THE SON OF MAN — Jesus' own name for himself, used about thirty times in Matthew and almost never by anyone else. ⚠ Two backgrounds, both genuine, pulling opposite ways. In EZEKIEL 'son of man' is simply how God addresses the prophet: mortal, a human being, nothing more. In DANIEL 7:13 — which is Aramaic, kevar enash — 'one like a son of man' comes with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days and receives dominion and a kingdom that will not pass away. So the phrase can mean 'just a man' or 'the figure who is given the kingdom', and Jesus uses it in both directions: at its first appearance (Matthew 8:20) it belongs to a man with nowhere to sleep, and at 24:30 to one coming on the clouds. That double edge is much of its usefulness — it says something without settling it, which is why the objectors in the Gospels never quite have a charge to bring until he answers under oath. → first discussed at Matt 8:20