Kingdom
You cannot escape it in the book of Matthew. Chapter One has royal lineage in preparation of the King. Chapter Two has recognition of the birth of royalty. Chapter Three has John the Baptist preparing the way for the one who would rule over His people and a coronation ceremony of acceptance of the Son by the Father. The Spirit descending like a dove is almost like the crown being placed to ascribe majesty for earth’s benefit of the King. Chapter Four sees the King tempted to abdicate His throne before reaffirming His loyalty to the heavenly kingdom and proclaiming its impending arrival. From Chapter Five to Seven the message throughout is broadcasting what this Kingdom is like – how its subjects behave, the values that underpin it and how this new Kingdom is at odds with the rule of the world around us. (Notice how Jesus often refers comparatively – you’re no better than the scribes and Pharisees, tax collectors or Gentiles … as if to suggest that those in the Kingdom are a better class of people than that.)
Having bubbled up with what the Kingdom is like and spoken with authority on the subject, chapters Eight and Nine are like an action section where all those ideals and principles He was talking about were enacted. I believe somewhere else a fella by the name of Paul intimated that the Kingdom didn’t come in talk but it came in power and there can be no doubt embodying what was hinted in the last part of chapter Four in these chapters the power of the Kingdom in action could never be ignored, whatever the reaction.
I was intrigued by some elements in Kingdom action as reported by Matthew in these two chapters.
Kingdom Embraces
Who shows the greatest faith? A stranger to the commonwealth of Israel. Who does Jesus help to heal first as reported? Social outcasts. Who does Jesus invite to follow Him? The unpopular tax collector who’s mates are ‘sinners’. Who is the greatest opponent to Jesus’ ministry? The established religious order.
The rule of God – this Kingdom tears apart some well held preconceptions of the way things should be. This Kingdom in tearing apart these perceptions does so to build what Jesus was talking about in His Kingdom Agenda declaration – peace. Wholeness to those who are broken physically. Wholeness to societies that are broken with those considered to be outside the community by foreign birth or by disease.
The sheer width of the social spectrum that is covered in how Jesus expresses the wonders of peace in the coming Kingdom and how it even covers nature itself is mind opening. It should also inform where those who pursue Jesus should find themselves. Not just hogging the limelight in the centre of acceptable mainstream life. There should be that embracing concern to reach the margins of society with those who are rejected or felt low. Those who represent the broken, destitute and disheartened are very much at the heart of where the Kingdom makes impact.
Kingdom Consequences
If someone came and healed people of their diseases, brought hope of fullness of life, spoke of justice, peace and righteousness and practised that in engaging with social outcasts and reintegrating them into society, you would have thought that such a person would be universally acclaimed. Those are pretty impressive credentials and positive contributions. It is clear, however, that not everyone is applauding Jesus on His mission. That’s not just the religious establishment whose blindness is particularly evident in the episode of a demon-possessed mute man who is miraculously healed of both afflictions, only for the rulers to accuse Jesus of using demonic powers to get rid of demons.
Look at the time where again concerning demon possession, Jesus sorts out the two men at the Gadarenes and the demons are transferred to a herd of pigs. The response of the pig herders and the city as a whole is baffling – rather than celebrating the Messiah, they are keen to get him out of the region. That suggests that the Kingdom demonstrated as well as proclaimed will not meet with overwhelming endorsement and even the most positive event can lead to misunderstanding and rejection.
Kingdom Compassion
The end of chapter Nine should arguably form the beginning of chapter Ten and the scenario that Jesus sees and responds to gives a great hint as to the drive that motivates the new rule – it should also be the burden on the heart of all those who follow Jesus. The scenario with the crowds looking helpless and harassed as though they were sheep without a shepherd, is still the case today. It is a reality that moves some to be critical of culture and key movers in it. Jesus says that it should move us to ask God for more labourers and as we shall see the answer to that request is closer than we think.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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