Advent Devotional Resource - San Francisco Theological Seminary

Matthew 22:34-46Tuesday, December 8Who is David’s Son?For my undergraduate degree I went to Davidson College in Davidson, NC (about 20 minutes northof Charlotte, for those interested). Only in passing did I think about the meaning of “Davidson.”The Presbyterian founders of Davidson back in 1837 were probably aware of its Scottish roots and itsmeaning, “Son of David.” (Who knew?!)The question in this text, however, is not “What is Davidson?” but rather “Who is David’s Son?” Forstarters—and to state the obvious—“David” refers to King David of the Hebrew Scriptures, in allhis glory and misdeeds. It was very important who his son would be, for royalty would be passed onin his blood, in David’s own flesh, and the kingdom would have its king. Although David had manysons, eventually Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba) was chosen as king. This is a dramatic andamazing story, and one I encourage you to check out if you haven’t already.Yet for us today, whoever the king’s son is not a very important question. The fact that PresidentObama does not have a son does not concern us because we elect our leaders through popularrepresentation. Yet when royalty is a matter of bloodline, as it has been for most of human history,whoever is the king’s son is very important. And so the Messiah – literally, the ‘Anointed One’ – mustbe of royal blood if he (or she) is to lead the people.And this is the question posed by Jesus: the Messiah is the son of whom? The Messiah’s authority is atstake in the question. The answer given is correct: the Son of David. And then Jesus throws them fora loop, quoting Psalm 110. Who is the Lord who sits to the right of Adonai, the Lord God? Couldthis Lord be the Messiah, so that the Messiah is actually not the son of David but the father?!This thought completely blew the Pharisees away. In fact, Matthew writes that from that day on theydid not ask Jesus anymore questions (although in 24:3 the disciples ask him a question about theend of the age). From here in Chapter 23, Matthew has Jesus launch into his final speeches beforethe crucifixion narrative begins, as if to say Jesus is the Anointed One, with authority, and all shouldlisten to what He has to say. It’s as if Jesus, confirmed as the Messiah, now has a license to preach.The Messiah is worth listening to and worthy of worship. We can love the Lord our God and ourneighbor because Jesus is our leader, our exemplar and pioneer of our faith. Jesus called God “Abba,”an endearing parental term in Aramaic that symbolizes an intense personal connection. The questionis not “Who is David’s son?” but rather “Whose son is David’s?”In this Advent season, we are all David’s sons. We are all children of God, calling upon our parentin heaven. We all have inherited God’s righteousness not by blood but by partaking in the blood ofChrist. Let us act now in righteous royalty; loving rather than shunning our neighbor, worshippingrather than ignoring our God. And in so doing, may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts and in allthose we embrace.Mr. Evans Presley McGowanSFTS M.Div., Intern