Matthew 8:20: Why Did Jesus Always Speak of Himself as the Son of Man?

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Throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus most frequently refers to Himself as “the Son of Man.” This self-designation appears over 80 times in the New Testament, yet it is notably absent as a title others use to address Him. The question arises: Why did Jesus consistently employ this title, and what did it convey to His audience? A careful examination of the term within its historical, theological, and biblical contexts, using the objective Historical-Grammatical method, provides a reasoned and factual understanding.

The Meaning of “Son of Man” in Old Testament Context

The phrase “son of man” (ben ’adam) appears repeatedly in the Hebrew Scriptures. Most notably, it occurs over 90 times in the book of Ezekiel as a designation Jehovah uses for the prophet (Ezekiel 2:1). In this sense, “son of man” underscores the humanity and mortality of the individual in contrast to the divine.

Image illustrating Matthew 8:20, portraying Jesus as the Son of Man with nowhere to lay His head.

However, the most theologically significant Old Testament use appears in Daniel 7:13-14 (UASV):

“I continued watching in the visions of the night, and, look! with the clouds of heaven, someone like a son of man was coming; and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.”

This passage provided the Jewish expectation of a messianic figure who, though appearing human (“like a son of man”), would be given eternal rule and divine authority by Jehovah.

The Dual Significance of the Title

When Jesus used “the Son of Man” to describe Himself, He intentionally incorporated both the element of true humanity and the eschatological reference to the exalted figure of Daniel 7. This dual use allowed Jesus to communicate profound truths while concealing His identity from premature recognition or misinterpretation by opponents and political revolutionaries.

Human Identification: Jesus’ use of “Son of Man” emphasized His full participation in the human condition. He experienced hunger (Matthew 4:2), fatigue (John 4:6), sorrow (John 11:35), temptation (Hebrews 4:15), and ultimately death (Mark 8:31). The title stood as a public acknowledgment of His real humanity, without compromising His sinlessness.
Messianic Authority: Simultaneously, the title linked Jesus with the prophetic vision of Daniel, pointing to His future glorification and divine rule. This is explicit in passages such as Matthew 24:30: “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

Avoiding Misunderstanding and Premature Conflict

The Jewish populace anticipated a Messiah who would overthrow Roman oppression and restore national sovereignty. Had Jesus openly declared Himself “the Messiah” or “Son of God” in public discourse, it could have incited political rebellion and misunderstanding of His mission. The term “Son of Man” served as a theologically rich but ambiguous designation. It allowed Him to teach and fulfill His work without provoking the immediate violent response that an openly political claim might have drawn.

Jesus’ deliberate avoidance of “Messiah” as His primary title aligns with His repeated injunctions to silence following His miracles, known as the “Messianic Secret” (Mark 1:43-44; Mark 8:30). His preferred use of “Son of Man” maintained focus on His divine appointment and role as Redeemer, Teacher, and ultimately, Judge, without catering to the distorted nationalistic expectations of the time.

The Son of Man as Suffering Servant and Glorious Judge

In addition to the Danielic vision of glory, Jesus also applied the “Son of Man” title to His suffering and death. Mark 8:31 records, “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

Thus, Jesus redefined the concept of Messiahship: the “Son of Man” must first suffer as the ultimate ransom (Mark 10:45) before He would return in glory to judge (Matthew 25:31).

Theological Clarity in Retrospect

After His resurrection and exaltation, the full significance of “Son of Man” became clear to His disciples and the early Christian community. Revelation 1:13 portrays the exalted Christ as “one like a son of man,” linking the resurrected and glorified Jesus to the figure of Daniel’s vision.

Conclusion

Jesus consistently used the title “Son of Man” because it perfectly expressed both aspects of His mission: His real and full humanity, and His divinely granted authority as the prophesied Messiah and future Judge. The phrase balanced disclosure and concealment, teaching and fulfilling the expectations set by the Scriptures without yielding to the political distortions of His contemporaries. This careful, consistent use underscores the precision and intentionality of Jesus’ self-revelation as recorded faithfully in the inspired Gospel accounts.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).