The purpose of the gospels is to bring the Old Testament to a close through the life and ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The synoptic gospels give us a more historical view of Christ examining his life through his teaching and the miracles he performed, all culminating in his death, burial, and resurrection. The death of the testator – Jesus Christ, closed the Old testament, and opened the New Testament.
Hebrews 9:17-18: For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
Matthew 1-26 is Old Testament and Matthew 27-28 transitions into the New testament by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Mark 1-14 follows the same pattern and Mark 15-16 follows the same transition. Luke 1-22 follows the same pattern and Luke 23-24 follows the same transition. John 1-17 follows the same pattern and John 18-21 follows the same transition.
John's gospel takes a different tack than the synoptics focusing on believing in Christ, which has a more universal appeal than just the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
John 20:31: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The two divine programs of scripture:
The prophetic program which has to do with Israel and the literal, physical, millennial kingdom known as the kingdom of heaven in Matthew. It is currently on hold or in “time out” during the dispensation of the grace of God. Romans 11 sheds light on Israel's putting away and restoration at the 2nd Advent.
The mystery program which is specific the body of Christ in the dispensation of the grace of God, which was a mystery until it was revealed to Paul by the Lord Jesus Christ. The Mystery program ends at the rapture of the Church Age saints – 1 Thess 4:13-18, 1 Cor 15:50-54.
Romans 16:25-27, Ephesians 3:1-12, and Colossians 1:25-29
We were able to look at Matthew 13, and the parable of the hid treasure in v.44. The Lord purchased the field / the world with his blood on Calvary. The treasure represents the subjects of the kingdom living and dead who will occupy and rule and reign with him in the kingdom. Exodus 19:4-6, Psalm 135:4
It was quite interesting to compare the physical treasure of a kingdom that is to come and the spiritual treasure that we possess in the person of the Holy Spirit who seals us unto the day of redemption. 2 Cor 4:7, Ephesians 1:13-14
We shall finish the Matthew 13 parables of the kingdom of heaven this coming Sunday!
