Sometimes Bible passages have more than one application or fulfillment. For example, Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called My son," in context, refers to the Exodus. However, Matthew 2:15 shows us that it also applies to baby Jesus leaving Egypt. Likewise, Jeremiah 31:5, "A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be comforted, because they were no more," in context, refers to weeping for the exiles in Assyria. However, Matthew 2:18 shows us that it also applies to the weeping over the babies boys slaughtered in Bethlehem by Herod.

Likewise, there are two fulfillments of God words concerning a son of David: "I will be his father, and he shall be my son" (2 Samuel 7:14 = 1 Chronicles 17:13). This passage is quoted in 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 and applied to Solomon, the son of David. And this passage is quoted in Hebrews 1:5 and applied to Jesus, the Son of David.

But we're presented with a problem. In the Samuel record of the prophecy, it goes on to say, "When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men" (2 Samuel 7:14 ESV). We can easily understand how these words apply to Solomon. Solomon's 1,000 foreign women turned his heart from God to idols, so God raised up adversaries for Solomon (1 Kings 11). But do these words also apply to Christ? Is Christ a sinner? No. Peter assures us that Christ "committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth" (1 Peter 2:22 ESV, quoting Isaiah 53:9). So what do we do with those words, "When he commits iniquity"? At least three solutions have been suggested for this problem.

Dave Miller's View

In his book, Richland Hills and Instrumental Music: A Plea to Reconsider, our brother Dave Miller wrote, "though 2 Samuel 7:12-13 refers to Christ, the reference to committing iniquity or doing wrong in verse 14 obviously does not apply to Christ - but to Solomon" (page 17). If Miller is right, then this passage is like the first one we spoke of - Hosea 11:1, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."  Though Matthew says that these words apply to Christ, Matthew certainly wouldn't say that the next verses in Hosea 11 also apply to Christ. Hosea goes on to write, for example, "They shall not return to the land of Egypt, but Assyria shall be their king, because they have refused to return to me" (Hosea 11:5 ESV).

Robert R. Taylor, Jr.'s View

The King James Version, instead of saying, "When he commits iniquity," says, "If he commit iniquity." In the companion book for the 10^th Annual Denton Lectures, in Denton Texas, our brother Robert R. Taylor, Jr. wrote, "The passage does not say He would sin. There is just the possibility set forth. If He did, then the chastisement would follow. Was it impossible for Jesus to have sinned while He tabernacled in human flesh? If impossible, in what sense was He tempted in all points like as we are? Why would a smart Satan bother about tempting someone in Matthew 4 and Luke 4 who could not sin? Was Jesus a free moral agent while here? If it were impossible for Him to sin, then He was not made like unto His brethren in all things, for it surely is the case that sin is possible for all of us. Jesus did not ever sin. This was His personal choice - not by impossibility on His part" (page 330).

Foy E. Wallace's View

In God's Prophetic Word, our brother Foy E. Wallace said, "It has been argued that to apply this prophecy to Christ would make him a sinner, for the passage says, 'if he commit iniquity I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the stripes of the children of men.' Comparing these words of Nathan with the language of Isa. 53 the objection loses all its force. Foretelling the vicarious [which means 'substitute'] suffering of Christ, Isaiah said: 'He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed ... and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.' Thus in vicarious suffering the Lord Jesus Christ was 'chastened with the rod of men and the stripes of the children of men.' The statement 'if he commit iniquity' does not refer to acts of iniquity which he would commit but to his becoming sin for us: 'For he made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him' - 2 Cor. 5:21" (pages 208-209).