Son of David - Matthew 1:1, 6-11
[Hook] Hook for this week
1:1 … the son of David (υἱοῦ Δαυίδ). This is certainly a messianic title (though the anarthrous form stresses more the theological [qualitative] aspect than the titular), developing during the exilic period to explain how the promise to David of an eternal throne would be kept (2 Sam 7:10–16; cf. Ps 89:3–4; 132:11–12; Isa 9:7) and how God would send a “righteous Branch” to remove foreign oppressors from the land and return it to Israel (Jer 23:5–8; Ezek 17:22; 37:21–28). This expectation continued in the intertestamental period (Pss Sol 17–18; 1QM 11:1–18; 4QFlor 1:11–14). Jesus’ disciples held that view, as seen in James and John wanting the seats of power in Jesus’ kingdom (Matt 20:21) and Peter cutting the ear off the high priest’s slave (John 18:10–11; cf. Acts 1:6). In Matthew, however, the emphasis is obviously not on destroying Israel’s enemies but on the fulfillment of prophecy. The deliverance Jesus offers is not political but spiritual (and physical via healing, cf. 9:27; 15:22; 20:31). Matthew mentions David seventeen times, five times in this section alone; and the title occurs ten times, six of which are specific to Matthew. Jesus’ fulfilling Davidic expectations is critical to this gospel.
