Matt:10:1-42 (v.23) text selection based on Uniform Series KJV
This account has to do with Christ”s ministry to the Jews: offering them as a nation the kingdom of heaven. It also goes beyond in prophesy to the time of the great tribulation (death, war, starvation,sickness, religious persecution) on earth after the church has been taken out of the world in what is called the rapture, some days before the second coming of Christ to earth in judgement.
Jesus calls His twelve apostles to a special temporary task: to preach the kingdom of heaven is at hand, do miracles of healing, raise the dead, and cast out demons. He tells them to go to the Jewish towns and forbids them to go to the Gentiles or Samaritans. This command was changed after the Jewish nation refused Him and He commanded them to go to all the world in the great commission (Matt.28:19).
The kingdom of Heaven is the reign of Christ in ordered society of government. Is it a political rule? Yes, but on spiritual polity and not carnal. The Sermon On The Mount gives the law of the Kingdom (Matt.5-7). The great commission defines it further. Matthew is the only one of the Gospels that defines the kingdom of heaven- it being Jewish and of special interest to the Jews who were selected as God”s kingdom nation. We who are members of a church are members of the kingdom in mystery form ( Matt. 13) composed of Jewish and Gentile believers, pending the return of Christ when the Kingdom will go back to the Jewish nation during the reign of Christ on earth. The Church, Christ’s bride, will rule with Him. We who are now believers would do well to look at our obligation to Kingdom Law, the sermon on the mount. No man can do this without the indwelling of Christ in the heart . The motive here is love to others, since we are not under law, to which we are crucified (Gal.2:20-21), law has no power to aid in obeying it. Love does.
The kingdom of heaven began in principle with father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Matt.8:11) It developed unseen with the Jews in slavery in Egypt and in full bloom with them coming out of Egypt with Moses- details of government in Exodus Leviticus and Numbers. It came to earthly establishment under David the king and Solomon. Because of continued wickedness the Glory of the Lord , (His presence in the Temple) departed the nation Israel-His kingdom no longer . Ezekiel saw it leave in a theophany (Ezek.9:3, 10:18). The kingdom of heaven gone but was offered to The Jews again by Christ; who, as we have shown, was refused. When Christ returns to earth the remainder of the Jewish nation still alive, by entirety, will receive Him and their glory days of the Kingdom of Heaven will continue until there is a new heaven and earth
Now we are to listen to what the Lord Says to the churches (Rev.1-3), and watch because we do not know the day or hour when will hear the trumpet sound and He will call us to “come up hither”-to our forever wonderful union with our Lord with judgement coming on the earth; too late them to work for Jesus in spreading His word here; too late for good works in a lost and dying world, so let us be diligent now to hold forth the words of life while it is called today. The night is coming when no man can work.
