SON OF DAVID
The “Son of David” was a Messianic title originating from the covenant God made with King David around 1000 years before Christ. When the king asked permission from God through Prophet Nathan to construct a house for the Lord, the Lord did not allow his wish. However, God made promises to David that He would fulfil through his son (2 Sam 7:12-17). Who was this son through whom the promises were fulfilled? They were only partially realized through Solomon, the biological son and successor of David. And the rest had to be fulfilled through the Messiah, the seed of Eve (Gen 3:14-15) and a greater son from the lineage of David.
Though Solomon built the Temple, the promise of God to “establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam 7:13) did not happen in Solomon’s lifetime. He ruled only for 40 years and committed sin, especially during his later age. So, God said, “If he does wrong, I will reprove him with a human rod and with human punishments” (2 Sam 7:14). This was applicable only to Solomon and not to the Messiah who was God who took human flesh. God continued in verse 16: “Your house and your kingdom are firm forever before me; your throne shall be firmly established forever.” Thus, “forever” is repeated thrice (verses 13 and 16) emphasizing the everlasting nature of the Kingdom of David’s greater son.
Because of God’s promise to David that his son would establish his kingdom firmly forever, the Israelites have been hoping for an everlasting king from the line of David to sit on David’s throne and to rule the kingdom for eternity with no failure. God revealed this David’s son through Angel Gabriel to Mary, the mother of the Messiah. “He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lk 1:32-33). Matthew starts his gospel stating: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Mt 1:1).
The phrase “son of David” is used 17 times in the New Testament for Jesus, meaning that he was the promised and long-awaited Messiah. When the people saw the miracles Jesus performed, they wondered whether he was the Messiah. When Jesus cured the blind and mute demoniac, the crowd was astounded saying, “Could this perhaps be the Son of David?” (Mt 12:22-23). People acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah by proclaiming, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Mt 21:9) during his triumphant entry into the temple of Jerusalem.
Isaiah had prophesied that when the Messiah comes, “the eyes of the blind shall see” (Isa 35:5). The blind men knew of this promise of God and have been waiting for his arrival with faith and hope. They professed that faith when they addressed Jesus as the “Son of David.” When the blind beggars saluted Jesus, “Son of David”, they were proclaiming their faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Though blind, they had the spiritual sight and faith in the Messianic expectation of the Jews based on Holy Scripture. Others also saluted Jesus when they sought favors from him. When Jesus was in Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman greeted him, “Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon” (Mt 15:22). While Jesus left Jericho with a great crowd around him, two blind men cried out to him, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” (Mt 20:29-30; Mk 10:47; Lk 18:38-39).