The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham … (Matthew 1:1)

“What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” [The Pharisees] said to Him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “Then how does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I put Your enemies beneath Your feet” ’? (Matthew 22:42–44)

To say someone is “the son of …” often meant a simple genealogical connection. Jesus was identified with His physical ancestor, King David, through both His mother’s side (Luke 3:31) and His adoptive father’s side (Matt 1:1). Or the phrase could mean that someone takes the characteristics of another. In this sense, Jesus was like King David in certain ways. David was not only the greatest military leader of Israel, but also the iconic ideal of a godly leader. All kings after David, including his illustrious son Solomon, were compared to David! Of all the Jewish kings in Jesus’ lineage, David was the only one with whom Jesus was identified.

Yet our Lord never referred to Himself as the Son of David. We find the two blind men at Jericho calling Him that (Matt 9:27) and also the Canaanite woman with a demon-possessed daughter (Matt 15:22).  The crowds at first wondered about the miracle-working preacher (Matt 12:23) but eventually exalted Him as “Son of David” (Matt 21:9). His silence at this praise suggests that Jesus accepted the appellation.

Most poignant was Jesus’ challenging the Pharisees’ understanding of the “son of David” as the “nom deguerre,” or code name for Messiah. He centers on Psalm 110 (the most quoted OT chapter in the NT which was generally understood to be written by David and referring to Messiah). If, as the Pharisees admit, “Christ” (which is synonymous with “Messiah”) was the “son of David” then they have a problem with David referring to Messiah as “my Lord.” In other words, the Messiah who is David’s son is also David’s Lord. The point Jesus makes is that the Son of David was and is none other than Yahweh, the God of Israel. So those referring to Him as “Son of David” would be essentially acclaiming Him as Messiah, which in Jesus’ intimation means divinity!

The full understanding of Psalm 110 would require more space than this essay affords, but suffice it to say that Jesus = “Son of David” = “Messiah” = “Yahweh.” In Jesus, the Davidic promise of an eternal throne would find its fulfillment in that Jesus will reign forever and ever.

Lord Jesus, I join with the triumphal chorus, “Hosanna to the Son of David.”