Introduction to the Gospels & MatthewSmakprov

### Matthew #2: The Kingdom of Heaven This lesson reviews the concept of “the kingdom of heaven,” the Kingdom’s citizen criteria, and Jesus’ genealogies and birth account. In the Old Testament, Israel rejected God’s rule in their hearts and chose earthly kings to rule over them instead. This led to disaster and exile. Even after the exile, the true kingdom was not established in Israel. Then one day, John the Baptist comes to declare the coming of God’s man, the bringer of the Kingdom. Only a righteous person, repentant and reconciled with God, committed to Christ’s values can be a citizen of this Kingdom.