What Matthew adds

We have studied Mark 8:34 - 9:1, which is his foundational teaching on this subject: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross,and follow me.”

So, we must now ask what additional perspective the other gospel writers bring to this subject.

Let’s start with Matthew.

Whereas each of the Gospel writers has important teaching on discipleship, the gospel of Matthew makes discipleship and the kingdom of heaven one of its leading themes. Indeed Matthew contains some of the New Testament’s leading statements about discipleship.

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ Matthew 5:3. – Jesus said this to his disciples.

‘Therefore, whoever hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise person who built their house upon a rock’ Matthew 7:24

‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ Matthew 11:30

‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them’ Matthew 13:11

But there is one feature of discipleship that Matthew emphasises and it is the aspect of ‘reward’.

There’s a great deal in Matthew’s gospel about reward. Here are three that immediately come to mind;

• ‘The father who sees what is done in secret will reward you’ Matthew 6:6.
• Jesus’ reply to the rich young ruler that he would receive treasure in heaven, Matthew 19:21.
• The parables of the wise and foolish girls, and the bags of gold, Matthew 25:1-30.

So in Matthew 13, when Matthew introduces and records the parables Jesus uses to explain the kingdom, he includes two parables that no other New Testament writer records: the parable of the Pearl of Great Price and the parable of the Treasure hidden in the field (Matthew 13:44-46).

Jesus uses both these parables to illustrate the reward disciples will inherit in the kingdom. It’s worth giving up everything for the kingdom because those who do will find treasure that far exceeds the cost of buying the field. Similarly, with the pearl.

In Matthew, we see Jesus framing discipleship as the pursuit of rewards in heaven. This is one of the reasons why his ‘yoke is easy and his burden is light’ (Matthew 11:30).

This wonderful and glorious truth can come as quite a shock to those who somehow understand that Christianity is all about duty and slogging away at religious law – ‘God said it, so you’d better do it!’. It’s not. It’s about ‘throwing off everything that hinders and the sin which so easily entangles,’ Hebrews 12:1, in order to lay hold on the life empowered by the Spirit with Jesus in the kingdom.

Stories from the Kingdom

I want to recommend an outstanding book I have just enjoyed reading; ‘Coming to Faith through Dawkins; 12 Essays on the pathway from New Atheism to Christianity’ edited by Denis Alexander and Alister McGrath.

The book contains twelve accounts of individuals becoming disillusioned with New Atheism and specifically with the arguments proposed by Richard Dawkins against God and Christianity. What makes the book so exceptional is that many of the writers are intellectuals at the top of their field. The book is not only an excellent read, but it is definitely one that you can give or recommend to your atheistic friends.