How is Jesus the Son of David?

The Son of David was the common title by which rulers (Matthew 22:42; Mark 12:35; Luke 20:41) and common people (Matt. 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30, 31; 21:9; Mark 10:47, 48; Luke 18:38, 39; John 7:42) referred to the expected Messiah. Its use as a Messianic designation points to the prophecies predicting the Davidic descent of the Messiah.

David himself had understood that the promise of a son to sit upon his throne would be fulfilled by the one who was to redeem Israel (2 Sam. 7:12, 13; Ps. 132:11).

Most of the prophets of old revealed that the Messiah would come from the lineage of David (Isa. 9:6, 7; 11:1; Jer. 23:5, 6). Likewise, the New Testament authors repeatedly used the title “seed of David” for Christ (Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8). As the Son of David, Jesus became heir both to David’s throne and to the Messianic promises given to David.

The Pharisees understood exactly what the people meant when they called Jesus “Son of David” but they hardened their hearts with pride and rejected the Messiah. The Israelites, afflicted by the Roman rule at the time of Christ, looked with hope to the restoration of their kingdom to the independence and prosperity of David’s prosperous reign. Jesus failed to give them the worldly honor they were so eager to have (Matthew 21:15) and so they planned to kill Him (Luke 19:47).

Jesus tried to teach them that the Messiah is more than the physical son of David. This is specifically seen in Mark 12:35-37, “Then Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand,Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ Therefore David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; how is He then his Son?….” The religious leaders couldn’t answer the question. Jesus was basically trying to teach them that if He is David’s Lord, He must be greater than David.

John the revelator summed it up by saying that Jesus is both the Creator of David and the Descendant of David: “I am the Root and the Offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16).

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In His service,
BibleAsk Team