Kingdom

Matthew and the Gospel of the Kingdom

Although not an easy decision, Matthew is my favorite book in the Bible. It is the first Gospel in the New Testament, beautifully organized by setting and theme, and emphatic regarding the important person and work of Jesus as our Savior King. Currently, we are working through a doctrinally themed sermon series at Wilkesboro Baptist Church, entitled “The Gospel of the Kingdom.” This post is a complimentary guide to helping us explore Matthew’s Gospel and discover the important truths, observations, and applications regarding Jesus and his Kingdom.

Here are several thematic emphases in the Gospel of Matthew:

Matthew highlights Jesus’ fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. Fifteen times Matthew explicitly claims that Jesus or the events around Jesus fulfilled OT prophecies (1:22; 2:15, 17, 23; 3:15; 4:14; 5:17; 8:17; 12:17; 13:14, 35; 21:4; 26:54, 56; 27:9). These fifteen instances are more than any other New Testament writer. Matthew wants his readers to see Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s plans for the prophecies in the Old Testament.

Matthew points to Jesus as the better Moses, Israel, and King. Moses functioned as the redeemer figure during the Exodus and God’s prophet when God gave the Law. As such, Moses functioned as Israel’s priest (representative) between Israel and God. But Moses was glaringly imperfect, though highly revered by Israel’s first century religious leaders. Matthew connects Jesus and Moses in a variety of ways: see Exodus 1 and Matthew 2 with the slaughter of the innocents; see Moses going up the mountain for the law in Exodus 19:20 and Jesus going up on the mountain to preach in Matthew 5:1. Matthew connects Jesus and Israel in several ways. Israel faced temptations in the wilderness and failed over a 40 year period of time, and Jesus went to the wilderness in Matthew 4 to face temptation over a period of 40 days. God rescued and redeemed Israel so the nation would represent God’s glory, grace, and goodness to the surrounding nations. Israel’s unbelief and idolatry over and over again (particularly right after the Exodus) reveals the doctrine of original sin and the depravity of mankind. Israel failed in her purpose as God’s people just like we all do. Yet Jesus faced temptation in the wilderness successfully. This means that Jesus is the perfect representation of God (he is God incarnate), but he is also the perfect representation of God’s people (where Adam sinned in the garden, and Israel sinned in the wilderness, Jesus obeyed in the wilderness). Thus, Jesus is the perfect Prophet (Lawgiver) and Priest (representative between man and God). See below for Jesus as King.

Matthew emphasizes Jesus’ Kingdom. While each Gospel includes references to Jesus’ kingdom, it is the emphasized theme in Matthew’s Gospel. More than any other Gospel, Matthew references the kingdom (53x) and uses the term authority (11x). Matthew’s emphasis on Jesus as King can be seen as an inclusio in the beginning and end of his Gospel. In Matthew 1:1, Jesus’ genealogy begins with him as the “son of David, the son of Abraham,” and then his genealogy is traced back through Joseph to the line of King David. In Matthew 2, the wise men come seeking the “King of the Jews” (2:2). The inclusio is completed in Matthew 28:18 when Jesus affirms, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Jesus came announcing the kingdom of heaven (4:17) and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (4:23). Much of the content of Jesus’ preaching and teaching as well as his ministry is shaped by the them of the kingdom and his authority as King. For more on this theme, join us for worship at Wilkesboro Baptist or if you attend another church, watch or listen to our services during this series.

Matthew organized his Gospel beautifully in structure and theme. Matthew organized his Gospel in Narrative and Discourse sections. Dale Allison observes the following organizational structure in Matthew:

         1-4       Narrative                                 Intro: main character introduced
         5-7                  Discourse                    Jesus’ demands upon Israel
         8-9       Narrative                                 Jesus’ deeds within and for Israel
         10                    Discourse                    Ministry through others’ words and deeds
        11-12  Narrative                                 Israel’s negative response
        13                    Discourse                    Explanation of Israel’s negative response
       14-17   Narrative                                 Founding of the Church
       18                     Discourse                    Teaching for the Church
       19-23   Narrative                                Commencement of the Passion
       24-25              Discourse                   The future: judgment and salvation
       26-28   Narrative                                Conclusion: passion and resurrection

Dale Allison, Studies in Matthew, 141-142.

