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Scripture: Matthew 4:17
'For that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."' Matthew 4:17What we need is more understanding to understand this short message.
1. The life of the audience
There's something we shouldn't miss out when we are studying on a bible verse. It is the life of the audience at that time. If you are walking on Philistine's streets during Jesus' time, you can see armed soldiers around the street. These soldiers were not Philistine soldiers nor Jewish soldiers, they are Roman soldiers. Why are the Roman soldiers walking n the Jewish streets? It is because the Jews are under the control of the Roman Empire. With this fact, we can know one thing: that people have to pay tax to Herod and to Roman emperor. They have to pay double tax. It was burden to them and it is a very uncomfortable fact about tax. Roman emperor did not collect tax directly but by other means that is the tax collector. Instead, Roman emperor gather the money through the tax collector. Do you think the tax collector only collect the proper tax from other people? No! They make other items,they add other item about tax. They steal people's lot. And there's another uncomfortable fact about tax. Jewish tax problem was worse than other colonies. When we compare the tax payment with other colony, Jews must pay more than other colony. It was because of King Herod. Herod came from Edom. He was not Jewish so He had weak foundation in politics and needed help from Roman Empire so he promised He would pay more tax to the Roman Emperor. At that time, the people were burdened because of tax, because of politician, because of religious people. We can say in one word about Jesus' time is CHAOS.In this chaotic situation, Jesus proclaimed this, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
2. Greek Bible
We need to compare with the Greek Bible. In Matthew 4:17, there are two verbs: "Repent" and "is". We read this verse in NIV (New International Version) but if you see the Greek Bible, you can see that there are difference in tense. You can see that the tense is in present form but if you see the Greek Bible, it is different. According to the Greek Bible, "repent" is in the present form but the "is" is different. That is the kingdom of heaven is close. Instead, "the Kingdom of Heaven has already come." Can you see the difference? It is in the perfect form. "The kingdom of heaven has already come."3. Compare Jesus' sermon to John the Baptist
We need to compare Jesus' message and John the Baptist message. We can see that it looked the same: Matthew 3:2 and Matthew 4:17. They're message is the same: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near." It looked the same but it is different. This short sermon has two sentence. First sentence is "Repent." Second sentence is "For the kingdom of heaven is near." According to the Greek Bible, "Kingdom of heaven has already come." Yes, there are two sentences.It looked same. John and Jesus delivered the same message, but it is said that is different. What is the difference?
The emphasis was different. John the Baptist emphasized "Repent." but Jesus emphasized the second phrase, "The kingdom of heaven has has come."
'But when many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?"' (Matthew 3:7)
"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that our of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (Matthew 3:8-10)
What was John emphasizing? - Repentance.
How about Jesus Christ?
'Jesus went out to Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news if the kingdom, and healing every diseases and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures and paralyzed, he healed them." (Matthew 4:23-24)
What is their difference? Jesus message. It was the revelation of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus shown the kingdom of God through himself. So he said to the messenger, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard" (Luke 7:22). At that time, John was in prison so he sent people to ask Jesus, "Who are you?" Then Jesus told the messenger, "Go back and report what they have seen and heard: The blind received sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good is preached to the poor." (Luke 7:22)
What is this? Revelation of kingdom of heaven. Even though they have the same message but they emphasis is different. John the Baptist emphasize repentance but Jesus Christ emphasize kingdom of heaven - how to express kingdom of heaven. He has shown the kingdom of heaven through him.
It was already said the fair amount of audience at that time. There life was terrible. They'e burdened because of tax. Their ordinary lives are considering because of poverty, poor, weak. They don't have money. It is the same like us. But Jesus said, "Kingdom of Heaven has come. It has already come." Even though people look this way or that or everywhere, there's no kingdom of heaven. But Jesus said, "Kingdom of Heaven has come. It already come. The kingdom of heaven is here." If you were to ask him, "where is kingdom of heaven?" "You see my situation, my environment." "I'm still lacking money." "I lost my job." "I need money to pay tax." "How about our political situation." "How can you say that kingdom of heaven has come upon now already?"
"But if i drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of heaven has come upon you." (Matthew 12:28)
"Where is the kingdom of heaven? I try to see the kingdom of heaven, but where is the kingdom of heaven."
Do you understand their question? You might have understood because we have the same question. Jesus Christ didn't come to us to change our environment. Jesus Christ didn't come to change our situation. But He came to us to change us, our being, our self.
"Lord, our environment is the same." Your situation is the same, but when we come to God, when you repent of your sins and decided to come back to God, then God will change, not your environment, but He will change you.
Where is kingdom of heaven? Kingdom of Heaven has come upon you. You are Kingdom of Heaven. We are Kingdom of Heaven. If you give all the authority to God, He will sit at the center of our lives. He govern everything inside us. "Who are you?" You are kingdom of heaven, we are kingdom of heaven. If you allow God to sit at the center of the throne inside of you, God will come upon you, He will rule everything inside us. Then you are the kingdom of heaven, we are the kingdom of heaven. Remember: our Lord Jesus Christ did not come to change our environment or situation but he come to you to change your being and yourself. So kingdom of heaven has come upon you.
Remember: You are kingdom of heaven.
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