XXV

PRELIMINARY STEPS OF JESUS IN PREPARINg the Way FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF HIS KINGDOM, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN ON THE EARTH

A. Proclamation of His Mission, Preaching the Kingdom of Heaven at Hand, and the Selection of His Disciples.

I. He returned to Galilee and taught in the synagogues.

14. “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

15. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all" (Luke 4: 14, 15).

2. In the synagogue at Nazareth, His home town, He read from the book of Isaiah the prophecy concerning Himself and the work He was sent and anointed to do.

16. "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

17. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

21. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

22. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?" (Luke 4: 16-22).

3. When Jesus had heard that John the Baptist was cast into prison, He left Nazareth and went and dwelt in Capernaum on the coast of the sea of Galilee. Then He began to preach repentance, for the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He also began to select His disciples, and went about all Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.

12. "Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee ;

13. And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:

14. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying,

15. The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

16. The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

17. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

18. And Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.

19. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

20. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.

21. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.

22. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24. And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25. And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judea, and from beyond Jordan" (Matt. 4:12-25).

B. His Preaching and Teaching Accompanied with Marvelous Divine Power over Disease and Evil Spirits. The Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus was most successful in His preaching and teaching that the kingdom of God was at hand, which were accompanied with such marvelous divine power over disease and evil spirits. The multitudes that gathered about Him and followed Him, believed that He was a prophet or a teacher sent from God. Many became His disciples and believed in His proclamation that the kingdom of God was near at hand.

It was about this time that Jesus made that matchless address known as The Sermon on the Mount, to His dis

ciples and to a great multitude made up of all classes from all parts of Palestine, in which address He outlined many of the principles of the kingdom of heaven. This address began with the beatitudes.

1. "And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2. And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3. Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for their's is the kingdom of heaven.

II. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12. Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Matt. 5: 1-12).

It ended with the very significant words of caution:

15. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name. have cast out devils? and in thy name done many

wonderful works?

23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt. 7:15-29).