Not only did Matthew organize the Gospel beautifully, but he recorded and organized Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount beautifully. The framework of Matthew 5:1-8:1 can be seen as follows:

5:1-2 Situation
   5:3-12 Blessings (Beatitudes)
      5:13-16 Heading for Sermon Body and General Description for Discipleship (Salt and Light)
      5:17-20 Introduction of Main Section (Righteousness and Law)
         5:21-48 Jesus and the Torah (Law and Prophets)
            6:1-18 The Christian Cult (Worship)
                6:1-6 Almsgiving
                   6:7-15 Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer
               6:16-18 Fasting
         6:19-7:11 Social Issues (Law and Prophets)
      7:12 Conclusion of Main Section (Righteousness and Law)
   7:13-27 Warnings
7:28-8:1 Reaction of Hearers (Dale Allison, The Sermon on the Mount, 37).

In the above structure, the Sermon’s centerpiece is the model prayer with the other sections complementing each other in recurring themes. While this is not the only attempted thematic structuring of Jesus’ Sermon, it is helpful in observing the overall interconnectedness of the Sermon’s structure, themes, and applications.

My hope in sharing some of this analysis is that we will be encouraged and indeed inspired by the intentionality of inspired Scripture. In reflecting on our current sermon series: “The Gospel of the Kingdom” and Matthew’s Gospel as a whole, here are some reading and study practices that would overlap helpfully with our Sunday morning worship services:

  • Have your devotions with a pen and journal in hand, noting any place in Scripture that highlights the sovereignty, authority, or Kingship of God.
  • Make the Gospel of Matthew your devotional content for several weeks/months. Note or highlight the places in Matthew that emphasize the kingdom and Jesus’ authority.
  • Memorize and meditate on key verses in Matthew in general or the Sermon on the Mount in particular. Our church memory verses for January and February are below. Matthew 6:33 is another excellent verse to memorize.
  • Memorize the model prayer and use it as a template for your prayer life (Mt. 6:9-13).
  • Practice (apply) what you learn. When you read and study and glean from your personal devotions or our gathered worship, remember that God gave us his Word to transform us not merely inform us. When convicted about a sin, confess it. When an insight becomes clear, learn from it. When you read and understand what you are to do (7:24), obey it.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

“The Gospel of the Kingdom” is about Jesus’ compelling vision for his people and their allegiance to him as King. Jesus’ gospel message about the kingdom confronts our sins, allegiances, and vision for life. Too often as Christians, we spend too much time complaining about the decay and rot in our world than we do living and speaking as citizens of the Kingdom. May God help us rightly discern Jesus’ vision for his followers and obediently practice his teaching.

Photo by Tim Wildsmith on Unsplash

“To Children Belong the Kingdom”

My devotional reading today came from Mark 10 where parents were bringing their children to Jesus. The disciples rebuked them for bringing children to Jesus. Evidently, they perceived that Jesus’ ministry was too important for children. But Jesus made the staggering claim that to children “belong the kingdom of God.”

Here’s the story from Mark.

13 And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Mark 10:13-16

It is important to grasp the historical context in contrast with our contemporary view of children. In American culture, children are cherished and prized. Often we build our lives around their schedules and live our dreams through them. But in most ancient cultures, children were not valued to such a degree. Child mortality rates kept parents in some cultures from naming their children until they were five. While Jewish views of children were better than their Greco-Roman counterparts, children were still perceived as lowly and unimportant in society.

Yet, the text tells us that some parents perceived that Jesus was unique. They recognized that having Jesus bless their children was a priority. And Jesus welcomed them! Children have a unique sense of trust. Their trust muscles are exercised at an early age where they learn to depend on others for their basic needs. Trust is the human response to the gospel. This is one of the reasons why children respond to Jesus and why the kingdom of God belongs to children.

