THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR

Matthew 10:1-42

Key Verse 10:7

“As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’”

Today’s message is “The Kingdom of Heaven Is Near.” It is not just the title of a message based on this week’s passage. It is the message of our day, given to us by our Lord Jesus. In last week’s passage Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” In today’s passage Jesus begins to answer this prayer topic by sending out his twelve disciples. Jesus’ instructions applied not only to the Twelve and this particular journey, but for all disciples of all time who are called and sent out by Jesus into his harvest field. The harvest is plentiful still today (cf. Mark 13; Luke 21:5-19). We must pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field. from We pray to learn from today’s passage how to be effective harvest workers and disciple makers for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

 

I. The Kingdom of Heaven Is Near (1-8)

Look at verse 1. “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”

Jesus called his disciples and he equipped them for the task. Jesus had already chosen twelve of his followers to be his close disciples. He now called them to him to be apostles, which means, “one sent out.” Who were these twelve disciples? Look at verses 2-4. They were a very diverse group of people, from different occupations and backgrounds. They often argued with each other and competed to be the top disciple. They were not your usual religious-leadership material. But they had something in common. They had all accepted Jesus’ calling and made a clear commitment to him. They were ready to listen to his words in obedience. Matthew the author of this gospel, has already told us this about almost of these people. Peter, Andrew, James, and John were professional fishermen. When Jesus called them they left their boats and nets behind. James and John even left their father standing the boat. Matthew was a tax collector. When Jesus called him, Matthew left his tax booth and everything else and followed Jesus. Jesus was pleased to call and send out those disciples who made a firm commitment to him and who had accepted his grace and calling with a firm commitment. 

Let’s look at Jesus’ first instructions to them. Look at verses 5-8. “5These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: ‘Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7As you go, preach this message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.’” These are the very things that Jesus himself had been doing, as we saw in chapters 8 and 9. But Jesus didn’t just tell them to do something, he gave them authority to do it. He equipped them for the task he gave them. It is amazing that Jesus called fishermen and a tax collector and sent them out to do the very work of the Savior. But what was the meaning of giving them this authority? They could not suddenly pretend to be medical doctors. Look at verse 7 again. They were given a message to preach. Everything they were to do was related to their message. Jesus said, “As you go…” The message: “the kingdom of heaven is near,” was the focal point of their work.

Let’s think about their message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” This was not a new message. In Matthew’s gospel, so far, we’ve seen two other people preach this message wherever they went: John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. John said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” By this message, John the Baptist lead many people to repentance. In so doing, he prepared the way for the Lord Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is first about repentance and believing the good news. When Jesus came, he had the same message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” He challenged people to repent, turn from their sins to God, and believe the good news. Jesus took it one step further than John. He began to exercise the authority of the kingdom of heaven—making its power available to those who came to him. He brought true healing to those who came to him. Their sins were forgiven and he gave them hope. The miracles Jesus performed, especially in the last two chapters, demonstrated that the kingdom of heaven really had come when Jesus appeared. Jesus’ authority, over sickness, over this physical world, over demons, and even over sin and death, are the evidences of this. The kingdom of God first came when Jesus himself came. Jesus was driving out the power and kingdom of Satan. He set people free from the grip of the devil. He called them as children of God. The message of the kingdom of heaven is secondly about true healing and new life in Jesus. 

The authority that Jesus gave to his disciples reflects the exact miracles that Jesus himself performed in the last two chapters. We see that Jesus sent out his disciples to carry on this ministry of expanding the kingdom of heaven through preaching this message of good news, helping others to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus by faith that they might have real healing for their sin-sick souls and new life. The message is the same today: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” 

Other translations translate this phrase as, “The kingdom of heaven is ‘at hand.’” This translation tells how near the kingdom of God is. It is right here at arms reach. The kingdom of heaven came with power with Jesus Christ. But it is also “near” or “at hand” because even though Jesus was doing these things, it is up to each person to make the decision to accept the kingdom of heaven. No one can be forced into the kingdom of heaven. It is up to each us to repent and to turn to Jesus by faith. But it is “near”, it is “at hand.” That is why Jesus sent out his disciples into his harvest field with this message: that all people might hear it and accept it. “It is near” means that now is the time to accept the kingdom of heaven. Now is the time to preach the message of the kingdom of heaven as first priority. Not some later time, but right now. Now is the time of repentance and healing by God’s power and mercy. “The kingdom of heaven is near!” This was the message then, and it is the message now. 

As Jesus’ disciples and harvest workers, we have to keep this message as the forefront of our ministry as well. If we have a different message, then it is not from Jesus. We need to make our mission clear in our hearts and lives. 

For the sake of preaching this message, Jesus gave his authority to his disciples. We learn that Jesus calls and he gives according to that calling. It is not a matter of asking or seeking this authority or that kind of power from Jesus. But we learn that in his sovereignty Jesus calls and he supplies all that is necessary for his servants. This is a basic principle in serving the Lord. We have to believe in Jesus' calling and authority that he gives to his apostles.

