Transcript Robinson’s Arch” - Christian Education in Canada

The Kingdom of God
in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
“Robinson’s Arch”
“Robinson’s Arch”
Jewish Ossuaries in Tomb
Organization of Jesus’
Teaching on the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God in the Synoptic Gospels in a
Non-Rejection Context
The Kingdom of God as Present
The Kingdom of God as Future
The Kingdom of God in the Synoptic Gospels in a
Rejection Context
Healings, Exorcisms and Forgiveness
Matt 11:4 Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you
hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised, good news is
preached to the poor.” (= Luke 7:22-23)
Matt 10:7 And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of
Heaven has drawn near.” 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
the lepers, cast out demons.
Matt 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then
the Kingdom of God has come upon you. (= Luke 11:20)
Luke 19:9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to
this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10
For the son of man came to seek and to save what was lost."
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Pre-Understanding of “Kingdom of God”
Kingdom of God as Synonym for God or God’s Reign
Ps 103:19: Yahweh has established his throne in the
heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Ps 145:11-13: They shall speak of the glory of your
kingdom and talk of your power; to make known to the
sons of men your mighty acts and the glory of the majesty
of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Pre-Understanding of “Kingdom of God”
Kingdom of God as Synonym for God or God’s Reign
1 Chron 28:5: He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the
throne of the kingdom of Yahweh over Israel.
Ps. Sol. 17:3: And the kingdom of our God is forever over the
nations in judgment.
1 Enoch 84:2 Your authority and kingdom abide forever and
ever and your dominion throughout all the generations of
generations
Targum Onkelos translates Exod 15:18 "Yahweh reigns
forever" as "The Kingdom of God stands fast" and Isa 24:23
"Yahweh of hosts reigns" as "Manifest is the Kingdom of God"
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Pre-Understanding of “Kingdom of God”
Kingdom of God as Describing Israel's Eschatological Salvation
Obadiah 21 “And the kingdom will be Yahweh's”
4Q521 (4QMessianic Apocalypse): “The Lord.... will glorify the
pious ones upon the throne of his kingdom forever.”
Targum Jonathan on Zech 14:9 translates Zech 14:9 “Yahweh will
be king” as “Manifest will be the Kingdom of God.”
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Pre-Understanding of “Kingdom of God”
Kingdom of God as Describing Israel's Eschatological Salvation
1QM 4.4: "The Kingship shall belong to the God of Israel”
(after the eschatological war between “sons of light” and
“sons of darkness”)
Testament of Moses: “Then his [God's] Kingdom will appear
throughout his whole creation.”
Sibylline Oracles: “Then indeed the most great Kingdom of the
immortal king will become manifest over men” (3.47-48) / “And
then, indeed, he will raise up a kingdom for all ages among men,
he who once gave the Law to the pious” (3.767-69).
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Time is Fulfilled
“The Kingdom of God Has Drawn Near (Mark 1:14-15 =
Matt 4:17)
Mark 1:14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into
Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time
has been fulfilled,” he said. "The Kingdom of God has
drawn near. Repent and believe the good news!"
What are the two indicative statements and the two
imperative statements contained in the summary of
Jesus’ message? What did Jesus say about the Kingdom
of God?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Time is Fulfilled
Blessed Eyes and Ears (Matt 13:17; Luke 10:24)
Matt 13:17: For truly I say to you that many prophets and
righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it,
and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Luke 10:24: For I say to you, that many prophets and kings
wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them,
and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them."
Why are the disciples privileged? What is implied about the
salvation-historical time?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Time is Fulfilled
Sermon at Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30)
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and as was
his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to
read. 17 And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. And he
opened the book and found the place where it was written, 18 "The Spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the good news to
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery
of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the
favorable year of the Lord (Isa 61:1-2). 20 And he rolled up the book, gave
it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue
were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture
has been fulfilled in your hearing."
How does Jesus interpret Isa 61:1-2? What does this imply about his
salvation-historical self-understanding?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Kingdom of God in Salvation-Historical Context
John and the Kingdom of God (Matt 11:11 = Luke 7:28)
Matt 11:11: Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has
not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is
least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
Luke 7:28: I say to you, among those born of women there is no one
greater than John; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater
than he.
Why is John the greatest human being? Why is the least in the
Kingdom greater than John? What is implied about the nature of the
Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Kingdom of God in Salvation-Historical Context
The Law and the Prophets (Luke 16:16; Matt 11:12-13)
Luke 16:16: The Law and the Prophets were until John. Since that
time, the good news of the Kingdom of God is being preached, and
everyone is forcing his way into it.
Matthew 11:12: From the days of John the Baptist until now, the
Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay
hold of it. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
What does Jesus say about John the Baptist in relation to the
Kingdom of God? Why does the Kingdom advance “forcefully”?
What does to force one’s way into the Kingdom and that “forceful”
men take hold of it?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Kingdom of God in Salvation-Historical Context
Parable of New and Old Treasures (Matt 13:52)
And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has
become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of
a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and
old."
