Kingdom Righteousness

Summary and Key Points

1. Concise Summary:

The document reviews Matthew 18 focusing on the nature of the kingdom, focusing on humility like children, avoiding causing others to stumble, the importance of church discipline aligned with God’s authority, and the triumph of forgiveness over judgment. It then transitions to Matthew 19-20, highlighting Jesus' final journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. This journey, while sparsely detailed in Matthew, is rich in lessons contrasting outward righteousness with inner, heartfelt righteousness. The document focuses on nine incidents during this journey that reveal aspects of kingdom character, including compassion, the sanctity of marriage (and the exception of sexual immorality), the acceptance of either marriage or celibacy as a gift, the importance of children in the kingdom, the dangers of wealth and entitlement in service, the reality of Jesus' upcoming suffering, and the dangers of selfish ambition.

2. Key Points (Bullet Form):

  • Matthew 18 Review:
    • Greatness in the Kingdom comes through humility like children.
    • “Woes” are upon those who cause “little ones” to stumble.
    • Church discipline (binding/loosing) must align with Heaven’s authority.
    • Kingdom mercy triumphs over judgment through forgiveness.
  • Matthew 16 vs 18 Church Authority
    • Matthew 16 is the universal church
    • Matthew 18 is the local church
  • Matthew 19-20: Last Journey:
    • Focuses on Jesus' journey from Galilee to Jerusalem through Judaea.
    • Matthew’s gospel highlights 9 incidents.
  • Key Incidents and Kingdom Principles (Matt 19-20):
    • Compassion is demonstrated through healing.
    • Marriage is sacred, reflecting God’s original intention (divorce is addressed, exception being sexual immorality).
    • Either marriage or celibacy can be a valid calling received as a gift of grace (eunuch for the kingdom).
    • Children are important and should be blessed in the kingdom.
    • Wealth and reward can be snares in kingdom service.
    • Jesus' passion is foreshadowed.
    • Selfish ambition is a temptation to avoid in service.
    • The underlying principle is that with God all things are possible: Kingdom righteousness cannot be achieved by human effort.
    • Principles of the kingdom supercede laws of men, especially the law of Moses.
    • Forgiveness is derived from a heart that has first received mercy.
  • Nature of the Kingdom
    • The kingdom involves both mercy and judgment.

3. Main Conclusions or Takeaways:

  • Heartfelt Righteousness: The document emphasizes the importance of internal righteousness over mere outward adherence to rules. The Kingdom demands a transformation of the heart, not just actions.
  • Grace as Foundation: True Kingdom living is only possible through God’s grace. Human effort and adherence to laws alone are insufficient.
  • The Kingdom’s Counter-Cultural Values: The values of the Kingdom often stand in stark contrast to worldly values (e.g., humility vs. ambition, generosity vs. greed).
  • Serving with the Right Motives: The pitfalls of wealth, entitlement, and ambition can corrupt Kingdom service. Pure motives are essential.
  • Forgiveness as Essential: Forgiveness is not optional but a requirement of life in the church and demonstrates God’s grace received.
  • All Things are Possible: True kingdom living is only possible through God’s grace