The Lord established this UBF ministry for campus ministry. We have to believe that he equips us with the necessary authority to carry out his task and go out by faith in him. He wants us to be fruitful in getting his message of the kingdom of heaven to all campuses. And he wants us to pray that God would send out workers into all the campuses with this message. But these days it seems easy to despair about the possibility of really bearing fruit in harvesting people into the kingdom of heaven from the campuses. Students’ problems seem too complicated and involved. Young people today seem not to care about truth or knowing God anymore. Maybe students today are really different from when you were a student. I used to ignored a lot because people thought that I was their peer. But these days students respond by saying, “Are you a teacher?” And, “No, thank you, sir.” And when we look at ourselves, we do not seem capable of such a great task. It looked especially impossible for Galilean fishermen and tax collectors and terrorists to do the very work of the Savior. They had a hard time just to catch fish. But they could do it by his calling and authority. It is the same for us. We have to believe it and go out by faith. Jesus calls. Jesus gives.

Being Jesus’ apostles was also Jesus’ grace to them, and they should remember this. Look at verse 8 again. “Freely you have received, freely give.” They had received Jesus’ grace, which was freely given to them. They had received his calling, though lowly and undeserving. They had received Jesus’ authority to do the very work of God, though they were not religious leaders or professional clergy. They had received the kingdom of heaven. Now, by that grace, Jesus called them give just as they had received. In verses 9-10 he gave them a list of things not to bring on the journey. He wanted them to do everything, even the smallest thing, by faith in God. God supplies everything for the sake of his kingdom. He wants his workers to focus on the message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” 

II. Stand firm to the end (11-33)

There is something else that Jesus says comes with the message of the kingdom of heaven, that is, hardships. In verses 11-33, Jesus did not hide these hardships from his disciples. He told them plainly and at the beginning. Some people get really excited at the prospect of being “sent out.” They think that it will lead to glory and excitement as they do something great for God! But were Jesus’ disciples going to become honored and famous after being sent out? Would they win the Noble Peace Prize for giving their lives for the kingdom of heaven? No. They would face the opposite. So Jesus tells them how they can stand firm to the end and overcome this world and all the hardships, including rejection (14), the disciples will be arrested and put on trial (17), and they will be hated by all men (22), including their own family members. 

(i) When we are welcomed, what should we do? Jesus says in verses 11-13, to give our peace and blessing for whoever receives us and listens to our words is worthy. Sometimes we don’t know how to respond when a student welcomes the invitation to Bible study. We should give our blessing of peace and teach the word of God to them. Did you know that your “peace” is something you can give to somebody else? It is because Jesus gave you that peace that he purchased on the cross. 

(ii) When we are rejected and people don’t listen to our words, what should we do? Look at verse 14. “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town.” No one likes to be rejected. We don’t like to be the odd man out. But in God’s eyes, when we are rejected, still we are not like people who are rejected. We are God’s honorable servants. To those who refuse, even the dust of on our feet will testify against them before God. We have to be free from the fear of rejection. We are just messengers, delivering the message of God’s kingdom. So we have to be wise for our work (16). 

(iii) Look at verses 19-20. “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” When we are put on trial, we do not need to worry. The Spirit of God will speak through us at that time. We will be given the right words to say. Amazingly, we shouldn’t feel bad even when arrested, or put on trial, or even beaten. God uses it for the sake of getting his message out to more people, including the violent, the high ranking people and officials, who normally would not give themselves a chance to hear the message of the kingdom of heaven. 

(iv) Look at verses 21-22. The message of the kingdom of heaven will cause our closest family members, those we have the strongest relationship and bond with, to reject and persecute us. It is too hard to think that even our close family members will hate us because of our message. But the common response is to stand firm by faith in God who called us, who gave to us, and who is coming back again. When we live by faith in God, we can be free and bold and courageous in our service to God, as we should be. 

 

Yet, a question arises: “Why should all these hardships happen to Jesus’ disciples?” Look at verses 24-25. It is because this is how Jesus was treated by this world, even by his family members who said he was “out of his mind” (Mark 3:21). Jesus too was rejected, arrested, beaten, put on trial. Verse 25 says that Jesus was even called “Beelzebub.” It sounds like a science fiction character. But it referred to a demon, often used to signify Satan himself. In 9:34, the Pharisees said about Jesus, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” Jesus was accused of being demon possessed on many occasions. They couldn’t have been farther from the truth. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, not a demon. 

We can see here the practical and very real difficulties that Jesus endured for our sakes, so that we could receive the kingdom of heaven and all its power and grace. Although he is the Lord, the Son of God, he was rejected by all men. He became a man of sorrows and was despised. The world should have rejoiced at Jesus’ coming. Instead, we called him a demon and rejected him. Why? It was because of his message: the message of the kingdom of heaven. Namely, repentance and turning to God.

