The central theme of Jesus’ teaching is the announcement of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom refers more to a power than to a place, more to a reign than a realm. “Kingship” perhaps better captures this sense of “authority to rule.” God’s sovereignty designates God’s rule and control over the world that he has made.
Matthew’s Gospel reveals his understanding of the Jewish Messianic hope and to convince his own nation that the long-awaited Messiah is come. In the NT the fullest revelation of God’s divine rule is in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus inaugurated God’s Kingdom at the beginning of his reign, even though much more awaits fulfilment. His birth was heralded as the birth of a king (Luke 1:32-33). The Kingdom is “already but not yet”! In living out the Kingdom of God, Christians are to manifest it basically in their spiritual life, for “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” (Rom.14:17-18). Concerning the future, the Lord taught His disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come,” (Matt.6:10), where the verb is in the point tense, precluding the notion of gradual progress and development, and implying a sudden catastrophe as declared in (2 Thess. 2:8), as we anticipate the eventual consummation. We are to be prepared and intentionally looking forward to His second coming (Rev.21:2-4).
The word “glory” is used broadly to capture the supremacy of God in everything, and human beings exist to obey, believe in and praise God. It is important that God’s name be honored and hallowed (Matt.6:9), and hallowing God’s name should be carried out when his kingdom comes and when his will is done (6:10). Since God is supreme, it follows that loving God with all of one’s being and strength is elevated as the most important command in the Scriptures (Matt.22:37-40; Mark 12:28-34), rooted in the Shema (Deut.6:4). God acts in history to fulfill his saving promises, and the fulfilment of such promises reveals how glorious and great and beautiful God is. The gift of salvation reveals the giver in all his power, love, and goodness. As children of God, we are to honor God for the salvation received, praise and glorify Him!
With praise and thanksgiving,
Samuel Chan