The King of the Jews

Who Jesus Is In Matthew?

Jesus is the King of the Jews and the Kingdom of Heaven. We see that from the beginning of the book as Matthew traced the lineage of Jesus in chapter 1:1-17. Proof that Jesus has the right to claim the kingship given to David and his descendants as being the son of Joseph (1:20). He was named Jesus as someone who will save his people for their sins (1:21). And was born as fulfillment to be the promised ruler that will shepherd the people of Israel (2:6). Thereby pointing to the fact that Jesus, the son of David (1:1, 22:41-42) was the promised Messiah the Jews are expecting.

Jesus as the promised Messiah was confirmed by John the Baptist through the fulfillment of his own calling (3:3) as spoken by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3). That is to prepare the way of the Lord by calling Israel to repent through ceremonial cleansing in water baptism. This was also to confirm through baptism, that Jesus is the Son of God (3:17).

Jesus started his ministry by calling the people of Israel to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (4:17). A claim that His arrival marks the unveiling of the kingdom where He is the King. And a kind of kingdom that somehow differs from the expectation the Jews had for him. For the Jews, even His own disciples(16:22) believed that the Messiah will be the leader that will deliver them from the hands of their Roman oppressors. And usher a nation that is free from bondage. That was my assumption having Peter as an example, because he seems to misunderstand the kind of kingdom Jesus is inaugurating (21:4-5) by preventing Him in the path of death in the hands of Romans(16:22). 

Jesus’ version of the kingdom has been well taught as He explained it in His sermon on the mount (5-7). Showing the people what kind of kingdom He planned to have and also the kind of kingdom citizens it has to be. The sermon showed the role of Jesus as the fulfillment(5:17) of the Law given to Moses and the requirements given by the Father to Israel in His covenant with them. Thereby making a claim that Jesus has the authority and power to call the shots for His kingdom and accommodate whoever He wants (7:21-23).   

Picking up on the idea of kingdom citizens. We can also note from the genealogy (1:1-17) how Matthew put emphasis on Jesus being the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham and his descendants. As offspring of Abraham (1:1), Jesus was presented by Matthew as the offspring who will bless all nations through inaugurating a kingdom that is not just for the Jews but even for the gentiles. We can see that from His encounters with the Roman Centurion (8:5-13) and the Canaanite Woman(15:21-28). Among other encounters presented by Matthew as a representation of the promised salvation though exclusively given to the Jews (1:21, 15:24), but was extended to the gentiles by way of faith in Jesus.

Overall, Matthew’s presentation of Jesus as King has given me a sort of confidence and peace when looking at the world and the church. That whatever is happening in the world right now, of how it may seem disastrous and hopeless,  I can rest on the fact that my King who puts me here is Sovereign. He knows His plan for His kingdom and its citizens, that it will always be for His good pleasure. Oh how freeing and reassuring to hear the King declare that He Himself built His church and that the gates of hell will never prevail against it(16:18).  Soli Deo Gloria.

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