When we see this long list of hardships, we may wonder if the disciples might have wanted to change their minds after hearing all of his instructions. Our number one response is fear. We are afraid and don’t want to go through these painful things. It is because we go and do everything in his name and by his same message: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” People don’t like this message. So we see that we have also been called to share in his sufferings, because Jesus gave his disciples the same message. Rejection, persecution, are very real and painful, especially when it happens a lot, and especially when it looks like all the rest of the world is having a good time. These hardships try to give a message to the disciples: be afraid! Give up! Enjoy your life with many pleasures! Make a lot of money! But all these messages are not from God. God gave us a message already: “The kingdom of heaven is near.” As we share in his sufferings, we can know Jesus more and more, and deeper and deeper. It is a most privileged blessing to know the sufferings of Jesus Christ. As we share in Jesus’ sufferings, we also will share in his glorious victory, because he overcame all these difficulties. So we too can overcome in him. He took care of it all ready. 

Let’s look at how we can overcome, in verses 26-28. 

(i) We fear God, not men. Look at verse 28. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Persecutions look scary and painful. But really other people cannot do real harm to us. They are not worthy of being afraid of. God who is the Judge of all, is the real one to fear. 

(ii) We believe that God loves and values each of us deeply. He is our heavenly Father. Even the number of hairs on your head are numbered and known by him. Verse 31 says, “So don’t be afraid; you are worthy more than many sparrows.” We overcome our fears through knowing God’s Fatherly love for us. 

Let’s look at verses 32-33. “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.” If we stand firm and acknowledge Jesus to the end, Jesus will be so pleased to acknowledge us, and confess our names, before God the Father. How wonderful will it be to hear him say before God the Father, “This is Charles, my good and faithful servant!” Our joy comes from knowing that Jesus sees our labor and confesses before God. Our joy is to know that in the end, we did not fail to confess our Lord Jesus before men. Let’s read verse 27. “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.” 

 

Most of us have experienced at least one of these hardships. But we have to live by faith and stand firm in the message of God’s kingdom. By God’s grace, I too could experience some of these hardships. In one year my mother disowned me three times. Then she moved to South Carolina without telling me about it. One person attacked me three times and threatened to kill me and hurt my friends because I tried to serve Jesus. I have been serving the campus for almost 9 years now. I have been ignored, yelled at, nearly spat on, argued with. One student said, “How dare you interrupt my walk to class to ask about bible study! I want to hit you. I know more about the Bible than you.” So I said to him, “Okay. Let’s make a deal. Let’s ask each other questions. If you know more about the Bible than me, I’ll let you hit me. But if I know more than you, then we will study the Bible together.” Than he cursed at me and walked away. I was very lonely and sometimes angry. Many people stopped studying the Bible when they realized that the message of God’s kingdom comes with repentance. But I had great joy from Jesus, especially because he helped me to stand firm by his grace and power. He was with me and helped me all the time to serve him. 

III. Worthy of Jesus (34-42)

In verses 34-39 Jesus again emphasizes the real hardships and costs involved, so that there will not be any misunderstandings. It will cost one’s life to stand firm on Jesus’ side to the end. Jesus brings this kind of sword because the message of God’s kingdom applies to all people. These verses tell us that the only way that we can stand firm is to set our hearts firmly on one thing: loving Jesus above all else. We have to set our hearts to love Jesus above our parents, above our children, and above our own lives. Then we can take up our cross and follow him. Let’s read verses 37-39. 

I love my little Noah Grace so much. She has a special place in my heart. And she loves her daddy so much. When I leave for work in the morning she walks me to the door. Sometimes she cries. It breaks me heart to see her like this. She always hugs and kisses me when I get home from work. Every Thursday night Matthew fellowship has a testimony sharing meeting. So I cannot be home on Thursdays to give Noah dinner and a bath. But every Thursday, my wife Cari tells me that she comes through the front door and looks all throughout the apartment, calling out, “Daddy! Daddy!” Then she is sad because she cannot find me. That also breaks my heart, especially because she is only a little child and doesn’t understand what I am doing or why I am doing it. Of course, in my heart I am tempted to be a good daddy and husband to my family. I always pray for wisdom so that in my actions my family, especially my children, will know their father’s love for them and the reason why he does what he does, without feeling abandoned or like second-class citizens in our home. I learn from this passage that that wisdom comes from making the simple and clear decision to love Jesus first, above all else, and to take up my cross and follow him by faith. It means I deny myself—not my children—and love Jesus first. 

Jesus tells us our reward here in two ways. First, he says, “Worthy of me.” Jesus is pleased to give us himself as our reward. What does it take to be worthy of receiving Jesus? We just have to love him with all our hearts and stand firm to the end without compromising. And he is pleased to give us eternal life. Look at verse 39. 

Second, God himself is our reward. Look at verse 40. “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.” God is the best reward! He alone is not dependent on anyone or anything. He is holy, and he is love. So, when we receive him, we also are without need. We have all we need in him. We must remember this as we face the difficulties in this world to serve the message of God’s kingdom. We must also remember this as we serve his lost sheep, so that we can help them to receive Jesus and thus receive God himself as their very great reward. We must do our best to help others receive this reward. Look at the end of verse 42. “I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.”  May God help us to stand firm as his servants to the end. May God use our ministry to preach the message of God’s kingdom to all campuses and bring many to know Jesus. 

One Word: The kingdom of heaven is near