04/04/2022 – Day 036 – Matthew 14 – 16 – “The Kingdom”
There is so much to cover in these three chapters. I feel compelled to focus today on sharing “The Kingdom” section of Henry H. Halley’s Bible Handbook – pages 440 through 448.
The Kingdom
“Notice how frequently the word “Kingdom” occurs in Matthew:
3:2; 4:17,23; 5:3,10,19,20; 6:10,33; 7:21; 8:11; 9:35; 10:7; 11:11, 12; 12:28; 13:11, 24, 31, 33, 43 44, 45, 47, 52; 16:19, 28; 18:23; 19:12, 14, 23,24; 20:1; 21:31, 43; 22:2; 23:13; 24.14; 25:1, 34; 26:29
A political Kingdom, in which the Jewish nation, under their Messiah, would rule the world is what they were expecting. Herod shared that notion, and tried to destroy Jesus in childhood, because he thought the Christ’s kingdom would be a rival political kingdom to his own. John the Baptist shared that notion, and when Jesus gave no indication of being that kind of king John began to doubt whether after all Jesus was the Messiah (Matthew 11:3). The Twelve Apostles shared the notion till after the resurrection. The last question they asked Jesus was, ‘ Lord, will you now restore the kingdom to Israel?’ (Acts 1:6). Their minds were on political independence for their country, rather than personal eternal salvation.
What was the Kingdom that Jesus came to found? Not a political kingdom but to REIGN IN THE HEARTS OF MEN, and through their hearts control and transform their lives. The human heart is the realm in which Jesus came to reign. To make all mankind LOVE HIM. And why Love Him? To Change us over into His Own Image. Out of an Affection for Him, a Devotion to HIm, an Adoration of Him, will grow all the beauty and comfort of life, the transformation of character, the regeneration of the soul.
The Word “Kingdom,” as used in the New Testament, is pliable. Sometimes it seems to mean the reign of God in the individual. Sometimes, the general reign of righteousness among men. Sometimes, the church. Sometimes, Christendom. Sometimes, the millennial reign. Sometimes, heaven. The basic idea of the word implies Jesus’ dominion in the hearts of his people through all dispensations, onward into eternity, with special reference, at times, to one or another of its various aspects or stages.
Chapter 13: 54-58. Visit to Nazareth. (See on mark 6: 1-6)
Chapter 14: 1-12. John Beheaded. (See on Luke 3:1-20.)
Chapter 14: 13-21 The 5,000 Fed (See on John 6: 1-15.)
Chapter 14: 22-33 Jesus Walks on Water (See on John 6: 16-21.)
Period from Feeding 5,000 to Transformation
Chapters 14:34 to 16:12. (See on Mark 6:53.)
Chapter 14: 34-36 Multitudes in Gennesaret. (See on Mark 6:53.)
Chapter 15: 1-20. Pharisees and Defilement. (See on Mark 7:1-23.)
Chapter 15; 21-28. The Canaanite Woman. (see on Mark 7: 24-30)
Chapter 15: 29-39. The 4,000 Fed. (see on Mark 8: 1-9.)
Chapter 16: 1-12. Leaven of Pharisees. (See on Mark 8: 10-21.)
Soli Deo Gloria!