased the unfaithful religious leadership – the chief priests and the scribes. They had no part in Him and would be judged for their unbelief. We can learn an important lesson: the Lord desires our praise even at a very young spiritual age, and we should offer Him our adoration regardless of any opposition. Unbelievers avoid worshiping the Lord, and this shows the reality of their spiritual condition.

Context Seven: Final Occasion
In Matthew 22:41-46 we have the seventh setting and final occasion when the expression “Son of David” is used in this gospel. The Lord was in the presence of the religious Pharisees, a group of leaders who knew the Old Testament Scriptures very well. They were proud of their knowledge and always happy to tell others what was required of them, according to their interpretation of the law of Moses. The Lord used this moment to ask the Pharisees simple questions: “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They responded rightly, “The Son of David” (v.42). What we see here is that it is one thing to have knowledge and be able to answer questions about the Lord Jesus Christ correctly; it is quite another thing to understand through wisdom what the implications are of such knowledge.

The Lord went on to share a passage found in Psalm 110:1. David’s Son would come after David; however, David, in writing this psalm, called Him, “my Lord,” implying the Son of David preceded David in time and was David’s Lord. How could this be? The answer, of course, is that the Son of David is the Son of God! The Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ is both David’s Lord, as He has always existed, and the Son of David, his descendant.

This silenced the Pharisees. They could not answer Him and dared not ask Him any more questions. This led to the Lord’s condemnation of them in Matthew 23. These were the same ones who rejected the Lord Jesus in Matthew 12. Woe to any who do not acknowledge the greatness of the Son of David! The lesson for all of us is to put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation and blessing. If we don’t do this, we will be judged and condemned in a coming day, just like the Pharisees.

Conclusions
We have seen various settings and lessons on the expression of “Son of David.” He was declared to be the One foretold. In this name He healed many and showed His shepherding compassion, even as David was a shepherd. The Lord confirmed His divinity as the Son of David by healing the sick. Before going to the cross He was honored by the multitude who called Him by that name, “Son of David.”

In a coming day He will be displayed on His throne for the universe to behold and wonder as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We rejoice that we can acknowledge who He is now by faith and look forward to His appearing, when He will take His rightful place in His kingdom here on earth.

Praise the Lord! Lord Jesus, come!

By Bill Kulkens