Guide de l'enseignant

The King and His Kingdom

Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew

Each gospel writer presents Jesus from different perspectives. Matthew focuses on the royal nature of the Lord and how He established His Kingdom here on earth. Our course will examine Jesus as King and the nature of His Kingdom.

The Kingdom in Conflict

In this lesson, we begin to see the "push back" from the Jewish religious leaders in response to Jesus' popularity and effectiveness in establishing His kingdom through His teaching and miracles.
Guide par :

Stratégie d'enseignement

The focus of this lesson is a continued review of the initial actions of our Lord as He began His ministry. Of special note in this lesson is the selection of the apostles and their initial mission as Jesus sent them out to preach the gospel and heal the sick as confirmation of their ministry.

Résultats de l'apprentissage des étudiants

  • Know: Understand the impact of the initial activities of Jesus as He began His ministry.
  • Feel: Defend the deity of Jesus as evidenced by His teachings and actions.
  • Do: Develop a deeper and more active faith in Jesus our Lord.

Corps de la leçon

1.0 - Review of previous key points
2.0 - Sending out of the apostles
2.1 - Granting power
2.2 - Instructions
2.3 - Warnings about responses
2.4 - Instructions for their response
3.0 - Reasons for negative responses to the gospel
4.0 - Application

Questions à discuter

Vous trouverez ci-dessous des suggestions de questions à utiliser pendant la partie de la leçon consacrée à la discussion guidée. Vous trouverez également des suggestions de réponses aux questions pour aider les élèves à saisir les différents concepts. Ces réponses sont fournies pour faciliter la discussion et ne sont pas considérées comme des réponses "justes ou fausses".

1. How are the characteristics of the Apostles like us today as members of God's Kingdom?

The intent of this question is to further illustrate that we work as servants of the Master. We respond to His will and timeline for us. The apostles came from a wide variety of backgrounds possessing the raw materials to further the Kingdom of God. Left alone they had no specific interest or indication that they would become the instruments of God's will. As their knowledge of Jesus grew and their understanding of their role, they grew to be what God wanted them to become.

Today, each of us come from a variety of backgrounds and possess the raw materials for the Master to use. Our education, experience and abilities can be used to serve God as He needs. Part of the refining process we go through is how we learn to interact and support one another, adapt our abilities to meet each other's needs and to use them as a body to meet our mission for the Lord.

Paul teaches this in Romans 12. He begins by saying we present ourselves as a living sacrifice. We are transformed to learn and obey God's will. We grow in the grace God offers us. We develop the characteristics of true Christian servants. We then reach out to others, no matter the circumstances or abilities, to bring the gospel to them.

Paul teaches us in I Corinthians 12 that we possess gifts from God for use in His service. We sometimes want to be gifted with wonderful gifts and powers but that isn't God's plan. The simple and routine become magnified by God's power (II Corinthians 4:7).

Paul teaches us in Ephesians 4 that God has given us not only different gifts, but different roles. We are to use these to equip the saints to fulfill our role in God's Kingdom.

2. What are some similarities between the early ministry of Jesus and the initial period of the church in Acts 2:42-47?

There will be various insights into this comparison but look for elements of the following. Both periods began with little resistance. His popularity first grew as God's power was seen in Him and what Jesus taught was heard. The miracles He performed, and the numbers of disciples grew as His ministry spread throughout the nation. In Acts 2 we see the apostles teaching and performing miracles and signs. The numbers of disciples grew significantly. In both cases, it did not take long for Satan to begin a counterattack. In both cases Satan worked through the established religion of the day to deliver his first attack against Jesus and His disciples and then, later on, against the young church.

3. Read Matthew 10:2-4 and answer the following questions:
Why did Jesus appoint twelve men as His apostles?

This number symbolized the twelve tribes of Israel. Later, in Acts 1:15-18, Peter pointed this out as they chose Matthias to replace Judas Iscariot.

What is significant about the title, "apostle"?

This title designates someone as a representative of the Master who has power from the Master and the right (and responsibility) to use it. Note: In this case, it was an additional indication of the deity of Jesus as He transferred spiritual and physical power to another. Later, the apostles could transfer some spiritual gifts to others, but they in turn were not able to transfer those powers to other disciples.

What is signified by the order of the listing of the apostles?

In each listing of the apostles, Peter is named first. The other apostles are sequenced according to their closeness to Jesus. The first four were His "inner-circle" that were with Him at significant events in His ministry. The lists that include Judas Iscariot always list him last and include the indictment of his role in the betrayal and death of Jesus. Note: Their ranking, however, does not indicate a lower level of power or responsibility.

What role did the apostles fulfill in beginning of the Kingdom?

They were eyewitnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. They were instrumental in establishing and facilitating the growth of the church. They confirmed and recorded the teachings of Jesus for future generations.

4. Read Matthew 10:5-42and answer the following questions:
Who were the apostles to go to and why? (vs. 5-6)

They were to go to Jews only, not gentiles or Samaritans. This was to fulfill the prophecy from Joel 2:28-32.

What power did the apostles have and why? (vs. 8)

They had the power to perform similar miracles that Jesus performed as a confirmation His message and demonstrate His authority over sin, disease and nature.

What were the apostles to take with them and why? (vs. 9-10)

They were to take no money, luggage, extra clothing, shoes or staffs. This showed their reliance on the power and resources that Jesus provided them. This arrangement helped them place their entire reliance on God to supply their everyday needs.

What were they to do when they arrived at a city or village? (vs. 11-15)

They were to inquire who was worthy and stay at their house (worthy means willing to listen and believe). They were to bless the house if worthy and disregard those not worthy.

How did some react to the message of the apostles and how does that relate to us today? (vs. 26-39)

Some rejected their message and even persecuted them for it. However, they had to go anyways. This is still our charge today. Regardless of the situation or possible negative outcome, we are to look for opportunities to carry the gospel of Christ to all the world, where we can, when we can and as we can. This is the primary responsibility of disciples then, and now. The end result of this is that the preaching of the gospel will spread the borders of the Kingdom. The gospel will also cause division as some in families will believe and others will not. Division is not the purpose of the gospel but it is often the result.

Why does the gospel bring division and what is our response?

They (and we) are not to be surprised by their response. Some at that time rejected our Lord and will also reject Him today. Those who carry the message should not be surprised or discouraged by this.

What is demanded by the gospel and what is the reward of those who receive our Lord?

The gospel demands loyalty. Although the apostles had authority and power as representatives of Jesus, they did not have the authority or power to deviate from His message. Later, as the apostles took on the role Jesus intended for them, they did exercise authority given them by Jesus to carry out their mission. This also was power given to them by God (Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18). One thing that does not change is that those that receive our Lord will be rewarded. This is a promise that may not be fulfilled in one's lifetime, but like all promises by God, it will be fulfilled.

5. How can you use this lesson to grow spiritually and help others come into a relationship with Jesus?

This passage reflects a charge given to the apostles that would eventually be made their mission. It is now our role to continue with this charge (Matthew 28:18-20) as faithful disciples. The charge to trust in our Lord and His message, and to stay faithful to the task will result in the same outcomes: God is glorified, souls are brought into a relationship with God and we will be rewarded as faithful servants.