“JESUS THE KING”
1. I know that most of us have read Mt. 25:34 many times.
2. Nevertheless, let’s read it once more – READ Mt. 25:34.
3. Look at the wording that Jesus used.
4. Jesus used the word “king”, when He spoke of the judgment day.
5. The Lord could have worded His teaching in a different way.
6. He could have said, “Then shall I say unto them …”
7. He could have said, “These people will hear …”
8. Another possibility would have been, “The Lord will say …”
9. Jesus chose to use the word king, and He applied the word to Himself.
10. In this teaching, Jesus “slipped in” the fact that He is king.
I. THIS IS A PIECE OF INFORMATION THAT IS IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT.
A. If you have turned to Mt. 25, please turn back to Mt. 1.
B. The first chapter in Matthew contains the Lord’s genealogy.
C. The Lord’s legal ancestors are recorded in this chapter.
D. These ancestors can be divided into three groups.
E. Let’s start with v. 1 – READ
1. Abraham was a “patriarch”.
2. Patriarchs were people who helped found the Hebrew nation.
3. These men were fathers and rulers of their families.
4. Matthew lists 14 patriarchs in verses 1-5
5. This is the first division in Jesus’ family history given according to Matthew.
F. The second division is in verses 6-11.
1.
After the nation of
2. The nation’s first king was Saul. (Matthew doesn’t mention Saul.)
3. After Saul came David; David is mentioned in v. 6.
4.
Also mentioned in v. 6 is
G. After Solomon, the
H. This division is known as “
I. Matthew deals with the
J. After listing David and Solomon as kings, he
mentions 12 kings in
K. This information is in verses 6-11A.
L. After this list of 14 names, 14 more names are given (12-16).
M. These last 14 names could be called a list of “private citizens.”
N. Mary and Joseph are the end of this third line.
O. Looking at the genealogy in Mt. 1, we can summarize it by three points:
1. Patriarchs were related to Jesus (1-5)
2. Kings were related to Jesus (6-11A)
3. Private citizens were related to Jesus (12-16).
P. Out of these three groups, we will concentrate on the second one.
Q. Matthew 1 shows us that Jesus was connected to kings.
R. He was a descendant of good and bad kings who
had reigned in
S. Matthew makes this clear as the New Testament opens.
T. As the New Testament continues, this point is made again and again.
U. One of these places is Mt. 25:34, our scripture reading.
II. IF JESUS IS A KING, WE WOULD EXPECT HIM TO HAVE A KINGDOM, AND HE DOES.
A. The Lord’s kingdom is a popular topic in the religious world.
B. Many sincere people think that Christ’s kingdom has not yet arrived.
C. Others expect that God’s kingdom will be set up on earth.
D. There are several theories about Jesus’ kingdom.
E. We do not need to rely upon or listen to the theories of man.
F. Jesus Himself made some very clear statements about the kingdom.
G. For example, Mk. 9:1 says, “There are some here …”
1. Did Jesus ever lie? No.
2. Did He ever make a mistake? No.
3. The Lord said that the kingdom would come before some of them died.
4. Either there are some people on earth who are about 2,000 years old.
H. Mk. 9:1 tells us that the kingdom has come.
I. The Lord told the truth.
J. To the Colossians, Paul wrote in Col. 1:13 – QUOTE.
K. The Christians at Colosse are now all physically dead.
L. Not one of them is still alive on the earth.
M. Yet, these people were “translated into the kingdom.”
N. What was the “kingdom” that the Colossians were brought into?
O. Let’s go back to Mk. 9:1 for our answer – QUOTE.
P. When the
1. Where we see “power”, we should look for the kingdom.
2. Jesus said that these two things were together.
3. The word translated “power” in Mk. 9:1 is also used in
a. Luke 24:49, and
b. Acts 1:8.
Q. Mk. 9:1, Luke 24:49, and Acts 18 are all similar in language.
R. In fact, as you are finding Luke 24 and Acts 1, I will summarize this information.
1. Some will be alive when the kingdom comes – Mark 9:1.
2. The kingdom will come with power.
3. Let’s look at Luke 24:49 together – READ
4. This verse describes a time after the Lord’s resurrection.
5. 49A speaks of the “Father’s promise.”
