Matthew - Week 10

The Good News About the Kingdom 

READ 

Matthew 4:23-24 

23 Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him spread as far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. 

Jesus announced “the Good News about the Kingdom.” The expression “Good News” is the meaning of the word often translated “Gospel.” To receive the blessing of the kingdom, one must be in right relationship with the king. This is possible only by trusting in Him as Savior. He was healing many and the news about Him was spreading to a wide area. It is significant that “he healed them all.” Even this was to be evidence that He was the Messiah. 

REFLECT 

Think how far the news would spread today if someone was healing everyone who came to him. The healing Jesus did was to be a sign of His authority as the Son of God. 

RESPOND 

Read John 5:16-18 to see the religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus because He healed someone on the Sabbath and called God His Father. The Jews of that day understood that calling God His Father was making Himself equal with God. Religious leaders today who do not believe Jesus is equal with God the Father do not believe the truth, which the Jews of His day understood. 

Large Crowds 

READ 

Matthew 4:25 

25 Large crowds followed him wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns, Jerusalem, from all over Judea, and from east of the Jordan River. 

Jesus had a large following. Matthew records some of the places and areas to which He went. In some translations, the word “Decapolis” is used instead of “Ten Towns.” “Decapolis” is simply a Greek word meaning “Ten Towns” and here in Matthew refers to a large area east of the Jordan River. The crowds were from west of the Jordan (Galilee and Judea) as well as from east of the Jordan. This covered a large area in those days with primitive means of travel. 

REFLECT 

The news about this one who came as the Messiah was spreading widely. How far would you have walked in those days to see and hear Him—or to be healed by Him? 

RESPOND 

Spend time with a fellow believer talking about the popularity of Jesus in those days. Then remind yourselves that many followed Him only because of His miracles and not because they had believed in Him as Savior.  

He Began to Teach 

READ 

Matthew 5:1-2 

1 One day as he saw the crowds gathering, Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down. His disciples gathered around him, 2 and he began to teach them. 

The reference to the “mountainside” in this passage has to do with chapters 5-7, commonly called “The Sermon on the Mount.” The word “disciples” can be used in a broad sense of “learners” or in a narrow sense of “believers.” Many were following Jesus to learn about Him and some turned away when they learned what they did not like (see John 6:66). “Disciples” is used in a narrow sense to refer to the Twelve Jesus had chosen (see Matthew 10:1). Likely there were some from both groups present as Jesus went up on the mountainside to teach. 

REFLECT 

Are you one who is only learning about Jesus or are you one who has learned enough to know you are a sinner and need Him as your Savior? 

RESPOND 

Read John 6:60-66 to see the context revealing there were unbelievers among Jesus’ “disciples.” 

God Blesses 

READ 

Matthew 5:3-5 

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. 4 God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.” 

This passage begins what is commonly called “The Beatitudes,” a word meaning “blessed.” The Greek language had two words for “blessed.” One referred to someone who was fortunate or happy; the other word means “to speak well of.” The first is the one used in Matthew 5:3-10. Those who lived like this were “fortunate” or “happy.” These instructions were based on what a true believer in the kingdom should live like. One would have to be a believer in Jesus to be able to live as instructed.  

REFLECT 

If you have realized you are poor in spirit and know you need a Savior, you are fortunate or happy. Do you feel this way? 

RESPOND 

Some think Matthew 5-7 presents the Gospel rather than just how a believer in the kingdom should live. Matthew was writing to the Jewish people and made many references to the law. This passage does not include the Gospel. The apostle Paul wrote to those in Corinth about A.D. 55 and presented what is included in the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15:1-9. This passage reveals the message of the Gospel includes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and eye-witnesses who could have been asked about the resurrection of Jesus.  

Satisfied 

READ 

Matthew 5:6-8 

6 “God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice, for they will be satisfied. 

7 God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.” 

As Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” God blesses those who honor and obey Him and He withholds blessing from those who do not. The happy person is the one who hungers and thirsts for justice. There is no substitute for desiring to please God in all you do and realizing His blessing will result. God shows mercy to those who show mercy and withholds it from those who do not. The person who has a “pure” heart is the one who has a heart clean of sinful activities and thoughts. This is only possible by trusting in the Lord Jesus who has saved from the penalty of sin and can save from the power of sin. Eventually He will save the believer from the presence of sin. 

REFLECT 

Is it your desire to please Jesus in all you do? 

RESPOND 

With a fellow believer talk about the need to pray for the desire to please Jesus in whatever you do. Read Colossians 3:23 in this regard.