Matthew requires more.  More reading for me.  More understanding.  I want to know more about the kingdom.  So what do we learn from Mattthew?

1) Jesus is the King

This is the opening and it isn’t subtle.  Jesus is the King, the Son of David.  Jesus is the King of the Jews.  Jews is the King but this king is the fulfillment of Scripture.  But first and foremost, Jesus is King.

2) Jesus’ Kingdom is here and is coming

In Daniel 7:13-14 we read about the coming of the kingdom of Jesus.  And now it is here.  But what does his kingdom look like?  He teaches on the kingdom in Matthew 5-7.  If you haven’t read it, you need to.  It’s considered the greatest message Jesus ever preached.  But brace yourself.  Jesus does not hold back.

3) Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom.

This good news of the kingdom wasn’t just that he was going to die and be raised to life again.  But the kingdom of God is about where righteousness, justice and holiness reign.

4)  Jesus is THE Messiah

Over and over and over throughout Matthew we see Jesus fulfilling Scriptures, that which the Prophets preached and predicted.  These are things that Jesus could not have manufactured on his own.

5) Jesus preached taught about discipleship

If any book teaches about discipleship, it’s the book of Matthew.  He taught, modeled and instructed the disciples on what it meant to be disciple.  And that is following Jesus in righteous, love, and sacrificing one’s self for others.

It’s a book I would like to read again.  Though for now I think I will press on.   But I pray the words of Scripture change me in every good way.