The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed by Anjela Paje of Spokane, WA, from the tape, GC 1301-Q, titled "Bible Questions and Answers Part 19."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.  ©1980. All Rights Reserved.

Question

In Psalm 8, where it talks about the son of man, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour." Is the son of man there Christ, or is that talking of mankind as a whole?

Answer

That’s a two-fold statement. We know it is Christ, because it is in Hebrews. But, we know it is talking about man, because it is true of man. In other words, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" Why bother with men--they are lower than the angels? But, that also became true of Christ, and is later applied to Christ. You have that throughout the Psalms. That is a very common double fulfillment kind of thing. You have David saying, for example, in another place, 69:9, "Zeal for thine house has eaten me up. The reproaches that have fallen on thee are fallen on me," and David speaks out of his own heart. And, yet when you come to John 2, Jesus quotes that as a fulfillment in His own heart.

So, that is a very common thing. You have David and his enemies in Psalm 22, but the ultimate fulfillment is Jesus Christ and the death on the cross. So, that is part of the pattern of biblical prophecy. I think, that there is man there, and yet, when Christ becomes man, He identifies with man’s lowliness, and then it becomes true of Him, and that is why it is used that way in Hebrews.

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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