E. W. Bullinger

Philologos Religious Online Books
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August, 1897 | Vol. IV July 1897 - June 1898 | Main Index

Things to Come

The Lord Jesus has a threefold sonship, according to the writings of the New Testament. He is called the "Son of God": a title which surely tells of His true Deity. He is, also, called the "Son of Man": a title implying His true humanity and mediatorial dignity. And He is, moreover, called the "Son of David": a title unmistakably pointing to His royal relation to Israel. Thus it appears that our Lord bears a special relation to God: a special relation to the human race: and a special relation to the chosen nation of Israel.

It is a notable fact that David is the first human name, and also the last human name in the New Testament. (See Matthew 1:1, and Revelation 22:16). Christ owns the double relation He held to David when He says: "I am the root and the offspring of David," a double relation long before indicated in the 110th Psalm. He was indeed "made of the seed of David according to the flesh": but He was also David's Lord, being the "Son of God with power...by the resurrection from the dead." It was this relation, to David, of Lord by which He silenced the opposing Pharisees. "If David then call Him Lord, how is He his son?" That was, and is final. They admitted and admit still that Messiah is son of David, but they refuse to admit that He is David's Lord.

But both are true: and they can only be explained by the mysterious union of Godhead and manhood in the person of the incarnate "Word of God."

Now, let us ask, where, in the New Testament, is Jesus called son of David? Only in the Synoptic Gospels: not in John's Gospel. And only, in Mark and Luke, on two occasions, namely, when blind Bartimeus received his sight, and when Christ questioned and silenced the Pharisees (Mark 10:47,48, 12:35; and Luke 18:38,39, 20:41).

It is in Matthew where we find the title used so fully as to be a key to unlock truth. It occurs in Matthew at least nine times (ten, if 22:45 is included, which it may rightly be), and on seven different occasions.

First. In 1:1: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David." In these words the Holy Ghost gives us the key to the Gospel of Matthew. Only in this writing do we get the question, "Where is He that is born King of the Jews?" Matthew is the kingly, royal and Davidic Gospel: and hence the genealogy is traced back no farther than the fountain of the Jewish people, namely Abraham. The title, "son of David," connects Christ with all the special promises given to David as God's chosen King. Very fitly then, the above verse stands as a heading to the whole New Testament, and is the deeply significant contrast to Genesis 5:1, "This is the book of the generation of Adam." And thus we come into view of the two books and the two men God ever has before Him in bringing to pass His glorious purposes. The royal and now risen "son of David" secures and guarantees the fulfillment of every prophecy and promise.

Second. In 9:27-31: "Two blind men followed Him, crying, and saying, Son of David, have mercy on us."

These men, representing the Jews, in their blindness, recognised the Messiah in Jesus Christ and appealed to him as the Son of David. Christ owned the name and acted in accordance with it. He questioned them, encouraged their faith and granted their request. He acted like a King and dispensed His royal favour readily. He would have done the same for the nation if they had come to Him. They will seek David their King in the latter day, and then they will receive their sight.

Third. In 12:23: "And all the people were amazed and said, Is not this the Son of David?" The occasion which called forth this recognitionary inquiry was when He healed the man possessed by a demon, blind and dumb.

Israel is seen here again. Not only blind, but dumb and under satanic power. Israel had lost the language of light and her utterances were the mutterings of demons. See the next verse, in proof thereof. The unclean spirit of idolatry has gone out of Israel, but that spirit has returned, with seven others, to the garnished house, and now her state is worse than before: the spirits of pride, legalism, self-righteousness, bigotry, and avarice holding her in chains. The day will yet come when God will cause false prophets and the unclean spirits to cease out of the land and out of the people, and then will come amazement and national recognition of Christ as the Son of David.

August, 1897 | Vol. IV July 1897 - June 1898 | Main Index  

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