Who is This King of Glory?

CHURCH ON RANDALL PLACE SERMON NOTES, 5/10/09

“THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN” A STUDY IN MATTHEW

TODAY’S MESSAGE: “WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY?” MATTHEW 1:1-17

I.                   Introduction

a.       Hebrew Scriptures looked forward to a coming King

                                                              i.      His identity was clearly defined.

b.      One Individual

                                                              i.      Matthew puts forth his candidate-Jesus of Nazareth

1.      Many imposters

2.      One who meets the qualifications

c.       One Theme

                                                              i.      Kingdom of Heaven

1.      King

a.       Who is He? What is He like?

2.      The Kingdom.

a.       It is near – not merely a future event

b.      It is described

3.      The citizens

a.       What do they look like? Where do they come from? What are their characteristics? Who is/not a citizen?

                                                            ii.      Matthew concerns itself w/ the Kingdom of Heaven and what it means to be a citizen of that kingdom.

II.                The King and Kingdom Citizens

a.       Introductory remarks

                                                              i.      Matthew opens quickly w/ an identification of the King, offers evidence that He is the rightful and legitimate King

1.      John 18:37.  Matthew establishes that Jesus has the right to make this claim.

b.      The King

                                                              i.      Jesus (Yeshua)= “The Lord Saves”

1.      The King has a primary task.

                                                            ii.      Messiah= (Christos)“Anointed One”

1.      The expected King who would complete God’s purposes by redeeming mankind, and of whom the prophets spoke

2.      The promised bringer of salvation

                                                          iii.      Son of David

1.      A first century title for the messianic deliverer who would assume the throne of David, instituting the eternal kingdom of righteousness. 

                                                          iv.      Son of Abraham

1.      The one through whom all the families of the earth will be blessed

a.       This comes to full expression in Matthew 28:19.

c.       Who are the citizens?

                                                              i.      The outcasts

1.      Tamar (c.f. Genesis 38)

a.       Canaanite daughter in law of Judah

b.      The sordid story of prostitution and incest reveals God’s working in a desperate and deceptive Gentile harlot.

2.      Rahab (c.f. Joshua 2:1-21; 6:22-25)

a.       A prostitute saved by God because of her belief that He was the true Sovereign.

                                                                                                                                      i.      Evidence by her care for God’s people and desire to abandon the idols of Jericho for a life of commitment to Yahweh

3.      Ruth

a.       A Moabitess.  Though Godly she was excluded from the assembly of God.

                                                                                                                                      i.      But God brought her into the kingdom and made her great

4.      Bathsheba

a.       An adulteress

5.      Mary

a.       A nobody

                                                            ii.      Summary

1.      God works in and through the most unlikely events and people, whether Gentile, harlot or insignificant nobody.

a.       This is to whom the gates of the Kingdom have been opened.

III.             Conclusion

a.       Grace

                                                              i.      Vs. 1-17 are an exceptional illustration of God’s grace

                                                            ii.      Joshua 4:7.  Pillars to remind us of God’s gracious dealings w/ broken humanity.

b.      The gospel of Matthew

                                                              i.      About a King opening the gates of the Kingdom and inviting the broken, the poor and the lame to enter in and become citizens.