Exploring the Scripture

While scholars disagree about who the author of Matthew was, there is general agreement the book was written by a Jewish writer for a Jewish audience in the last quarter of the first century. This is significant for two reasons as we examine today’s text which marks the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

First, the author points out that Jesus, after hearing of John’s arrest, leaves Nazareth—a Jewish community—to make a home in Capernaum, which is also in Galilee. Jesus’ move fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy about the Gentiles seeing “a great light.” Such a connection to the Hebrew Scriptures is the writer’s way of saying to the Jewish audience, “you need to pay attention to the rest of this story.”

Besides fulfilling prophecy, this account communicates that Jews were not the only people invited to this adventure with Jesus. In the language of Community of Christ Enduring Principles, All Are Called, not just one group of people.

A third theme of major importance is Jesus’ announcement of the kingdom of heaven on Earth. As Matthew addresses a Jewish audience, most of the time he uses kingdom of heaven instead of kingdom of God. He proclaims that, “the kingdom of heaven has come near,” continuing a message John the Baptist had been promoting before his arrest (Matthew 4:17). The message is not one of a place after death, but of the presence of the kingdom here and now—a message he would later reinforce in what we know as the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” This message resonates to this day with Community of Christ and its idea of “the peaceable kingdom, even Zion.”

A final theme speaks as much to followers of Christ today as it did when Matthew was written. According to the text, Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to go with him and they “immediately” leave everything—jobs, possessions, even family—to follow Christ. The author provides no background so we have no details of what made them respond immediately. Some say the fishermen sensed the divine in Jesus and couldn’t resist him. Others think these new disciples also may have sensed Jesus’ expectation for them to respond quickly and completely because the message of the kingdom on Earth was so important.

We are not told how the fishermen or their families would be provided for during the men’s absence. In some of the other Gospels there are similar examples of the expectation for an immediate response. It appears the authors wanted to express the urgency Jesus felt to have active disciples reach out to as many people as possible while striving to live out the kingdom of heaven on Earth.

Faith Unfiltered Podcast

Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.

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Central Ideas

1. Jesus brings light into the dark places of the world and in individual lives.
2. All are invited to follow Christ. As disciples, we are blessed to have the opportunity to invite others to follow as well.
3. The kingdom of heaven has come to Earth.
4. The response of Christian disciples today should be like that of the fishermen who “immediately” relegated all other facets of their lives to a secondary role so they could follow Christ and share his mission.

Questions to Consider

1. When have you sensed Jesus saying, “Follow me” and how have you responded?
2. How has your life been changed by following Christ?
3. How have you experienced the kingdom being near you? How did that feel?
4. What might “immediately” following Christ look like today?
5. What value, if any, do you see in the author of Matthew using Isaiah’s prophecy?
6. Into what new or different mission might God be calling the congregation to follow Christ?