In what sense is the scribe who accepts the message of the
Kingdom of God like a man who adds a new treasure to an
old treasure? What do the old treasure and the new treasure
symbolize?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
The Kingdom of God in Salvation-Historical Context
Incompatibility of Old and New (Mark 2:21-22)
21 No one sews a patch of unshrunken cloth on an old
garment; otherwise the patch pulls away from it, the new
from the old, and a worse tear results. 22 No one puts new
wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the
skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts
new wine into fresh wineskins.
What Is Jesus’ point in using the examples of unshrunken
cloth to mend a tear in an old garment and new wine in old
skins?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God as Historical Process
Parable of the Growing Seed (Mark 4:26-29)
Mark 4:26: He also said, "This is what the Kingdom of God is
like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day,
whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows,
though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil
produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full
kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts
the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
In what sense is the Kingdom of God like a seed growing by itself
with no assistance from human beings? What does the harvest
represent in the parable?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God as Historical Process
Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30-32; Matt 13:31-33
= Luke 13:18-19)
Mark 4:30: Again he said, "What shall we say the Kingdom of
God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It
is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in
the ground. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the
largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the
birds of the air can perch in its shade."
In what sense is the kingdom of God like a mustard seed planted in
the ground? What does the contrast between the small seed and
large plant symbolize?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God as Historical Process
Parable of the Leaven (Matt 13:33 = Luke 13:20-21)
Matt 13:33: He spoke another parable to them, “The Kingdom of
Heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three
pecks [sata] of flour until it was all leavened.”
In what sense is the kingdom of God like a woman adding
yeast to dough?
Potsherd from Masada
Synagogue at Gamla
Organization of Jesus’
Teaching on the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God in the Synoptic Gospels in a
Non-Rejection Context
The Kingdom of God as Present
The Kingdom of God as Future
The Kingdom of God in the Synoptic Gospels in a
Rejection Context
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God as Inseparable from Jesus
The Kingdom of God in Your Midst (Luke 17:20-21)
Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God was
coming, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God is not
coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look,
here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the
midst of you."
What is the Pharisees’ view of the how the Kingdom of God
will appear in history? What does Jesus say about the
Kingdom of God in this passage? How does his view differ
from that of the Pharisees to whom he was speaking?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God as Inseparable from Jesus
Possibility of Exclusion of Law-Keepers from Kingdom
(Matt 21:28-31)
28 But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to
the first and said, “Son, go work today in the vineyard.” 29 And
he answered, “I will not”; but afterward he regretted it and went.
30 The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he
answered, “I will, sir”; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did
the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them,
"Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get
into the kingdom of God before you.”
What is Jesus’ warning in this passage and to whom is it
addressed?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God for Jews Alone
Not to Gentiles or a City of the Samaritans (Matt 10:5-7)
5 These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: "Do not go
in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the
Samaritans; 6 but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel. 7 And as you go, preach, saying, “The kingdom of heaven
has drawn near.”
To whom does Jesus restrict the proclamation of the Kingdom
of God? Who is excluded? Why would Jesus exclude these
others?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Kingdom of God for Jews Alone
Bread to Dogs (Mark 7:24-30; Matt 15:21-28)
Mark 7:24 Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And
when He had entered a house, he wanted no one to know of it; yet he could
not escape notice. 25 But after hearing of him, a woman whose little
daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26 Now
the woman was a gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking
him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 And he was saying to her, "Let
the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children's bread
and throw it to the dogs." 28 But she answered and said to him, "Yes, Lord,
but even the dogs under the table feed on the children's crumbs." 29 And He
said to her, "Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your
daughter." 30 And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the
bed, the demon having left.
Why is Jesus reluctant to help the woman? What does he call her?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Appropriating the Kingdom of God
Repentance and Becoming like a Child (Matt 18:3)
And He called a child to himself and set him before them,
3and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you repent and become
like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven
What is the condition that Jesus sets for entering the Kingdom of
God? In what sense is a person to become like a child?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Appropriating the Kingdom of God
Receiving the Kingdom as a Child (Mark 10:15 = Luke 18:17)
Mark 10:15 Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive
the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all."
How does a person enter the Kingdom of God? What does it
mean to receive it as a child?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Appropriating the Kingdom of God
Parables of the Hidden Treasure and Valuable Pearl
(Matt 13:44; Matt 13:45-46)
Matt 13:44: The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a
field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matt 13:45: Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant
looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he
went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
In what sense is the Kingdom of Heaven like acquiring a field with
a hidden treasure or buying a valuable pearl? What does this
parable teaching about the condition of being a participant in the
Kingdom of Heaven?
The Kingdom of God in a Non-Rejection Context
Kingdom of God as Present
Appropriating the Kingdom of God
Seeking First the Kingdom of God (Luke 12:22-32 = Matt 6:25-34)
Luke 12:30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly
seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But
seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly
to give you the kingdom
Matt 6:32: For the gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for
your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you.
What does seeking the Kingdom of God and its righteousness mean?