Matthew: Kingdom Come

The gospel of Matthew is a key link between the Old and New Testaments. Matthew, a Jewis tax collector, collects the events and experiences of Jesus's arrival, his ministry beginnings, and fulfillment of all the OT promises. Of primary concern for Matthew is to show you that Jesus is indeed the Messiah Israel should have been looking for and he has claim to the rule of God's people. All authority was given to Jesus in this life and he demonstrated how to live life for all of his disciples. The King is Jesus and his kingdom has dawned.

In Matthew chapters 5-7, we will see King Jesus sit down on a high mountain and teach his disciples in the rabbinic tradition. His message will be that of the kingdom of heaven and the realities that disciples will experience here on earth and ultimately one day in its fullness in eternity. Jesus teaches an upside-down kingdom and gives more meaning to the Old Testament context he alludes to often. Some have called it the greatest sermon of all time which contains the contents and operating procedures of the kingdom of heaven.

Following the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus will perform many miracles in many different ways. These "signs" are not meant to be stand alone impressive elements of Jesus ministry but proof that the message he proclaims is true and valid. If Jesus came with authority during the sermon on the mount, he will come with power in this section. Jesus is preparing the people and the culture for a more direct movement to the cross which the latter parts of Matthew cover. We encourage you to join us during this series to focus on Jesus, understand the miraculous ministry he had, and be prepared to love him more!

For much of the gospel of Matthew, there are clear markers of diviation as the author leads us to see the King (Jesus) and His Kingdom breaking forth. We have titled our 4th series in Matthew "The King Divides". It's within chapters 14-20 that the reader of Matthew can see that this kingdom will us call to make a decision and that decision will lead you to be for Jesus or against him. Following Jesus is a hard thing because it's something we naturally rebel. The good news is that Jesus works above our natural workings in the supernatural world, shaping and guiding our lives to where they need to be. Our King is a divisive King when it comes to ultimate things.

What kind of King was Jesus recognized as in 1st century Israel? Undoubtedly, there was a lot of excitement for his arrival in Jerusalem during the last week of his human life, but did the people know what was happening? The King Decrees is a series in Matthew that will cover chapters 21-25. It begins with a royal entry and finishes with King Jesus declaring warnings and judgments on Israel's reigning and ruling religious sect of leaders. A decree is an official order issued by a legal authority. Our King Jesus decrees what the kingdom of heaven is like and makes a statement about how we can come into his kingdom.

Throughout Matthew, we have seen the King theme develop and grow. In the last two chapters of the gospel of Matthew, we see them reach their climax in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This is the way that the King will triumph. Jewish leaders and Roman authorities killed the Messiah and believed they have ended all that Jesus started. Little did they know that in their killing of Jesus, something new would start to live. The consequences of sin will be dealt with, and the power of God becomes evident for all who believe. King Jesus will reign as a triumphant ruler when He overcomes death and calls his disciples to live out the great commission.