The Gospel of the Kingdom
"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matthew 9:35). We usually begin our discussion with the expression "Jesus said" followed by a quotation He actually uttered. It is important that we examine individually each of His statements. However, it is equally important to consider them as a whole. Both the trees and the forrest are important.
The Gospel of the Kingdom — Matthew tells us directly that Jesus taught the gospel of the kingdom. In 4:23 he said, "Now Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom." Our present text says this was not only true in Galilee, but in "all the cities and villages." Finally he said, "This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations" (Matthew 24:14; See also 26:13). Mark adds, "Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel‘" (Mark 1:14-15). Luke said, "He taught the people in the temple and preached the gospel" (Luke 20:1). Jesus taught men to believe in the gospel. He taught them about His own life and death (Matthew 16:21; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4), about being born again (John 3:1-5; Romans 6:3-4) through faith in and obedience to the gospel (Mark 16:15-16; Romans 6:16-17; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9), about right living (Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 1:27); about the church (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:23-25); and about heaven (John 14:1-6; Colossians 1:5). He taught men how to be saved (Mark 16:15-16; Romans 1:16; 1 Timothy 1:11-16).
Not Old Testament Doctrine — There are those who believe that what Jesus did was to explain the Law to the Jews. When Jesus concluded the sermon on the mount, "the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:28-29). He did not teach as a scribe or a teacher of the law. "But I say to you" was His message. He said, "All the prophets and the law prophesied until John" (Matthew 11:13). While it is true that He demonstrated the errors of the Jews in following the Law (Matthew 15:1-9, et al), it is also true that He taught concerning the resurrection and heaven (Matthew 22:30, et al). It was not the Law but His words — the gospel — which were spirit and life (John 6:63).
The Need to Distinguish — Proper discrimination is necessary. There are those who wreck havoc on the gospel by eliminating critical elements taught by Christ. One such point has to do with marriage, divorce, and remarriage. If Jesus taught only a correct explanation of the law, there is no scriptural cause for divorce and remarriage and one would have to live with an unfaithful and immoral mate for life. We must make this distinction and pay very careful attention when the Scripture says, "And Jesus said."