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Jesus: Present and Future King

The kingdom is one of the primary themes of Matthew's Gospel. Matthew's portrait of Jesus Christ underscores the Savior's role as Messiah. Jesus is Israel's promised king, the one who will rule on David's throne. Jesus' position as Israel's rightful king is implied in Matthew's frequent use of the title “Son of David.”

According to New Testament scholar Michael Wilkins, Matthew uses the title “Son of David” more than any other New Testament writer to refer to Jesus. Wilkins explains, “Like the title ”˜Messiah,' ”˜son of David' expresses a promised figure who would perpetuate David's throne, thereby pointing to Messiah's lineage and royal expectation of an eternal throne (see 2 Sam. 7:11b-16).”

Matthew begins his genealogy of the Messiah by characterizing Jesus Christ as “the Son of David” and traces His lineage from Abraham to Joseph, “the husband of Mary” (Matt. 1:1-16). This establishes Jesus as David's rightful heir, but also points to the unique circumstances of Christ's birth. Joseph was Jesus' father by marriage only. Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit in fulfillment of the promise made in Isaiah 7:14 (Matt. 1:23). This means that Jesus is not only the Son of David, He is also uniquely the Son of God.

The explicit teaching of Jesus regarding the kingdom in Matthew reveals both a present and future dimension. A day is coming when Jesus will sit on “his glorious throne” as the reigning Son of Man (Matt. 19:28; cf. Dan. 7:13-14). However, those who know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior already have a foretaste of this experience. Many of Jesus' parables of the kingdom describe the growing dominion of Christ through the spread of the gospel in this present age (cf. Matt. 13). Theologian Charles Ryrie describes this as “the concept of the kingdom used to encompass the period between the two advents of Christ.” Ryrie also notes that the spiritual dimension of the kingdom is now experienced by all who enter it through new birth (cf. Col. 1:13).

Those who place their faith in Christ have transferred allegiance to Him and now acknowledge Him as Lord. We are no longer under the dominion of sin (Rom. 6:9). This does not mean that our capacity to sin magically disappears. Instead, a new governing principle is introduced into our lives—the ruling power of Christ and His grace.

AMEN!

This is an extremely difficult topic for many people to understand. As an example, we are used to hearing that JESUS CHRIST is the KING OF KINGS, so why would HE be interested in being the KING of tiny Israel? This is a Promise of GOD, and it will come to be. YES - JESUS CHRIST is the KING OF KINGS Already. HE has a Heavenly KINGDOM and Christians are already part of it.

However, JESUS CHRIST is also the Anointed and Promised MESSIAH - the KING of Israel. HE was rejected by Israel at HIS FIRST COMING, but that doesn't mean that GOD won't fulfill HIS Promise. GOD is ever faithful and will always fulfill every Promise HE ever makes. GOD can't lie and can't fail! We should not confuse GOD'S Ultimate Grace and Love with never-ending patience for rejection, disrespect, and disobedience. GOD will NOT be denied what is HIS. The time will come when JESUS CHRIST will provide absolute proof to the world that HE is and always has been ALMIGHTY GOD - THE CREATOR!

Love In Christ,
Tom