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Phrase Used in Matthew only

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by gb93433, Jul 19, 2010.

  1. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    Matthew uses the phrases "gospel of the kingdom" 3 times and "kingdom of heaven" 32 times. They are not used anywhere else in the NT. Why?
     
    #1 gb93433, Jul 19, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 19, 2010
  2. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    The answer lies in Matthew's purpose, style, audience, etc.

    That would take a whole lot of discussion.

    peace to you:praying:
     
  3. preachinjesus

    preachinjesus Well-Known Member
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    Pretty much what canadyjd said.

    Keep in mind Matthew's audience were Jewish. The Kingdom language was already deeply ensconced in a 2nd Temple Judiastic mindset. Matthew developed his Gospel along those lines.

    When one reads Luke compared to Matthew the influence of the 2nd Temple mindset becomes, imho, pretty convincing. I think there's a lot to that.
     
  4. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    It's unclear to me what you mean by 'a 2nd Temple Judiastic mindset'. Would you mind explaining it to me?
     
  5. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    The gospel of the kingdom in Matthew is the same gospel preached throughout the scriptures, there is only ONE gospel.

    Matt 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
    2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.


    Hyper-dispensationalists try to claim that John and Jesus were preaching another gospel in Matthew, but Paul shows that they were preaching the same gospel he preached in Acts.

    Acts 19:4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

    As you can see, John the Baptist was preaching the same gospel as Paul, that people should believe on Jesus Christ.
     
  6. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    Attaboy, Winman. You are right on.

    The gospel of the kingdom is the gospel of the King of Kings.
     
  7. Bro K

    Bro K New Member

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    Could you give the definition for the word "Gospel" and what is meant by "the Kingdom" Thanks
     
  8. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    Gospel simply means good news or good tidings.

    The kingdom of God is far more difficult to explain, great scholars and great men of God have debated over this for centuries. I am neither.

    Personally, I think the kingdom of God is having the indwelling Holy Spirit and being a member of the body of Christ. It is becoming a new citizen in a new country.

    Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
    21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.


    When the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God should come, he told them it is not something outward you can see with your eyes, but is within you. Well, what is within us but the Spirit of God?

    Eph 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
    19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;


    As I said, this is a very controversial subject, but this is how I understand it.
     
  9. Bro K

    Bro K New Member

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    That's my thinking. Concerning the kingdom of Heaven, I lean toward it being the kingdom Christ will establish upon his return to earth. Thanks for the response.
     
  10. Winman

    Winman Active Member

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    You're welcome, but just remember that this is my best guess as to what kingdom of God means. Some say this term has several applications and that may well be true.

    You know, in another thread I have been debating about Lordship salvation. Now, I don't think you have to promise Jesus you will stop sinning to get saved, because you will just end up a liar if you do that. But I do believe that when you receive Christ you do become part of his kingdom and now he is our King and we are supposed to obey him.

    But imagine an immigrant coming here and becoming a citizen. It takes a while to learn a new country and how it operates. There are many things you have to learn like the langauage, currency, customs...

    And this is how I think it is when we get saved. We are now under a new King and we have to learn his rules. This takes a little while. Some learn faster than others. I work with two Polish fellows who have both been here about the same amount of time. One can speak the language very well and you can hold a conversation on any subject. The other fellow can barely speak any English at all. So, a lot of it depends on individual effort.

    Jesus told us when we pray to pray for God's kingdom to come, but he also told us to pray that God's will be done. If he is our King, it is our duty to obey him.

    Matt 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

    When you become the citizen of a new nation, you are obligated to follow the laws of that nation as a citizen.
     
  11. Webers_Home

    Webers_Home New Member

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    Response to gb93433

    .
    RE: Matthew uses the phrases "gospel of the kingdom" 3 times and "kingdom of heaven" 32 times. They are not used anywhere else in the NT. Why?

    Matthew's is also the only one of the four narratives to contain a genealogy linking Jesus to Solomon.

    †. Mtt 1:6-16 . . . David the king begat Solomon . . . and Solomon begat Roboam . . . and Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary.

    The genealogy in Matthew begins by labeling Jesus as "Christ" which is the equivalent of the koiné Greek word Christos which in turn is the equivalent of the Hebrew word mashiyach which means: anointed (smeared with oil). In Jesus' case, anointing indicates his selection by God as the ultimate king of the Davidic dynasty.

    †. Luke 1:32-33 . .The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.

    David's kingdom has never been a celestial kingdom; no, not at all. Its jurisdiction has always been on the earth, and his throne was situated in the city of Jerusalem. However, though David's throne was in Jerusalem, occupied by human beings, it is specifically labeled the throne of God.

    †. 1Chrn 19:23 . .Solomon successfully took over the throne of Yhvh as king in his father David's place; and all went well with him.

    Just in case you haven't caught on yet, I'll just come right out and say it: the kingdom of God (a.k.a. the kingdom of heaven) pertains to David's kingdom, the very one that Jesus inherited: which will ultimately rule not only the house of Jacob; but every creature on earth.

    †. Dan 7:13-14 . . In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of Adam, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted into His presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power— all peoples, nations and men of every language shall worship him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is the one that will never be destroyed.

    So then, Jesus has already undergone coronation; but for the time being he's cooling his heels with God until the time is just right for installing him on David's throne as per Psalm 2.

    †. Rev 22:16 . . I am the root and the offspring of David.

    The "root" to which Jesus refers is located in the Old Testament.

    †. Isa 11:10-12 . . And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

    The "gospel of the kingdom" then, pertaines to David's ultimate successor; the king of the Jews.

    †. Matt 21:1-5 . . As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them: Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a burro tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.

    . . . This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: Say to the daughter of Zion: See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a burro, on a colt, the foal of a burro.

    C.L.I.F.F.
    /
     
  12. RAdam

    RAdam New Member

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    The kingdom of God is here now. However, there is a sense in which the kingdom will come in its fullest sense when Jesus returns from heaven. All other kingdoms, which are really just different offshoots of the same kingdom (the kingdom which gets its power and authority from Satan), will be destroyed finally in that day and the only kingdom left will be the only spiritual and eternal kingdom, that being the kingdom of God.
     
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