Matthew’s Church & The Kingdom of God

Chapter 5 “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

50 years after Jesus’ Death & Resurrection

Jesus’ disciples remembered his promise to return i.e., the second coming: parousia 50 years, and Jesus’ coming “soon”

hasn’t happened Jesus’ followers gathered stories and

traditions around Jesus teaching of the ”church”

Apocalyptic Literature

Read over the section on page 90. What are the highlights?

Kingdom of Heaven

Aramaic was the language of the time Out of respect for God’s name, phrases

like: “God reigns,” “the LORD is King” were

avoided Instead: “the kingdom of God has

come” Ergo: “kingdom of heaven / God” is not

a place but a symbol or metaphor for God!

The Kingdom of God

The central image of Jesus’ message remember:

“Kingdom of God = God” for Jesus “The kingdom of God is among you”

(Lk. 17.21) or “the kingdom of God has come to you” (Mt. 12.28) really means:

“God is now acting among you!” God is not distant, but near

The Coming of God

Revealed in the person of Jesus In his teachings And in his actions

The end is not in some future Jesus is one in whom the kingdom

has taken on flesh and bones Jesus had an authority about him

that drew people to him

Matthew & “kingdom of heaven”

Matt. Doesn’t use “kingdom of God”

He uses “kingdom of heaven.”

Remember : the terms are interchangeable

They highlight: awe and respect owed to the holy name of God.

Kingdom of heaven & the Church

The Church Matthew speaks of is not the same as the kingdom of God

The Church The people who follow Jesus’ way Accept the free gift of God’s salvation

Paul calls those gathered in the Church the “first fruits” (1. Cor.15.20) The community in whom God is at work

The ethics of the kingdom of heaven

Matthew 5-7Pages 92 to 98Let’s read through and discuss!