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The
Gospel Observer
"Go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations...teaching them to
observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with
you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew
28:19-20, NASB).
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April 14, 2019
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Contents:
1) Matthew's "Good News" of Jesus Christ (Luther W. Martin)
2) The Father of the Prodigal Son (an excerpt from Luke 15:20-24)
3) Audio Sermons by Gene Taylor
4) News & Notes
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-1-
Matthew's "Good News" of Jesus Christ
Luther W. Marti n
The first book of the New Testament, was written by Matthew, a
resident of Capernaum. At this time, the Roman government had
established a custom-house at Capernaum, and Matthew, a publican,
had been appointed as a resident deputy (portitor), a collector of
taxes, for the Romans. Portitors were not popular among their own
people; they seemed to have "sold out" to their conquerors by
collecting taxes for Rome from their own kinsmen, the Jews.
Alexander the Great through his military conquests several centuries
before Christ, had spread the Greek language throughout the
Mediterranean World. Now, Rome had conquered the "civilized" world,
and had forced Roman laws (civil and military), as well as politics,
throughout its territories. And, although the koine Greek, was the
language of politics, commerce, and even religion; it would be
several centuries before the Latin Language would begin its
ascendency.
Matthew Wrote To Convince The Jews About Christ
It is not known whether Matthew's biography of Christ was the first
to be written, or not. Some scholars have thought that it preceded
Mark and Luke. In any event, Matthew, Mark, and Luke's biographies
of Christ are called "synoptic gospels," because they generally
cover the same sequence of events in the life of Christ, while
John's biography of Christ approaches the subject from a different
perspective.
As a tax collector under Herod Antipas, Matthew possessed a fluent
ability in Aramaic or Hebrew Languages, as well as the commonly
spoken koine Greek. Like most of the Jewish people, Matthew eagerly
awaited the coming Messiah and King; and anticipated the
establishment of a kingdom, that would be military, and political;
and would possess such strength, that it would conquer all of its
neighbors.
The Book of Matthew serves as a vital connection between the Old and
New Covenants. Beginning with the very first verse, it is designed
to interest the Jews: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ,
the Son of David, the Son of Abraham" because the Jews had long
heard and read from the Old Testament prophets, how their King would
be a descendant of King David ... harking back to the "glory days"
of Israel and Judah, in their expectations!
The Gospel according to Matthew, would also provide a relationship
between the Law of Moses and the Gospel of Christ; and this would
prove to be particularly applicable to the Jews. Mark's biography of
Christ, would be written in a style and manner to appeal to the
Romans, and Luke's biography would be directed toward the Greeks.
This would leave John's "spiritual" biography, with its different
approach from the other three biographies, to bring to completion,
the Heaven-inspired record, described as: "these are written that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
believing you may have life in His name" (Jn. 20:31).
Matthew's Record Has Some Peculiarities
One unusual aspect of Matthew's biography of Christ, will be listed:
although there are some others.
Of the four biographical books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, only
Matthew uses the expression "Kingdom of Heaven" and it is used in
thirty-one verses! Neither Mark, Luke nor John make use of the
expression "Kingdom of Heaven!"
Matthew does use "Kingdom of God" five times; but the term "Kingdom
of Heaven" emphasizes a connotation that had a special appeal to the
Jews . . . for whom Matthew's biography, was especially written!
Ever since the prophet Daniel had written: "And in the days of these
kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be
destroyed" (Dan. 2:44); the Jewish people had been looking for, and
longing for, the prophetic kingdom! In fact, the very last question
asked by the Apostles of Jesus, just before he ascended into heaven,
was: "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to
Israel?" (Acts 1:6)
The expressions "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God" are
synonymous, they refer to the same thing; but specify some different
aspects and characteristics concerning this "kingdom" that would
also be designated as the Lord's ekklesia, the called-out
assembly, community, or church (called out of the world; called away
from carnality and worldliness).
May I suggest that by using the term "Heaven" to the Jews, who were
so all-wrapped-up in their thoughts of an earthly, political
kingdom, that inspiration was stressing the heavenly or spiritual
make-up of this kingdom! Jesus said: "If I have told you earthly
things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you
heavenly things?" (John 3:12) So, it appears that the "Kingdom of
Heaven" was used in contrast to earthly kingdoms.
