Day 229 – Matthew: Message and ministry of Jesus
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 NLT
Read Matthew 4:12 to Matthew 25:46
As you begin reading Chapter 4, you are on the road with Matthew as Jesus starts His ministry on earth and immediately provides the account of the Sermon on the Mount, laying a theological foundation for why Jesus came. Jesus’s message taught His listeners about living in His Kingdom.
Matthew also meticulously gives an account of Jesus’s parables about the difference between His Kingdom and that of the world. Forgiveness, peace, and putting others first are some of the characteristics that make up the foundation of God’s Kingdom. And to attain his, we must live by God’s standards right now – as if we are already in His Kingdom. From this Gospel, we see that Jesus came to show us how to live as faithful citizens of His Kingdom here on earth. His full kingdom will be realised at His return and will consist of everyone who has faithfully followed him. The Gospel of Matthew also records the most references to hell for those who deny God.
The way to enter God’s Kingdom is by faith – believing in Christ to save us from sin and change our lives. What we do here is all preparation for God’s Kingdom.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the Beatitudes and that we can learn what it is to be a citizen of Heaven, even though we are in this world. Teach us to use these truths as we try to become more Christlike, but mostly when we introduce Jesus to others through our words and actions. Write this on our hearts so it can influence everything we do for You. Amen.
