The Preaching of the Good News of the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14)

THE PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS THAT SAVES LIVES

« And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come »

(Matthew 24: 14)

The Preaching is a Proclamation

The Greek word translated as « to preach » is « κηρύσσω » ((kēryssō) (Strong’s Concordance (G2784)), « to herald as public screaming ». Preaching is a public proclamation. Even though preaching is a simple teaching, it is not to be confused with the pedagogical basic teaching of the Bible, mentioned in Matthew 28:20: « teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you » (Matthew 28:20) (« teaching »: (διδάσκω (disdasko) (Strong’s Concordance « To teach » (G1321)). We can take two examples that show the simplicity of a message preached, often by a simple sentence, and a detailed teaching in the form of a public speech:

Preaching: « From that time on, Jesus began preaching (kēryssō) and saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near » » (Matthew 4:17). In Luke 10:9, as Jesus Christ sends 70 of his disciples to preach ahead of him. He gives them exactly the same simple theme of proclamation: « The Kingdom of God has come near to you ».

The more detailed biblical teaching in the form of a speech: « When he saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he opened his mouth and began teaching them (disdasko), saying » (Matthew 5:1,2). Thus, the Sermon on the Mount is not a mere public proclamation, but a detailed biblical teaching in the form of a public speech of about half an hour (in that case).

Jesus Christ sends his disciples to preach

Preaching is much easier to do than teaching the Bible. This is the advice that Jesus Christ gave to a group of disciples that he was sending to preach ahead of him: “These 12 Jesus sent out, giving them these instructions: “Do not go off into the road of the nations, and do not enter any Sa·marʹi·tan city; but instead, go continually to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, preach, saying: ‘The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.’ (…). You received free, give free. Do not acquire gold or silver or copper for your money belts, or a food pouch for the trip, or two garments, or sandals, or a staff, for the worker deserves his food.  “Into whatever city or village you enter, search out who in it is deserving, and stay there until you leave. When you enter the house, greet the household. If the house is deserving, let the peace you wish it come upon it; but if it is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not receive you or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet” (Matthew 10:5-14).

In the simple « instructions » that Jesus Christ gave to his disciples, there are five main instructions:

– Jesus Christ sets the territory or the area to be covered for preaching (Verses 5 and 6).

– Jesus Christ sets the theme of the proclamation, which will eventually spark conversations (verse 7): « The Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near ».

– Jesus Christ especially asks that this preaching is not to be used for a financial or commercial purpose: « You received free, give free » (Verse 8).

– Jesus Christ then gives more material and behavioral instructions, linked with the hospitality of the people who will welcome them (Verses 9-13).

– Jesus Christ explains that in case of refusal, it is advisable not to insist but rather « shake the dust off your feet », leaving the house or the city, putting the judgment in the hands of God: « Really I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the Day of Judgment than for this city » (Matthew 4:15).

Jesus Christ preaches to a Samaritan Woman

To have a more precise idea of what can be said in the context of preaching, let us see how Jesus Christ informally preached to a Samaritan woman:

« A woman of Sa·marʹi·a came to draw water. Jesus said to her: “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone off into the city to buy food.) 9 So the Sa·marʹi·tan woman said to him: “How is it that you, despite being a Jew, ask me for a drink even though I am a Sa·marʹi·tan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Sa·marʹi·tans.) 10 In answer Jesus said to her: “If you had known of the free gift of God and who it is who says to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 She said to him: “Sir, you do not even have a bucket for drawing water, and the well is deep. From what source, then, do you have this living water? 12 You are not greater than our forefather Jacob, who gave us the well and who together with his sons and his cattle drank out of it, are you?” 13 In answer Jesus said to her: “Everyone drinking from this water will get thirsty again. 14 Whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty at all, but the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water bubbling up to impart everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to him: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may neither thirst nor keep coming over to this place to draw water.” 16 He said to her: “Go, call your husband and come to this place.” 17 The woman replied: “I do not have a husband.” Jesus said to her: “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ 18 For you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. This you have said truthfully.” 19 The woman said to him: “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our forefathers worshipped on this mountain, but you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where people must worship.” 21 Jesus said to her: “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation begins with the Jews. 23 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshippers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for indeed, the Father is looking for ones like these to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him: “I know that Mes·siʹah is coming, who is called Christ. Whenever that one comes, he will declare all things to us openly.” 26 Jesus said to her: “I am he, the one speaking to you » (John 4:7-26. For the study of this text, the numbers marking the verses were voluntarily left).

– Jesus Christ aroused an unusual double situation (verses 7-9): He was Jewish and spoke in public to a Samaritan woman. Jews and Samaritans hated each other so much that at the time, to insult one of their compatriot, they sometimes called him a « Samaritan » (see John 8:48, it is interesting to note that the illustration of « Good Samaritan », clearly fits in Christ’s purpose, to subtly denounce this anti-Samaritan Jewish religious racism (Luke 10:25-37)). Moreover, Jesus Christ spoke in public to a woman, which was not the uses. In John 4:27, it is written that even his disciples were astonished at this situation. Be that as it may, in verse 16, Jesus Christ asked the woman to bring her husband for to continue the conversation. While Jesus Christ always had a chaste attitude towards women, he respected the customs regarding the relationship between men and women, and of course, of biblical morals.

