Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 150:600 (Oct 1993)
Article: The Davidic Covenant in the Gospels
Author: Cleon L. Rogers, Jr.

BSac 150:600 (Oct 93) p. 458

The Davidic Covenant in the Gospels

Cleon L. Rogers, Jr.

[Cleon L. Rogers, Jr. is a missionary and author in Hüttenberg/Weidenhausen, Germany.]

[This is the first of two articles in the series, “The Covenant of David in the New Testament.”]

The covenant God made with David was important for Israel in the Old Testament, but it also is essential to the Christology of the New Testament. The New Testament references to God’s promises to David must be considered against the background of the Old Testament, as well as in the context of early Judaism.1 This study examines God’s promises to David as they appear in the New Testament, especially in the light of the historical background. References to the Davidic promises in the Gospels are grouped according to Jesus’ Davidic ancestry, His Davidic title, and His Davidic mission and message.2

BSac 150:600 (Oct 93) p. 459

Jesus’ Davidic Ancestry

The Gospel of Matthew places great emphasis on Jesus as “the Son of David.”3 It begins with the words, “The book of the genealogy4 of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt 1:1). It traces Jesus’ genealogy from Abraham through the line of David (vv. 2–17).5 As a descendant of David, He has a legitimate claim to the throne of David. Luke confirmed the fact that Jesus belongs to David’s family (Luke 3:23–38).6

The birth announcements to Joseph and to Mary stress the Davidic ancestry of Jesus. The angel of the Lord addressed Joseph as “Joseph, son of David” (Matt 1:20). When Joseph named the child “Jesus,” he acknowledged that this was legally his son, thereby officially declaring that Jesus is a “son of

BSac 150:600 (Oct 93) p. 460

David.”7 Matthew also stressed the Davidic and messianic character of the Child by quoting Isaiah 7:14, indicating that this One is “Immanuel,” “With us is God” (Matt 1:23).8 The angel of the Lord told Mary that the Child to be born will sit on the “throne of His father David” (You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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