Does God have a Son?

The rabbi's voice was warm. His eyes were filled with concern as he asked, "So please
explain, what is this your parents are telling me? You believe in Jesus? Is this true?" He
listened quietly as I, one of his own bar mitzvah boys, the son of family friends, told the
story of how I came to believe in Jesus. "But explain to me," he pressed, "how is what
you believe now any different from what we taught you here? What do you mean when
you say Jesus is the Son of God? In Judaism we believe we are all sons of God." His
questions were difficult for me to answer. Frankly, it was hard because I didn't know how
to articulate the differences. I only wish I knew then what I can explain now.
It is true that the Hebrew Scriptures speak to the issue of "the son of God," and in most
cases, the context clearly defines who is the intended subject. If I could talk to the good
rabbi today, I would be able to agree with him and then go on to explain further what our
Scriptures say about The Son of God.
Israel as God's Son
When God instructed Moses preparing him to speak before Pharaoh, He said,
"Israel is my firstborn son'Let my son go.'" (Exodus 4:22,23.)
It was God who "fathered Israel." The Lord called Israel into existence through the
Gentile, Abraham. To him was promised blessing and the privilege of being a blessing to
all the nations. Israel then is God's own, a sanctified treasure, a son pre-eminent. For as a
people, Israel is called to accomplish God's purpose. Through Israel's posterity would
come Messiah.
"Sonship" expresses a formal relationship. In Scripture it could signify more than a
family tie. It was also used to denote the citizenship of the nation, the membership in a
craftsmen's guild or that one was the disciple of a teacher. Israel was called a son in the
family sense.
"Is He not (the Lord) your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?"
(Deuteronomy 32:6.)

One Special Son

The prophet Hosea adds another sense to the idea of sonships. Not only is the nation
regarded as God's son (i.e., "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I
called my son." Hosea 11:1), but the prophet adds that each of the Israelites are "the
sons of the living God." (Hosea 1:10.) But this latter picture is of an Israel that is united
internally and comprised of a people who, having been chastened, have returned to the
fear and love of God.
But of all the Israelites, is there not one special son of God? Through the family of David
and the line of the tribe of Judah, a son would come whose throne would be eternal.
-1 Chronicles 17:11
"'When your days are over and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your
offspring to succeed you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom.'"
Of this one, God says, "I will be his father, and he will be my son." (I Chronicles
17:13.) Perhaps it was to this individual that the psalmist referred when he proclaimed:
-Proverbs 30:4
"Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!"
Could David see the portrait of a son of God, who is actually his promised descendantThe Son of God?
Psalm 2
7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are my Son; today I
have become your Father.

Our Rabbis know about the Son

And in the mystical writing of the Zohar:
"Behold Jehovah, rideth swift upon a cloud."
"it is the Son, of Whom it is written, 'Kiss the Son'; Thou art the Son, the faithful
shepherd; of Thee it is said, 'Kiss the Son.' Tho Thou art the Governor of the
universe, the Head of Israel, the Lord of the ministering angels, the Son of the
Highest, the Son of the Holy and blessed One, yea the very Shechinah."
-Part 3, folio 307, Amsterdam edition

Talmud, Sukkah 52a, Soncino translation:

"Our Rabbis taught, the Holy One blessed be He, will say to the Messiah,
the Son of David (may He reveal Himself speedily in our days), 'Ask of Me
and I will give to Thee,' as it is said [Psalm 2:7-8]: 'I will tell of the decree;
the Lord hath said unto Me, "Thou art My Son; This day I have begotten
Thee, ask of Me and I will give the nations for thy inheritance." ' "
The Midrash reaffirms the view that Messiah is Gods Son when
commenting on another messianic Psalm:
Rabbi Nathan said that God spoke to Israel saying, As I made Jacob
firstborn, for it is written Israel is My son, even My firstborn" (Exodus 4:22),
So also will I make Messiah My firstborn as it is written, " I will make Him
My firstborn. (Commentary on Psalm 89:27 taken from Midrash Rabbah
Shebot )

Jesus talks about Him being the Son

3

Mat 26:63. the rabbis

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing
by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because
whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Jhn 1:49
Nathanael answered Him, "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the
King of Israel.
Jhn 11:27
She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son
of God, which should come into the world
Jhn 19:7
The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die,
because he made himself the Son of God
Rev 2:18
And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the
Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are]
like fine brass;

Jhn 5:19
4

Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing
by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because
whatever the Father does the Son also does.
Jhn 5:20
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your
amazement he will show him even greater things than these.
1.

The Son can give life

Jhn 5:21
For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the
Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.
2.

The Son can judge people

Jhn 5:22
Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to
the Son,
3.

The Son can be worshipped

Jhn 5:23
that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does
not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
Jhn 5:24
"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent
me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from
death to life.
I believe Jesus understood the words of King David