A kingdom, possesses several attributes: (a) A king, as its ruler
and law-giver -- Christ! (b) The subjects; citizens who are obedient
to the King -- Christ! (c) The statutes or laws, as issued by the
King -- Gospel of Christ, contained in the New Testament! (d) The
territory (scope) of this kingdom; the minds of men! "The kingdom of
God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!'
or, 'See there!' For, indeed, the kingdom of God is within you"
(Luke 17:20-21), rather than a geographical realm.
Christ also proclaimed: "My kingdom is not of this world! If My
kingdom were of this world, then My servants would fight, so that I
should not be delivered to the Jews" (Jn. 18:36). Thus, Christ left
no question as to the nature of his kingdom! It was spiritual or
heavenly! This, I believe, is why Matthew exclusively used the
expression "Kingdom of Heaven" in writing to these
earthly-kingdom-anticipating Jews!
Matthew's biography of Christ's life, was specifically for
instructing the Jews of the first century, A.D. In the 24th chapter
of Matthew, the destruction of Jerusalem was predicted and
described. This event took place in 70 A.D., when the Roman Legions
over-ran Palestine.
— Via the Guardian of Truth XXXIII: 3, pp. 84-85,
February 2, 1989
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-2-
The Father of the Prodigal Son
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt
compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed
him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against
heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your
son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the
best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals
on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat
and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to
life again; he was lost and has been found. And they began to
celebrate" (Luke 15:20-24, NASB).
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-3-
Audio Sermons by Gene Taylor
We were glad to have Gene Taylor preach for us last week,
during our gospel meeting. He did an excellent job with each
of his lessons. And all of his audio sermons,
except one, can be accessed at the following website:
https://thomastedwards.wordpress.com/gospel-meetings/
Though there is no audio recording for the first one, there is a
PowerPoint presentation of it (with its 67 slides) that has also
been made available at the website above. Once there, just
click on the sermon of your choosing (below the
flyer-picture). They are as follows:
1) “An Unchanging Standard in a Changing World”
2) “A Kingdom Not of This World”
3) “Condemning the World”
4) “By This, All Men Will Know You Are My Disciples”
5) “Three Ways of Life”
6) “Living Life to the Fullest.”
Feel free to share these with anyone!
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-3-
News & Notes
It was reported that though John Stoval was finally able to
have cancer surgery, yet it appears that some had metastasized to
his brain.
Rick Cuthbertson, who had surgery almost a year ago, due to
cancer in his liver, now has a blood clot in his leg being tended
to.
Penny Medlock had recently been hospitalized here in
Waycross, due to some problems she was having; but had to later be
transferred to a hospital in Atlanta.
Others to also be praying for: the family and friends of Mary
Ellen Aldrich (Danny Bartlett's mother) who recently passed
away; Pat and A.J. Joyner; Jim Lively; James Medlock; Deborah
Medlock; Shirley Davis; Mary Vandevander; Michelle Rittenhouse;
Kayleigh Tanner; Amris Bedford; Danny Hutcheson; Roger Montgomery;
Rex and Frankie Hadley; and Tommy Lin
WordPress version of this week's bulletin:
https://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com/2019/04/14/the-gospel-observer-april-14-2019/
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The
Steps That
Lead to
Eternal
Salvation
1) Hear the
gospel, for
that is how
faith comes
(Rom. 10:17;
John
20:30-31).
2) Believe in
the deity of
Christ (John
8:24; John
3:18).
3) Repent of
sins (Luke
13:5; Acts
17:30).
4) Confess
faith in
Christ (Rom.
10:9-10; Acts
8:36-38).
5) Be baptized in
water for the
remission of
sins (Mark
16:16; Acts
2:38; 22:16;
Rom. 6:3-4;
Gal. 3:26-27;
1 Pet. 3:21).
6) Continue in
the faith, living
for the Lord;
for, if not,
salvation can
be lost (Heb.
10:36-39; Rev.
2:10; 2 Pet.
2:20-22).
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Tebeau
Street
CHURCH OF
CHRIST
1402 Tebeau
Street,
Waycross,
GA 31501
Sunday
services: 9:00
a.m. (Bible
class); 10
a.m. & 5
p.m. (worship)
Tuesday:
2
p.m.
(Ladies' Bible
class)
Wednesday: 7
p.m. (Bible
class)
evangelist/editor: Tom
Edwards (912)
281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
http://thegospelobserver.wordpress.com (Gospel
Observer
website with
pictures in
WordPress)
http://thomastedwards.com/go
(Older version
of Gospel
Observer
website
without
pictures, but
back to March
1990)
http://tebeaustreetchurchofchrist.org/
http://ThomasTEdwards.com/audioser.html
(audio sermon)