Thy Kingdom Come Part Three Series

V. The Cultivation of the King’s Disciples 16:13-20:34

A. Peter’s confession of Christ 16:13-20

Peter’s confession of Christ as king exposes the Fathers revelation concerning the foundation of the church. It also suggests that Jesus is the Son of the living God; therefore all things are given unto his hands. This is important in context because it reveals that Jesus Christ is the rock in which the church is founded upon. Contrary to the flesh of men but the Father who is in heaven thereby the church would stand against the very prevalence of hell.

B. Jesus predicts his death 16:21-28

Jesus predicts His death reveals his suffering from the elders, priests and scribes. However on the third day he would be raised from the death. Jesus rebuke of Peter concerning His death suggests his observation was not of God but those of men. This is important in contextually for the coming kingdom because if we are to be Disciples of Christ there must be a denial of self in humble servitude of others. Therefore who ever save his life will lose it, who ever lose his life for the sake of Christ will gain eternal life.

C. The Transfiguration 17:1-13

Jesus along with Peter, James and John experience the transfiguration suggests the Messiah as the glorified Son of the Father greater than Moses had come. This is important in context because it reflects the future of the kingdom of God, suggesting that Moses was faithful as a servant in God’s house, but Christ is faithful as a Son over God’s house.

D. The healing of a boy with a demon 17:14-23

The story of healing the boy who was possessed with demons illustrates failures of religious presumptions. Jesus disappointment with his disciples not being able to cast out the demons reveals their lack of faith. This is important in contextually for the kingdom because we must recognize it is the words from Jesus that gives us spiritual powers not from human presumption.

E. The temple tax 17:24-27

The temple was the center of Jewish worship, and its maintenance was costly. A tax was levied on every male above nineteen. In context the key element of the passage, that the new community, the new Israel which Jesus was creating, was free in the world, answering to its own king. The relationship with the Messiah superseded the relationship to the temple, and God, as Sovereign King, Lord over the temple, does not exact payment from His Son or the sons of the kingdom.

F. The need for humility 18:1-14

This new teaching on humility suggests how costly the kingdom of heaven is therefore the coming kingdom is different from the patterns of the world. This is important in context because we must be willing to fellowship with those who are forgotten and be willing to forgive in act of humility.

G. The need for discipline 18:15-20

As it relates to discipline, the community must know how to deal with failure. It also suggests patterns for reconciliation with our brother who sins against us. When there is a fault between brothers, we must act with responsibly to initiate action for restoration.

H. The need for forgiveness 18:21-35

The nature of forgiveness is a most profound aspect of reconciling grace. To forgive means that one genuinely loves and this love can move beyond the issue to the person, and that one cares more about the person than about what he or she has done. This is important for the kingdom because forgiveness liberates. Forgiveness frees the person for options of living.

I. The question of divorce 19:1-12

This passage deals with marriage and divorce, with sexual abstinence or celibacy, and with the beauty of children and family. This is important in context because Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount regarding the God-given covenant of love and the sanctity of the marriage relationship as indissoluble.

J. The little children blessed 19:13-15

The blessing of the children suggests that the kingdom would be compared to it. “Let the little children come to me for such is the kingdom of heaven.”

K. The rich young ruler 19:16-30

The story of the rich you ruler is a story of the cost of discipleship. For the rich young ruler, the issue was the idolizing of wealth and lack of compassion for the needy. As it relates to the kingdom of heaven one must “sell what you have and give to the poor” as he advised Nicodemus.

L. The parable of the landowner 20:1-16

This parable is unique of the kingdom of God presenting the nature of God’s grace. By sending laborers into his vineyard all through the day as he finds them unemployed in the marketplace. In context at the end of the day he paid the last first, an aspect of the story arranged for emphasis.