The book of Matthew as second

Ecclesiastes: The First "Son" (Human Wisdom, Earthly Kingdom)

• Ecclesiastes is traditionally attributed to Solomon, the son of David, and it stands as a work of earthly wisdom. Solomon, in his reflections, explores the human condition—questions about the meaning of life, the futility of human striving, and the limits of wisdom. In this sense, Ecclesiastes represents the first son, embodying human wisdom that comes from earthly experiences and understanding.
• Solomon, though blessed with wisdom, ultimately points to the futility of worldly pursuits ("vanity of vanities"), as he struggles to find lasting satisfaction in the things of this world. In a way, this mirrors the role of the first son in the biblical narrative, who often represents the initial promise or wisdom that ultimately has limitations. The first son in this sense is part of the story but cannot fully bring about the deeper, more lasting fulfillment.

Matthew: The Second "Son" (Kingdom Wisdom, Spiritual Fulfillment)

• Matthew, in contrast, represents the second son in the metaphorical sense. While Ecclesiastes speaks to the wisdom of the earth and the limitations of human striving, Matthew presents a higher wisdom—the wisdom of the Kingdom of God. In this sense, Matthew’s gospel, with its focus on Jesus as the King of the Kingdom, reflects the fulfillment of that which Ecclesiastes could only point to. Matthew goes beyond the struggles and futility of life by introducing the Kingdom of God, where Jesus Christ as the second son fulfills the promise of true, eternal purpose and salvation.
• Just as the second son in the Bible often surpasses the first son in importance or spiritual significance (think of Jacob over Esau, David over his brothers, etc.), Matthew as the second son presents a wisdom that surpasses the wisdom of Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes exposes the emptiness of the human condition, while Matthew unveils the fulfillment of God's Kingdom through Jesus, bringing the ultimate answer to the questions posed in Ecclesiastes.

How It Fits the "Second Son" Motif:

• Ecclesiastes, as the first son, sets up the human struggle for meaning and wisdom but leaves readers in expectation—it points to a higher reality, but it doesn’t provide the answer. This fits with the first son motif in Scripture, where the first son often represents the initial promise or the starting point, but the true inheritance or blessing often passes to the second son.
• Matthew, as the second son, brings the resolution and fulfillment. The wisdom presented in Matthew is not just earthly wisdom but the wisdom of God’s Kingdom, which answers the human existential questions that Ecclesiastes raises. It’s as if Matthew completes what Ecclesiastes starts—Jesus, the second son, fulfills the deeper, eternal purpose that human wisdom could only grasp at.

The Contrast:

• Ecclesiastes is filled with reflections on the limitations of human effort—even wisdom and righteousness seem to fall short when faced with the realities of life, death, and suffering. It shows the brokenness of the world. Ecclesiastes is like the first son in the biblical pattern who might carry promise but doesn’t fully carry it through.
• Matthew, on the other hand, is the second son in the sense that it answers the deep questions raised by Ecclesiastes. Where human wisdom seems limited, Jesus (the second son) offers kingdom wisdom that gives eternal meaning. He embodies the fulfillment of the law and the prophets and shows a deeper spiritual redemption that gives life to what was previously deemed futile.

A Deeper Connection:

• Ecclesiastes focuses on earthly wisdom and the search for meaning, but its wisdom is framed within the limitations of a fallen world. The conclusion of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) points to fearing God and keeping His commandments as the ultimate answer, but it is still from the vantage of a worldly perspective.
• Matthew reveals Jesus, the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, showing that the true meaning, purpose, and fulfillment come through a relationship with God’s Kingdom, inaugurated by Jesus Himself. This shift from the limitations of earthly wisdom to the fulfillment found in Christ exemplifies the second son motif: the second son brings about the completion of what the first son could not.

Conclusion:

In this interpretation, Ecclesiastes is the first son who sets the stage for wisdom, but whose limitations are apparent—human wisdom and understanding cannot fully bring about the kingdom purposes of God. Matthew, as the second son, fulfills what Ecclesiastes hints at, showing that true wisdom and the ultimate answers to life’s struggles are found in the Kingdom of God, embodied by Jesus. This connection naturally fits with the biblical second son motif, where the second son brings fulfillment, spiritual inheritance, and the completion of God’s purposes.