Original Research

The kingdom of heaven and Matthew 10

Jacob J. Scholtz
In die Skriflig/In Luce Verbi | Vol 48, No 1 | a1782 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/ids.v48i1.1782 | © 2014 Jacob J. Scholtz | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 20 November 2013 | Published: 08 August 2014

About the author(s)

Jacob J. Scholtz, Department of Old and New Testament, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Abstract

This article proposes that the mission discourse in Matthew 10 is a single mission assignment that covers two distinct time periods when the gospel of the kingdom is preached. This assignment commenced during Christ’s first advent when the 12 apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom only in Israel. However, as a result of ‘this generation’ committing the unpardonable sin, this assignment became postponed until it will be resumed in the Tribulation when the coming King will authorise Jewish messengers to preach the gospel of the kingdom again – this time as a witness to all the nations. Based on this view of the mission discourse in Matthew 10, this article proposes a chiastic structure for Matthew 9:36−11:1a. Each section of this text will then be briefly discussed. Although the Church can make applications from this discourse, it is argued that Matthew 10:5b−42 does not refer to the Church age.

Die koninkryk van die hemele en Matteus 10. Hierdie artikel bespreek die sendingdiskoers in Matteus 10 en beweer dat dit ’n enkele sendingopdrag is wat twee diskrete tydperiodes dek wanneer die evangelie van die koninkryk verkondig is. Hierdie sendingopdrag is tydens Christus se eerste koms aan die 12 apostels gegee om die evangelie van die koninkryk net in Israel te verkondig. Omdat ‘hierdie geslag’ die onvergeeflike sonde gedoen het, is hierdie sendingopdrag uitgestel en sal hervat word tydens die Verdrukking wanneer die komende Koning Joodse boodskappers sal magtig om weer die evangelie van die koninkryk te verkondig – hierdie keer tot getuienis vir al die nasies. Hierdie artikel stel ’n chiastiese struktuur vir Matteus 9:36−11:1a voor wat gebaseer is op hierdie siening van die sendingdiskoers in Matteus 10. Daarna word elke afdeling van die teks kortliks bespreek. Alhoewel die Kerk toepassings uit hierdie diskoers kan maak, word geargumenteer dat Matteus 10:5b−42 nie na die Kerk-era verwys nie.


Keywords

Matthew 10; Matthew’s mission discourse; the kingdom of heaven; the unpardonable sin

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