6. This promise is not specified.
7. We do know what two of God’s promises were.
8. Jesus promised “power.”
9. The word translated “power” here is the same word in Mark 9:1.
10. These two references fit very nicely together.
S. The Father’s Promise – Power is coming – Wait for it.
T. Let’s go to Acts 1 and look at verses 3-4, 8 – READ.
1. Here Jesus “spoke about the kingdom.”
2. Disciples were to “wait” and “would receive power.”
U. At this point, the power had not yet come. The Kingdom was in their future.
V. Let’s now move to Acts 2:1.
1. The disciples were “waiting.”
2. Verses 3-4 of Acts 2 tells us that the power came – READ.
3. Let’s also go to verse 33 – READ.
W. Jesus said first century people would be alive when the kingdom came.
X. The people described in Acts 2 were first century people.
Y. Jesus said that the kingdom would come with power.
Z. Here is power that fits what the Lord described.
A. Acts 2 tells us of the kingdom that came.
B. It is no accident that this chapter closes with the words, QUOTE.
C. The Lord added to the “church” (or we can use the word, “kingdom”).
D. In scripture, “kingdom” and “church” are sometimes synonyms.
E. Acts 2 is an example of this.
F. Matthew 26 is another example of “kingdom” and “church” meaning the same things.
1. Jesus said that He would not partake of the supper with the disciples until in the kingdom.
2. There, “kingdom” means church, and that’s obvious.
3.
4. Going back to Mk. 9:1, we have yet another example.
5. If the church is not the fulfillment of that verse, what is?
6. What, besides the church, did first century people see before their deaths?
G. Church and kingdom are often used to describe the same thing.
H. Having said this, I must offer this word of caution.
I. Church and kingdom do not ALWAYS refer to the same thing.
J. Some very sincere brethren have been careless (misled).
K. I have heard it said that the “Kingdom is the church and the church is the kingdom.”
L. This is true in many places; IT IS NOT ALWAYS TRUE.
M. Before I offer some examples, let’s define a word.
1. What does the word “kingdom” mean?
2. It means, “reign, the kingly rule of God.”
3. If we understand this definition, we avoid error.
4. Scripture may speak of Christ’s “reign in the church.”
5. In this context, “kingdom” and “church” would be interchangeable.
6. We could also speak of “God’s reign of the whole world.”
7. In this context “kingdom” would mean a whole lot more than church.
N. Here are some Bible examples.
1. Jesus spoke of the kingdom in John 3:3 – QUOTE.
2. It should be clear that “kingdom” in this text is the church.
3. Back in Mt. 13, Jesus mentioned the kingdom in a parable.
4. Listen carefully to Mt. 13:24 – READ.
O. Jesus compares the “kingdom of heaven” to a field.
P. If the kingdom is always equal to the church,
Q. This “field” should “represent the church”.
R. Listen to what Jesus said the field was in His parable – v. 38.
S. Here, the
T. This should not perplex us.
U. “Kingdom” means God’s rule; His reign; where He has authority.
1. Sometimes only the church part of God’s reign is in view.
2. In other places, God’s entire rule (authority) is being discussed.
3. Another place where kingdom cannot mean church is Mt. 8:11.
4. Here, Jesus describes 3 patriarchs; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
V. To make my point, I am going to substitute the word “church” for “kingdom of heaven.”
W. READ. “Church” in this verse makes no sense at all.
X. These three men were dead long before the New Testament church existed.
Y. “Kingdom” in this passage refers to all who are saved.
Z. I Cor. 6:9 speaks of us inheriting the kingdom, which makes no sense as the “church.”
III. JESUS IS A KING, AND HE HAS A KINGDOM. IF WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE LORD’S KINGDOM, WHERE SALVATION IS, THERE ARE SOME CONDITIONS TO BE MET.
A. Going back to John 3:3, we have these words – QUOTE.
B. How can a man be “born anew?”
C. How is a “second birth” possible?
D. The king tells us how in verse 5 – QUOTE.
E. We must be born of God’s spirit. How is that done?
F. Through the word of God.
G. James 1:18 says we are “brought forth by the word of truth.”
H. To get into God’s kingdom, we must be taught.
I. We must possess some knowledge about God, His will and sin.
J. If we believe what we are taught, we must act.
K. Our belief leads to repentance (a change of life).
L. The final step that puts us into the kingdom is in verse 5 of John 3.
M. We must be “born of water” (baptized).
N. Without baptism, we are not in Jesus’ church (with the saved in the kingdom).
O. Baptism is a dividing line.
CONCLUSION:
1. If you have never crossed this line,
2. Jesus the King continues to invite you to do so.
3. He wants you to be with the saved in the kingdom.
4. He wants to share what He has with you. Will you accept His offer?