Feb 8, 2015 The Gospel of Matthew – Bridge from the Old, Prelude to the New…
During Sunday’s message Pastor Bruce reflected on the importance of the gospel of Matthew from it’s strategic placement in the Bible as the very 1st book in the New Testament, to it’s importance in bridging the gap between the Old and the New, and ending the 400 years of silence. He also spoke of the importance of Matthew’s gospel as a prelude for all the events that were to come. He reminded us that we need to go through the gospel of Matthew before we can go on the gospel of Mark or any other New Testament author. If we go around Matthew , we are missing the link, the bridge that connects the Old from the New.
He talked about how the gospel writer had used 128 references to the Old Testament, prophecies, etc – that linked Jesus to the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. He talked about how Matthew focused on clearly identifying Jesus as the Jewish Messiah that so many of the Old Testament prophets had talked about. The gospel was written by a Jew, addressed to the Jewish people, about the promised Jewish Messiah. Matthew also used the phrase Kingdom of Heaven instead of Kingdom of God.
During his message, Pastor Bruce outlined how Jesus addressed:
- Matthew 5-7 (Members of the kingdom)
- Matthew 10 (Mission of the kingdom)
- Matthew 13 (Parables of the kingdom)
- Matthew 18 (The Kingdom community – the “church”)
- Matthew 23-25 (The Kingdom’s future)
Pastor Bruce’s message was a prelude, a preparation for bringing to us the words and the prophecies surrounding the fall of Jerusalem and end time events. His message was to put the coming events into perspective by examining the past, by more closely examining “His story” through the eyes of Matthew.
For me, setting the stage through the eyes and the pen of Matthew puts those coming messages, the coming events into a much clearer perspective. Matthew saw, he touched, he experienced all there was to experience of this Jewish Messiah. As a Jew, he lived the hope of an earthly, political savior; as a tax collector he also lived the rejection of the Jewish elect. As a believer, he experienced the compassion and mercy of the true Jewish Messiah. Matthew brought a perspective that was able to demonstrate the difference between the Jesus the Messiah as the anticipated earthly king and political savior of the Jewish people vs. the promised Messiah that would usher in a spiritual kingdom of Heaven. Matthew was to gain an understanding of the difference between political freedom and spiritual freedom, the true freedom gained through Jesus Christ. Through the eyes and words of Matthew, our Heavenly Father promises to do the same for us.
Pastor Bruce challenged us to spend some time this week in Matthew’s gospel. I promise to meet that challenge!
How about each one of you?
I am looking forward to the coming weeks as Pastor Bruce leads us through the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 23-25.
Thanks Pastor Bruce!.