Recently at our church we’ve baptized a number of folks and some of those have been children. This past Sunday, we had an 8 year old girl publicly profess her faith in Jesus. We also had a 9 year old meet with our Children’s Minister to talk about faith. She professed faith as well and will be baptized soon. What I love about the most recent children who have come to faith in Jesus is that their parents have been their primary evangelists. This is as it should be.

I love telling children, adults, and teenagers about Jesus. It is a privilege to help others come to faith in Christ. But it is biblical when parents are the primary evangelists of their children. I firmly believe that all Christians are responsible to share the gospel, but we are especially sent to those around us with the message of Christ (see Romans 10:14-17).

Parents and grandparents, you are especially sent to your children and grandchildren with the gospel. Like the parents in Mark 10, will you bring your children and grandchildren to Jesus?

Here are several practical suggestions for helping your children meet and follow Jesus:

  • Pray for them. The mother of the 9 year old who came to faith in Jesus this weekend shared with me, “We have prayed for this day since we found out we were expecting her!” Of those children who have come to faith recently in our church, many of them have been on my personal prayer list. And several of them have been on the regular prayer lists of those in discipleship groups together. Only God can save. When we pray for the salvation of our children, we admit dependence on God to convict, make alive, and rescue from sin. If you are not regularly praying for the salvation of your children and grandchildren, start today.
  • Talk with them. God, faith, church, and the gospel should be a regular topics of family conversations. Some of these conversations can be formal, such as family devotions (see below), but many can happen just in the regular happenings of the day. Parents and grandparents, if you have a vibrant faith, then this will be natural. The more you walk with Christ, the more normal it is that Christ is a consistent part of your conversational life.
  • Share with them. Both of my boys responded to the gospel during our times of family devotions. Family devotions don’t have to be intimidating. Start small and short. Your maximum time should be one minute for every year of your youngest child. For example, if your youngest is 5, your maximum devotional time should be 5 minutes. We used a children’s Bible and Bible story books when our boys were little. Now we are reading a paragraph a night from the New Testament and closing in a time of prayer.
  • Bring them to worship. Dads, I’m going to aim this one at you. I believe the Bible teaches the husband to be the spiritual leader in the home. This means that husbands should take the lead in family devotions and attending worship. Too many husbands and dads wait on their wives to get them to church. Most of those children who have come to faith recently in our church have families that attend worship regularly and dads that lead their families to worship. Dads, think about this. You are responsible for the spiritual lives (eternities) of your families (children). What you make a priority they will as well. For you single parents out there, especially single moms reading this, I know your life is tough. As a church we’re suppose to be your support and community. At Wilkesboro Baptist, Sunday school and Awana (Wednesday pm) for children (pre-k through elementary) and Sunday school and disciple-life (Sunday pm) for middle and high school students are our programs aimed at communicating the gospel and biblical principles for your children and teenagers. We believe in helping them learn the gospel. We can be your support system. Let us know how we can help you.
  • Follow Jesus. While the principles of Christianity can be taught, doctrine can be communicated, and the message of the gospel preached, following Jesus is often “caught” as much as it is “taught.” Following Jesus is something we should demonstrate. In a recent lecture series on preaching, John Piper reflected on the three means for life change in a church: exhortation, supplication, demonstration. Those who don’t know Jesus need to hear the gospel (exhortation at home and in the gathered worship experiences at church). They also need to be prayed for (supplication). But the main way our children and grandchildren will come to follow Jesus is if they see you following Jesus (demonstration). How you follow Jesus (or don’t) will influence the faith practices of your family. Do they know you pray and read the Bible? Do they see you value church? Do you serve others and invite your children to be a part of serving your church and community? Parents and grandparents, when you bring your children to worship, let them see that it matters to you. Sing. Give. Bring your Bible. Take notes. If you are engaged, in the gathered worship experiences, they will learn to be as well. I’m not suggesting that you be perfect. Nor am I suggesting that you flaunt your faith for your children. But if you follow Jesus, the life you demonstrate will reflect the gospel to those around you.

Photo by David Beale on Unsplash