God of the Kingdom - Matthew

II. God of the Kingdom:
a. The seeking quality of God: God seeks out after sinners. We know this, but to the Hebrews of Jesus’ day, this was a radical theme. The Jews saw God as someone who had turned his back on the world because the world was wicked. That’s why the Pharisees separated themselves, because humans had to take the first step. But that grace comes only when we take initiative.
i. It was offensive that God would seek out after sinners.
ii. The Jews ranked sinners:
1. Prostitutes, tax collectors, religion professors were in the bottom. Tax collectors? They were notoriously dishonest. They were also working for the hated Roman government, and were seen as traitors.
iii. Jesus ate with the sinners. This was an act of intimacy ascribing worth and value to that person. They Pharisees had earned what people like Zacheus was freely given.
b. The fatherly quality of God
i. This was unique. Though God was the Father of his “Son” Israel, he was the Holy One of Israel, and you didn’t even say his name.
ii. So only a true believer can say the Lord’s prayer.
c. The Judgment quality of God
i. This was not unique
ii. But it is necessary lest we get an improper view of Christ.
iii. There is an “already” aspect of the judgment.
III. The Fig Tree
a. Israel is the fig tree
b. The judgment of Israel is because of their rejection of Jesus.
c. It also prefigures Jesus’ cleansing of the temple.
d. From a distance the fig tree looked fruitful, just as Israel looked fruitful.

I. Matthew
a. He most likely wrote it in Greek. The temple was most likely still standing, so it was probably around 60-65 B.C.
b. His purpose was twofold:
i. apologetic, with the goal of proving Jesus was the Messiah.
ii. But he is also using this as a teaching manual. There are lots and lots of Gentiles now in the Church. These gentiles had a reading knowledge of the Old Testament. Jesus is the fulfillment of the Jews’ and the Gentiles’ hopes and dreams. He is writing to the Jews, and the Jews have an issue: what do we do with the Gentiles? What do we teach them? Matthew answers this question with his gospel.
c. Is matthew’s Gospel Chronological? Yes in that it goes from birth to death. But it is mostly topical, not chronological. Focused around 5 main discourses. (see handout):
i. Sermon on the mount
ii. Teaching on mission
iii. Parables of the kingdom
iv. Church discipline
v. Olivet Discourse—teaching on eschatology
d. Matt wants to portray Jesus as the New Moses. Five blocs of Jesus, five books of Moses. The death of Jesus is like the exodus. “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Stuff happening on the mountain…just like Moses.
e. SEE HANDOUT FOR MARK