Matthew 10:7

Wednesday, 14 May 2025   And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Matthew 10:7   “And going, you proclaim, saying that ‘It has neared – the kingdom of the heavens’” (CG).   In the previous verse, Jesus told His twelve to specifically go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Next, He instructs them, “And going, you proclaim, saying.”   Jesus uses the same word that has been used several times already, kérussó. It signifies to proclaim or herald an announcement. HELPS Word Studies says of it, “bringing eternal accountability to all who hear it.”   Consider it! Jesus is sending His chosen twelve out among the people of Israel. He has already been conducting His ministry for some amount of time, but the harvest field is so ready for reaping that He has decided to send forth those who have followed Him and learned from Him to expand the process. What words will He ask them to proclaim? The answer is “that ‘It has neared – the kingdom of the heavens.’”   In Matthew 3:2, the first recorded words of John the Baptist were, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens!” Likewise, in Matthew’s gospel, after His baptism and temptation, the first words of Jesus’ ministry to the people were, “Reconsider! For it has neared – the kingdom of the heavens!”   Now Jesus instructs these disciples to likewise tell the people that the kingdom of the heavens has neared. In each instance, there is the anticipation that a great change in the economy and focus of God’s redemptive plans is set to take place.   This is just the beginning of the instruction to these men. In Luke 9, there is a complementary account of Jesus’ instructions to the twelve. That is followed in Luke 10 with Jesus sending out seventy more to continue the proclamation throughout Israel.   Life application: A common question that arises concerns the terms “kingdom of the heaven(s),” and “kingdom of God.” The words are certainly used interchangeably at times. For example, Jesus says that the kingdom of God is the kingdom of the heavens in Matthew 19 –   “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’”  Matthew 19:23, 24   In those two verses, which are given in parallelism, He is clearly indicating that they are the same thing. The term kingdom of the heaven(s) is not used in the epistles. Rather, they refer to the kingdom of God. However, Paul does say that the Lord would deliver him and preserve him for His heavenly kingdom.   As such, there is certainly overlap in the thought. At times, however, it is clear that the promised kingdom to Israel is a literal earthly kingdom. This is how the disciples understood it when asking Him about the restoration of the kingdom in Acts 1:6.   The best approach to understanding the idea of a kingdom, then, is to check the surrounding context to see what is spoken of. God is working through time and dispensations in various ways to bring man to a state of restoration.   As He does this, a kingdom is either set up or being set up that is being expressed in various ways, actual or anticipated. In Romans 14, Paul speaks of the kingdom as a reality for believers now, and yet it is something that is only so positionally, as indicated elsewhere. The actual kingdom is something anticipated for believers at this time.   As such, it is good not to get overly dogmatic about things but rather to consider that there is a positional belonging and an actual belonging that may apply in one way or another.   For us, because of faith in Christ, we can be reassured that we are accepted into the kingdom now, even if we have to await the rapture to be actually received into the marvelous blessing of the kingdom that lies ahead for us. Be assured that Christ has accepted you if you have believed. Every good promise He has made will, therefore, be realized on that day.   Lord God, despite not yet being with You in heaven, we know we are with You through faith in what You have done. Help us to remember this in our times of trial and difficulty. We have a better and surer hope ahead than anything this fallen world can provide. May You come soon for Your people so that we can forever rejoice in Your presence. Amen.