THE KINGDOM UNVEILED

Matthew 4:12-25

“ Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” (Matthew 6:9–13, NKJV)

1. INTRODUCING THE KINGDOM

One resource reminds us that darkness

is used as a symbol (a) of moral depravity and its punishment. The wicked walk and work in darkness (Ps 82:5; Prov 2:13; Jn 3:19; Rom 13:12), and their reward is to “sit in darkness” (Ps 107:10) or to be “cast forth into the outer darkness” (Mt 8:12); (b) of things mysterious or inexplicable (1 K 8:12; Ps 97:2); (c) of trouble and affliction (2 S 22:29; Job 5:14; Prov 20:20; Isa 9:2; cf Gen 15:12); (d) of punishment (Lam 3:2; Ezk 32:8; Zeph 1:15); (e) of death (1 S 2:9; Job 10:21 f; Eccl 11:8); (f) of nothingness (Job 3:4–6); (g) of human ignorance (Job 19:8; 1 Jn 2:11).[1]

[1] Joy, A. H. (1915). Dark, Darkness. In J. Orr, J. L. Nuelsen, E. Y. Mullins, & M. O. Evans (Eds.), The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia (Vol. 1–5, p. 789). Chicago: The Howard-Severance Company.

Arriving at Capernaum Jesus announces the same message John the Baptist had been proclaiming nearer to Jerusalem: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!”” (Matthew 4:17, HCSB). Light is beginning to shine in darkness. Light means that darkness is about to be overcome. The announcement of the kingdom of God’s nearness is a warning to the kingdom of darkness: your days are numbered!

2. INVITING FOLLOWERS INTO THE KINGDOM

Jesus saw two brothers…vs 18; Jesus saw two other brothers…vs 21. While others looked at these four men going about their jobs as professional fishermen Jesus saw in these four men characteristics of kingdom builders.

The call comes with a promise. Jesus will make them ‘fish for people’ (vs19).

For their entire lives, Peter and Andrew had been fishers of fish. Fishing was all they knew. They would throw a net into the water, wait a while, and then haul out fish to sell at the market. Now Jesus was going to change all that. From now on they were going to fish for men. Jesus was giving them a new purpose — living out his purpose by helping in God’s work to bring people to salvation in Jesus Christ.[1]

[1] Putman, Jim; Harrington, Bobby ; Coleman, Robert. DiscipleShift: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples (Exponential Series) (p. 49). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

3. UNVEILING THE KINGDOM

Three verbs describe the opening activities of God’s kingdom. The first two verbs, teaching and preaching (vs 23) summarize Jesus’ strategy

There are three different ways Matthew underlines the significance of Jesus’ activities. First, the geographical boundaries – as seen covering a wide area of both Jew and Gentile.

Another way Matthew calls attention to the breadth of Jesus’ activity: “…So they brought to Him all those who were afflicted, those suffering from various diseases and intense pains, the demon-possessed, the epileptics, and the paralytics. And He healed them.” (Matthew 4:24, HCSB).

The final way Matthew describes the significance of Jesus is his descriptive words of those following Jesus – “they brought to Him all those…;” “large crowds followed Him from Galilee [the immediate area], the Decapolis (ten Gentile communities northeast of the Sea of Galilee); Jerusalem, Judea and beyond the Jordan

First, the kingdom of God is still drawing near. I don’t remember where I first saw it but I’ve seen it on multiple social media feeds : We are one day closer to the return of Jesus Christ.

A second thread is the truth that Jesus heals!

A final thread that links Jesus’ activity then to our lives now is the invitation to follow Him. Jesus is still calling people to follow Him. Yes, He invites us to Him for healing, for rest, for all we need. But the invitation He continues to offer: ‘Follow me, I will make you fish for people.’

Follow me –

I will make you – Jesus isn’t calling them to practice a skill they already have. He is calling them with a promise that He will make them fishers of people, He will make them into what they need to be.

Fishers of people/men – One writer explains this phrase like this

Our mission is not simply to come to church each Sunday, to be nice to other people, or to cram a lot of biblical facts inside our heads. It’s not even to give money to the church so that the pastors can carry out the mission of Jesus. It’s for every disciple to join in God’s mission in this world, to participate with God’s purposes in the world.