The Kingdom of God According to Matthew's Gospel

THE KINGDOM OF GOD, AS OUTLINED IN THE GOSPEL

ACCORDING TO MATTHEW

INTRODUCTION

Wisemen and kings sought the baby Jesus as the King of the Jews.

Mt. 1:1 - traces Jesus’ genealogy back to Abraham via David.

Mt. 2:2 - shows the Wisemen seeking Jesus (Jewish culture was fully aware of this prophetic tradition).

Mt. 2:7 - acknowledges King Herod’s personal belief in the common concept of the authenticity of Jewish prophecy.

I John 5:11-13 - expresses the basic purpose for writing all of the New Testament (Jesus).

I. JESUS CAME TO ESTABLISH HIS KINGDOM, AS FOUND IN THE CHURCH.

A. NATIONAL ISRAEL BECAME THE PROTOTYPE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH [ONLY], RATHER THAN THE FULFILLMENT OF THE KINGDOM AS TAUGHT BY MILLENIALISTS.

1.     Deut 5:15--The Jewish Sabbath was a sign of deliverance and covenant relationship [with Israel], rather than a reason to enforce Saturday worship.

2.     Col. 2:16-17--The Law of Moses was typical of the Law of Grace; a type of … Thus, the NT reflects Christ as the Lamb, our Passover, et al.

3.     RO. 4:13--14--Paul taught the Abrahamic Covenant as being fulfilled through faith in Christ. Millennialists teach that it will restore Israel to a literal and political kingdom.

4.     I Peter 1:16-20; Ephesians 1:4---Christ’s sacrifice was fore-ordained from Creation; thus, Jesus’ death and resurrection succeeded rather than failing! Millenialists claim it faliled because men rejected THE KINGDOM, thereby prompting God to come up with the church concept as a temporary expediency (a parenthesis in time) until political Israel could be restored as a political Kingdom. Millenialists insist upon a literal kingdom, whereas Scripture teaches a spiritual kingdom.

B. THE KINGDOM THEME PREVAILS THROUGHOUT MATTHEW’S GOSPEL.

            1. Mt. 3:1-3—JOHN ANNOUNCES JESUS AND HIS KINGDOM; A fulfillment of         Daniel 2:44 and Isa. 40:3. John fulfills Malachi 3:1.

          2. Mt 4:17-20--Jesus issued his kingdom call using Isaiah for a reference (Isa. 61:1. Luke                       4:18-21 describes this as does Mark 1:14-15. Compare Mt. 4:15 with Isa. 42:7 and Luke                       2:32).

          3. Mt. 5-7--The Beatitudes are Kingdom ideals. Note 6:33 and 7:21. Of all the teachings                         of the NT, it is the teachings of Jesus that provide the most primary evidence we have,                         rather than Paul or Peter, or some other interpreter of Jesus. Reformed theologians lean more              toward Paul, yet, Paul was merely a self-admitted interpreter of Jesus. It is the words of Jesus             that form the primary corpus of evidence, and I personally value the words of Jesus while on               the cross as being the most authoritative biblical evidence that we have.

         4. Mt. 10:4--8 John questioned Jesus who gave this as proof of himself and his kingdom                           (The Jews expected Elijah to return; see Mt. 17:13--Jesus says Elias (or Elijah) has
             returned already in John the Baptist (11:14).

         5. Mt. 12:22-28--The Kingdom is come--if Jesus does the works he does … 2:40-41- Son of                    man 3 days dead (40), only sign is that of Jonah (41). 12:43-45--Describes the sin of Israel                  rejecting Christ.

         6. Mt. 13--A Kingdom parable describing a Sower (13:19). 13:30 describes the Tares. He                        leaves the tares with the wheat until judgment, leaving no place for a Rapture as described by              Millenialists. 13:37-38--Jesus is the sower and the seed is the sons of the Kingdom. 13:40, 43              Harvest is the Judgment. 13:44-49--Further describes the Judgment, which the people                          understood (51). The people were offended and disbelieved (57-58), thus Jesus did few works              there (58).

