The Son of Man appears frequently in Matthew’s Gospel. Quite often, Jesus uses it to refer to himself, occurring some 30 times between Matthew 8:20–26:64. This title shows up in the Old Testament several times as well. In using this title, Jesus identifies himself with passages like Psalm 80:17–19:
But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
Then we shall not turn back from you;
give us life, and we will call upon your name!
Restore us, O Lord God of hosts!
Let your face shine, that we may be saved!
It appears notably in the visions of Daniel, as he sees “one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him” (Dan. 7:13). He is given an everlasting dominion over all peoples, nations, and languages, and his kingdom will not be destroyed (Dan. 7:14). This designation, the Son of Man, points toward the Messiah, the one God will raise up to save his people, the long-awaited “hope of all the earth.” In the immediate context of this psalm, we see that it is through the Son of Man that we will be restored, revived, and will call upon the name of God.
The Son of Man is also used in Psalm 8:4, “What is man that you are mindful of him? The son of man that you care for him?” Although the psalmist is referring to humanity in general, bearing the dignity of God’s image, the author of Hebrews clarifies that Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of this description of humanity (Heb. 2:6–10). He writes, “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of His suffering death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). Dane Ortlund describes the first and last verses of Psalm 8, “Oh Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth,” as bookends. He says, “[T]hey also anticipate the end of all things, when Christ’s enemies will be made a footstool for his feet and his name will be majestic through all the earth.” Christ’s coming inaugurates these last days—we live in the kingdom of God which is being ushered in but has not yet been fully realized. Jesus, the Son of Man—that long-awaited Messiah—has conquered death and will one day return to bring us home to everlasting life.
In Matthew 16:13, Jesus asks his disciples who people think the Son of Man is, and then who they think he is. Peter responds, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). It is in this context of confession that Jesus declares this is the rock upon which his church will be built, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). May our knowledge of God lead us to this same confession and praise!
Footnotes
Charles Wesley, “Come Thou Long Expected Jesus”
Dane C. Ortlund, In The Lord I Take Refuge, “Psalm 8” (Wheaton: Crossway, 2021), 28.
Ortlund, In The Lord I Take Refuge, 28.
