First Week of Advent, Friday – 2nd December 2022 — Gospel: Matthew 9, 27-31
Jesus, the Son of David
The title “Son of David” portrays Jesus as Israel’s royal Messiah in whom prophecy concerning David is being fulfilled. This title gains prominence as it is sandwiched between royal descriptions of Jesus’ identity in the first verse of the Gospel (1,1). These titles “Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” are key to Matthew’s expression of Jesus’ identity in his gospel. Each of these titles are royal within the tradition of Israel, links Jesus with Israel’s history and offers hopes to all God’s people. The title is accented here in order to contrast with Israel’s blindness to the one sent to them as the Messiah. This son of David would use his royal power to heal the needy and bring hope about God’s rule of justice upon his people.
The story of the two blind men places emphasis on their initiative and faith. Their cry to the Son of David emphasizes his compassion and humility amidst his messianic power. Their loud call to Jesus and their following him right into a house demonstrate their tenacious faith. For Matthew the title “Son of David” is predicate for Jesus as healer. The narrative also emphasizes, as do the other accounts, the touch of Jesus as an instrument of healing. And so Matthew has used frequently the messianic title “Son of David” with strong emphasis on faith. In his gospel Jesus is hailed in faith by the blind (9,27; 20,30-31), the Canaanite (15,22), the crowds (12,23; 21,9), and the children (21,15).