          7. Mt. 16:28--The Greek text here uses a double negative which means “in no way” will they                 taste death before the Son of Man comes in his kingdom.
          8. Mt. 18:1-3--The greatest in the kingdom of God is a child (contrary to the conquering                          Roman generals and other such secular concepts)

          9. Mt. 19:23--Expresses the difficulty of entering the Kingdom, but publicans and                                    prostitutes 21:31-32 ARE entering ahead of the TENANTS (33) who are rejecting Israel                      (42- 45). Jesus told them the Kingdom was taken from them, which is contrary to the                            millennial teachings about the restoration of Israel in our future, and it was at the core of                     their reasoning for killing Jesus: better that he die than the whole nation.

         10. Mt. 22--Describes the marriage feast (also described in Revelation as end-time). The                            invited reject the invitation (5-8); those assembling must be in wedding dress (11-14),                          elsewhere described as robes of righteousness.

         11. Mt. 23:13--Woe to the Jewish system; 33-36, 38 Israel rejected and left desolate.  That                        does not hinder the Messiah’s coming (39).

         12. Mt. 24:14--This was fulfilled at the day of Pentecost (cf Acts); the Gospel Age (the                  last days--Acts 2:17) precedes the end.

         13. Mt. 24:15--Fulfilled (literally) in 70 A.D. when General Titus literally destroyed                                  Jerusalem and national Jewish identity. “This generation” shall not pass before this is                          fulfilled (34).

         14. Mt. 25--Further Kingdom teachings on the end/judgment (1,

         15. MT. 26:1-2--Jesus became the Passover Lamb during Passover (cf 26-29). See                                      Hebrews 8--Christ now THE HIGH PRIEST (no more Old Testament having mediated a                      more perfect covenant (a New Testament (8:6) that makes makes the old covenant obsolete                  (13). Again, we don‘t enforce Saturday worship because we are no longer under the Old                      Testament (Heb. 8:13). The whole book of Hebrews reinforces this right-ness                                        (righteousness) of the New Testament over the old covenant.

         16. Mt. 27:63--Tomb secured to prevent fulfillment of prophecy of rising again (cf Mt.                              16:21, 17:23, 20:19; Mk. 8:31, 10:34; Luke 9:22, 18:33, 24:6-7 and John 2:19).             

         17. Mt. 26:53-54--Jesus accepted death, rejecting 12 legions of angelic help in order that the                    scripture might be fulfilled (42).

         18. Mt. 28:7--Disciples were sent to Galilee to meet the resur- rected Jesus (cf. 26:32).                               28:16--Eleven went to Galilee for Jesus’ first post resurrection appearance. 28:18--The                         disciples received authority of Heaven and Earth to the end of the (gospel) age to spread                       the kingdom teachings (cf 13:40- 43).

II. THE KINGDOM OF GOD ACCORDING TO MATTHEW IS THE RULE OF GOD, OR THE KINGLY REIGN OF GOD, IN THE HEARTS AND LIVES OF HIS PEOPLE.

1. We conclude that Millennial theology merely postpones the Kingdom until a later time, thereby          leaving it without a theological foundation for the salvation message that heralds the good news of      God’s current rule and reign “on earth as it is in heaven.”

2. Millennial theology offers “another gospel,” which in actual fact becomes a false gospel.

3.     The Gospel taught in Scripture teaches us that

G od

                        O ffers

                                    S inful

                                                P eople

                                                            E ternal

                                                                        L ife

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God” John concluded, “so that you may know that you have eternal life” (I John 5:13, NIV).

The book of Revelation purposefully interprets Old Testament symbolism and powerfully reinforces God’s personal purposes in protecting his people wherever they find themselves on the time-line of history.

walkingwithwarner.blogspot.com encourages you to allow God's Word to be your guide for understanding the teachings of the church. Enjoy your walk with our Lord and be blessed as you wak with him.