Therefore, it is important not to have prejudices on the people to whom we are preaching the Good News. Jehovah God and Jesus Christ love all peoples and humans of all races, both men and women (Acts 10:34 « God is not partial »).

– Jesus Christ continued after the first surprise effect, adding something strange (verses 10-15): He can give her water, while he has no bucket (verse 10) . Of course, it was a spiritual way. Without necessarily thinking that the Samaritan woman lacked shrewdness, because she did not know that he was Jesus Christ who spoke to her, she pointed out to him that he had no bucket. Nevertheless, without pointing her the lack of discernment, Jesus Christ added a third surprising idea, completely aberrant from a human point of view: he can give her water which she will not be thirsty anymore. One can easily imagine the Samaritan woman looking at Jesus Christ, wide-eyed replying: « Sir, give me this water, so that I may neither thirst nor keep coming over to this place to draw water ». Clearly, the woman had not yet understood that Jesus Christ was speaking symbolically. He did not point out to her his lack of insight, because the goal he had set for himself was reached: to draw her attention.

First, to draw attention, use simple, (maybe, if possible) hard-hitting phrases that are out of the ordinary. It is necessary to arouse this innate curiosity to human beings, so that they can react and thus provoke spiritually interesting conversations. The second point is that Jesus Christ did not take back the Samaritan woman when she did not understand anything, he pursued his goal, he aroused her attention by creating a common ground between him and her.

– Jesus Christ refused to argue (Verse 20-22): The Samaritan woman opens a controversy over the different places of worship of Jews and Samaritans (verse 20). Jesus Christ did not enter into controversy by telling her that henceforth true worship would no longer depend on a particular holy place (verse 21). Having dismissed this pointless controversy, Jesus Christ nonetheless exposed the truth (Verse 22): « You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, because salvation begins with the Jews ». Salvation comes from the Jews because from this people (and not from the Samaritan people) would come the main means of everlasting salvation: Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

It is important to balance the fact of avoiding unnecessarily entering into pointless controversy, but also of the absolute necessity of exposing the biblical truth, as did Jesus Christ in this case.

– Jesus Christ spoke of « true worshipers » (Verses 23 and 24): The expression « true worshipers » has the advantage of its great simplicity: either we are, or we are not. Just as Jesus Christ said, there are only two alternatives, one that leads to life and the other to destruction (Matthew 7:13,14,21-23). Likewise, there are only two categories of worshipers: the true and the false. The true worshipers have been appointed by divine providence: Christians: « After he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year they assembled with them in the congregation and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians » (Acts 11:26). It is shortly before the Great Tribulation that Jesus Christ will make the difference between « true Christians » and « false Christians » (Matthew 7:21-23). Which means that if one were to replace the word « worshippers » or « to worship » with the non-biblical words « religion » or « religious », the situation will become (and it is) more complex: Indeed, how to recognize the « true religion » « among the millions of other religions that all call themselves « true »? It is better to remain on the simplicity of the term « true worshipers », used by Christ, or « Christian » used in the biblical book Acts (by divine providence). Clearly, Jesus Christ preached a message, the good news, rather than a « religion » (non-biblical generic word).

On the other hand, Jesus Christ has shown that his « Father is looking for ones like these to worship him », by means of human preaching, He is the One who is building up His Own People: « At that time those who fear Jehovah spoke with one another, each one with his companion, and Jehovah kept paying attention and listening. And a book of remembrance was written before him for those fearing Jehovah and for those meditating on his name » (Matthew 24:14, Malachi 3:16). Let us preach to the future great crowd that will survive to the great tribulation, the Day of Jehovah (Joel 2:1,2).

How to do ?

This is a concluding question: Let us imitate Jesus Christ, like his disciples, but also the Samaritan woman: « Many of the Sa·marʹi·tans from that city put faith in him because of the word of the woman who bore witness, saying: “He told me all the things I did.” So when the Sa·marʹi·tans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. As a result, many more believed because of what he said, and they said to the woman: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the savior of the world » (John 4:39-42).

The Samaritan woman preached, and her simple preaching has been so powerful that thanks to God’s blessing, a whole village came out to meet Jesus Christ and began to have faith in him. Do like the Samaritan woman, preach to your family members, your friends and especially those who do not have internet. Preach the Good News with the most possible means of communication, that the « Day of Jehovah is near » (Joel 2: 1,2). Feel free to use the Bible to support your statements, either by quoting biblical texts from memory or in essence, or by reading directly. In addition to preaching to those who do not have Internet, do not hesitate to use the social networks, creations of Biblical sites, blogs, Twitter, Facebook… To preach the Good News to all the nations before the end comes ( Matthew 24:14). By doing the best that you can, Jehovah God will not fail to bless your preaching activity, and will grant you everlasting life in the future earthly paradise: « For God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name by ministering and continuing to minister to the holy ones » (Hebrews 6:10). May God bless your preaching activity through Christ.

