Mystery of the Kingdom: On the Gospel of Matthew

by Edward Sri

Publisher:

Emmaus Road

, 1999

Overview

Mystery of the Kingdom is a refreshing Bible study on the Gospel of Matthew, focusing on the “kingdom of God.” Why is the kingdom at the heart of Jesus’ teaching? What were Jesus’ contemporaries expecting? What did Jesus actually say about his kingdom? What is the relationship between the “kingdom” and the Catholic Church we see today?

Join popular Scripture professor Edward P. Sri for a faithful exploration of Jesus’ “kingdom-building” mission. Sri’s accessible style and provocative study questions make this book ideal for individual or group study.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Scripture citations link directly to English translations, and important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

Key Features

• Explores Jesus’ kingdom-building mission throughout Matthew
• Offers a fresh perspective on the Gospel of Matthew
• Provides study questions for individual or group study

Contents

• Jesus’ Family Tree
• The King’s Anointing
• Battle in the Desert
• The Challenge of the Kingdom
• Putting the Kingdom into Action
• Conflict in Galilee
• Keys to the Kingdom
• The Secret of the Messiah
• Jesus, the Temple, and the End Times
• The Trial of the King
• The Climax of the Cross

Top Highlights

“Matthew, more than the other Gospels, brings together most explicitly this central theme of Jesus’ mission, the building of the kingdom.” (Page 15)

“His teachings stirred up great controversy, and He faced fierce opposition from the religious leaders of the day” (Page 13)

“The Spirit’s descending on Jesus calls to mind how the Spirit fell upon the Jewish kings of the Old Testament when they were anointed. For example, Samuel told Saul that one of the signs that he was truly anointed king was that ‘the spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you’ (1 Sam. 10:6). Similarly when Samuel anointed David as king, ‘the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward’ (1 Sam. 16:13).” (Pages 36–37)

“According to their prophets and their law, it was covenant unfaithfulness that brought about their exile and oppression. Thus, Jesus (‘God saves’) comes to ‘save his people from their sins,’ thereby saving the Jews from the real exile—which is not being chained down by the Babylonians or Romans, but being enslaved to the real oppressor, the devil, who has a hold over all humanity through the chains of sin and death.” (Page 25)

“The Jews knew that great things happened at the Jordan River. This is the place where the prophet Elisha cured Naaman, servant of the King of Syria (2 Kings 5:1–14). This is where the prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:1–10). But most of all, this river would bring to mind the most important event in Israel’s history—the Exodus.” (Pages 31–32)

Praise for the Print Edition

Edward Sri has moved us beyond the typical modern limitations in reading Matthew. Read this book attentively, then, and you’ll come to a deeper love of the people and the religion of Israel, the people and the religion of our Messiah and King.

—Scott Hahn, professor of theology and Scripture, Franciscan University of Steubenville

Emmaus Road has done it again! This is a dynamic Bible study that draws you close to Christ and the Church he founded. Edward Sri shows us why his college courses are overflowing with excited students—he makes the Scriptures come alive.

—Curtis A. Martin, executive director, Fellowship of Catholic University Students

Sri has uncovered and clearly presented the Old Testament background needed to flesh out our understanding of Matthew’s Gospel. The result is a better understanding of Jesus’ life and mission—and ours. Readable and practical for independent and group study, Mystery of the Kingdom deserves two thumbs up!

—Stacy Mitch, author, Courageous Series

In today’s proliferation of easily forgotten ‘mission statements,’ it is exciting to read about a mission that really matters—Jesus’ saving mission. Professor Sri’s new book not only makes the Lord’s mission electrifyingly clear; it shows how the kingdom is at its heart. Mystery of the Kingdom offers a fresh, fascinating, and truly spiritual insight into Matthew’s Gospel. For a bonus, Bible study groups will delight in the probing study questions after each chapter.

—James P. Keleher, STD

Product Details

• Title: Mystery of the Kingdom: On the Gospel of Matthew
• Author: Edward Sri
• Series: Kingdom series
• Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing
• Publication Date: 2000
• Pages: 160
• Christian Group: Catholic
• Resource Type: Bible Studies
• Topic: Biblical Studies

About Edward Sri

Edward Sri is provost and professor of theology and Scripture at the Augustine Institute in Denver, visiting professor at Benedictine College, and founding leader with Curtis Martin of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students). He holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He is the author of numerous books, including The New Rosary in Scripture: Biblical Insights for Praying the 20 Mysteries and The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code.