The first Gospel in the New Testament, Matthew, is the most Jewish of the four. It makes more references from the Old Testament aka the Jewish Scriptures than any of the others. Probably because it was written to the Jewish converts to Christianity. But the theme of Matthew's gospel is wrapped up in a unique phrase that only Matthew uses: The KINGDOM OF GOD!
The Kingdom of God is the main subject of John's message, Jesus' opening sermon, the Sermon on the Mount and the instructions given the disciples when they began to minister on their own. Matthew used it 32 times scattered throughout the gospel. It was the opening line of many of Jesus' parables. And, as I said, I believe it is the theme of Matthew's gospel.
But what does the phrase 'Kingdom of God' really mean? And what does it mean especially to the Jews who received this gospel?
It all goes back to:
1 Samuel 8
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
God never meant for Israel to have a human king. His plan was always a THEOCRACY; a people ruled by God. But the priest were supposed to be their human leadership; their example. And when there was a void in this leadership like with Samuel's sons, something had to fill that void. And, at times, that filling was secular. The only reason Israel ever had a human king was their own weakness and the weakness of their leadership.
And their weakness is the mirror image of ours.
BUT, in the shadow of Israel's failure, God himself gave hope! Through many of his prophets, he made a promise! And that promise was a savior; a KING!
In naming Bethlehem as the birthplace of that Savior, God himself gave clues as to what this King and, likewise, his Kingdom would be.
Matthew 2:6 referenced:
Micah 5:2
"But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
This King would be 'of old' and 'ancient times'.
Matthew 3:3 referenced: Isaiah 40
40:5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This Messiah, this King would be the 'glory of the Lord'. God made it clear for all to see and Matthew understood. This Savior would be more than the human expectations of a King. He would be what God expected. And far more! He would be, as Isaiah put it 'Emmanuel, God with us'.
So, at least, we know this promised Messiah King would be more and do more than any human king ever could. But it still leaves us with the question; What would His Kingdom be like?
More soon...
The Kingdom of God is the main subject of John's message, Jesus' opening sermon, the Sermon on the Mount and the instructions given the disciples when they began to minister on their own. Matthew used it 32 times scattered throughout the gospel. It was the opening line of many of Jesus' parables. And, as I said, I believe it is the theme of Matthew's gospel.
But what does the phrase 'Kingdom of God' really mean? And what does it mean especially to the Jews who received this gospel?
It all goes back to:
1 Samuel 8
4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
6 But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.
God never meant for Israel to have a human king. His plan was always a THEOCRACY; a people ruled by God. But the priest were supposed to be their human leadership; their example. And when there was a void in this leadership like with Samuel's sons, something had to fill that void. And, at times, that filling was secular. The only reason Israel ever had a human king was their own weakness and the weakness of their leadership.
And their weakness is the mirror image of ours.
BUT, in the shadow of Israel's failure, God himself gave hope! Through many of his prophets, he made a promise! And that promise was a savior; a KING!
In naming Bethlehem as the birthplace of that Savior, God himself gave clues as to what this King and, likewise, his Kingdom would be.
Matthew 2:6 referenced:
Micah 5:2
"But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
This King would be 'of old' and 'ancient times'.
Matthew 3:3 referenced: Isaiah 40
40:5 And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This Messiah, this King would be the 'glory of the Lord'. God made it clear for all to see and Matthew understood. This Savior would be more than the human expectations of a King. He would be what God expected. And far more! He would be, as Isaiah put it 'Emmanuel, God with us'.
So, at least, we know this promised Messiah King would be more and do more than any human king ever could. But it still leaves us with the question; What would His Kingdom be like?
More soon...