THE SIMPLE REQUIREMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN BAPTISM

Faith in Jehovah, Faith in Jesus Christ, Faith in the Holy Spirit

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things”

(Matthew 28:19,20)

The very important point of teaching in Matthew 28:19,20 is that the Christian Baptism is only made on a Criterion of Faith in Jehovah, Faith in Jesus Christ and Faith in the Holy Spirit. And after will begin the very long process of making disciples by mean a personalized teaching of the new disciple, and by mean assisting the weekly meeting, and participating in the works of the Christian Faith, the Preaching and the Teaching (Matthew 24:14;28:19,20). We can read examples of the simplicity of the Baptism Process based on Faith in Jehovah, Faith in Jesus Christ, Faith in the Holy (That means not mainly in criterion of biblical knowledge):

– In Acts, chapter 2 “So those who gladly accepted his word were baptized, and on that day about 3,000 people were added” (Acts 2:41; 4:4. Bible). Only after a simple biblical talk of the Apostle Peter, 3000 “souls” were baptized. What were the criteria that allow the Baptism according what the Apostle Peter said in his biblical talk?

1 – To repent (Acts 2:38; Acts 3:19. Bible).

2 – To Turn Around (Acts 3:19. Bible).

“Repent, and let each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.” (Acts 2:38. Bible). This Repentance must turn around the MENTAL, MORAL, PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL CLEANESS of the future Disciple.

So the Works of Faith in Jehovah, Faith in Jesus Christ and Faith in the Holy Spirit are two main Christian Works: Repentance and the religious conversion (Turn Around). There is not a criterion of full biblical knowledge. Why? Because the long following process of making disciple would give to the new disciple this important basic knowledge summarized by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews: “Therefore, now that we have moved beyond the primary doctrine about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying a foundation again, namely, repentance from dead works and faith in God, the teaching on baptisms and the laying on of the hands, the resurrection of the dead and everlasting judgment” (Hebrews 6:1,2). And this process of teaching of the 8000 new disciples is described in the Context of Acts chapters 3-6. Other biblical examples of the Simplicity of the process of Baptism:

– “In answer the eunuch said to Philip: “I beg you, About whom does the prophet say this? About himself or about some other man?” Philip opened his mouth and, starting with this Scripture, he declared to him the good news about Jesus. Now as they were going over the road, they came to a certain body of water, and the eunuch said: “Look! A body of water; what prevents me from getting baptized?”  With that he commanded the chariot to halt, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him” (Acts 8:34-8).

– “While Peter was yet speaking about these matters the holy spirit fell upon all those hearing the word. And the faithful ones that had come with Peter who were of those circumcised were amazed, because the free gift of the holy spirit was being poured out also upon people of the nations. For they heard them speaking with tongues and magnifying God. Then Peter responded: “Can anyone forbid water so that these might not be baptized who have received the holy spirit even as we have?” With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they requested him to remain for some days” (Acts 10:44-48).

According the verse 48, the days the Apostle remained in the House of Cornelius, he could teach to Cornelius the Christian “primary doctrine” to complete the formation of the New Disciple Cornelius…

The example of the Jailer (who probably wasn’t proselyte) who was simply baptized by the Apostle Paul: “So he asked for lights and rushed in, and seized with trembling, he fell down before Paul and Silas. 30 He brought them outside and said: “Sirs, what must I do to get saved?” 31 They said: “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will get saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of Jehovah to him together with all those in his house. 33 And he took them along in that hour of the night and washed their wounds. Then he and his entire household were baptized without delay. 34 He brought them into his house and set a table before them, and he rejoiced greatly with all his household now that he had believed in God” (Acts 16:29-32).

The simple process of baptism: “Then they spoke the word of Jehovah”, they taught them the elementary biblical teachings, and then, “Then he and his entire household were baptized without delay” (Hebrews 6:1 “primary doctrine”).

Baptize and teach the commandments of Christ

in order to save life

If baptism is a time of joy, in the Bible is described as an important beginning, and not a special celebration. The people who wanted to be baptized did not have to wait an « Assembly » to be baptized. Since we are very close to the Great Tribulation, we must do as the Apostle Paul with the jailer: baptize without delay (Acts 16:33). We must baptize without delay, in order to save the maximum number of people from the coming destruction of the Great Tribulation. They have to be baptized in the Name of (their faith in) Jehovah God, in the Name of (their faith in) Jesus Christ and in the Name of (their faith in) the action of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28: 19,20).

The simple condition for being part of the Great Crowd is based on biblical criteria of simple, sincere faith in God, in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit, with Christian works. In an illustration, Jesus Christ showed that he accepted the baptism in the very last time (Matthew 20:1-16). We must baptize, baptize, baptize millions of sincere people who languish in this system of things and teach them the commandments of Christ.

***