Disciples of the Kingdom

In Jesus, the original and limited land promise to Abraham is transformed to encompass the entire creation – 2 Peter 3:10-14 .  In the Bible, foundational to redemption is the covenant with Abraham, including the promise of land for his descendants. Though originally confined to the small territory of Canaan, explicit in the promise was the inclusion of all nations, and the inheritance of the entire earth - (“ So shall be blessed in you all the clans of the earth ”) - [ Photo by Marc Schulte on Unsplash ].

OVERVIEW   -   Returning to the custodianship of the Law means rebuilding the wall between Jew and Gentile, but “you are all one in Christ”   –   Galatians 3:26-29 .  In  Galatians , Paul portrays the Mosaic Law as the “ custodian ” or “ pedagogue ” that supervised Israel “ until  the seed came ,” which is Christ. In Greco-Roman society, the “ pedagogue ” was a slave with custodial and disciplinary authority over underage children until they reached maturity, even though he was a slave - [ Photo by  Sandro Gonzalez  on Unsplash ].

OVERVIEW   -   According to the Book of Romans, the land promise to Abraham encompassed the entire world, not just the land of Canaan   –   Romans 4:13 .  God began His plan to redeem humanity, indeed, the entire creation, with His covenant with Abraham. It began with the summons for the Patriarch to leave his homeland for the “ land that I will show you .” Yahweh would make him into a “ great nation ,” and, in Abraham, He would “ bless all the clans of the earth .” From the start, the land promise was central to the covenant – ( Genesis 12:1-3 ). - [ Photo by Jack Stapleton on Unsplash ].

OVERVIEW  -  The covenant promise to “bless all nations” in Abraham finds its fulfillment in Jesus, the true “seed of Abraham.”   B asic to the redemption of humanity is the covenant of Yahweh with Abraham, and with his “ seed .” This includes the promise that “ all the nations the earth  will be blessed in him ,” and that he will have innumerable descendants. So, how will the nations be blessed “ in Abraham ,” and when will this “ blessing ” occur? Who are his descendants and, most importantly, who is the real “ seed of Abraham ”? - [ Photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash ].

OVERVIEW - Jesus in the true “son of Abraham,” the heir of the covenant promises, and the one who receives and implements the inheritance .  The introduction to  Matthew declares Jesus to be the “ son of David, the son of Abraham .” This was more than an entry on a genealogical record; it prepared the reader for the theme of fulfillment that dominates this gospel. Jesus is the Davidic Messiah and King of Israel, and the True Son and promised heir of the Patriarch. In him, the covenant promises of Yahweh have found their fulfillment - [ Jesus Mural - Photo by Stephanie LeBlanc on Unsplash ].