Today, we conclude our study of the first 4 chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. You'll find an outline of what we studied at the end of this message.
Have you ever noticed how quickly a crowd can form when something exciting happens? A firetruck with its sirens blaring, a celebrity athlete preaching at church—we’re drawn to the excitement, the mystery, the promise of something extraordinary.
In Matthew 4:23–25, Jesus
becomes the center of attention. People are coming from everywhere to see Him—all
the towns around Galilee, Judea, and even as far as Jerusalem. Why? Because something powerful is happening. The sick are being healed. Hope is
spreading. And word is getting out: something amazing is happening.
But here’s the question
we’ll wrestle with today: Were they following Jesus? Or just the miracles? And
what about us? What are we really seeking?
Matthew 4:23-25
23 Jesus traveled throughout
the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News
about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 24 News about him spread as
far as Syria, and people soon began bringing to him all who were sick. And
whatever their sickness or disease, or if they were demon possessed or
epileptic or paralyzed—he healed them all. 25 Large crowds followed him
wherever he went—people from Galilee, the Ten Towns,[h] Jerusalem, from all over Judea,
and from east of the Jordan River.
As Jesus traveled around the region of Galilee, what did He announce? He announced the Good News about the Kingdom. The Kingdom was good news because it meant that God’s rule was breaking into a broken world—bringing healing, hope, and restoration. It offered freedom from sin, peace in place of chaos, and the promise of eternal life with God.
People in Israel were used to Kingdom talk. For 500 years, they’d been ruled by various
different foreign kingdoms who invaded their homeland and ruled over them—the
Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and then the Romans. All along the way, generations of Jews had
longed for the day God would send a Savior to restore the Kingdom of Israel
(which was supposed to be God’s Kingdom on Earth).
Jesus preached the Good News of the Kingdom and
it was Good News because it meant that God’s rule was breaking into a
broken world—bringing healing, hope, and restoration. It offered freedom from sin, peace in place of chaos, and the promise of
eternal life with God.
The Kingdom of God (AKA the Kingdom of Heaven) is what we pray for everytime we pray the Lord’s Prayer ands say “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.”
As Jesus shared the Good News about God’s Kingdom, people were healed in amazing ways. That makes total sense—because in God’s Kingdom, there is no sickness. Sickness and all kinds of suffering are part of our world because of sin. We don’t fully live in God’s Kingdom yet. But when God’s Kingdom comes in all its power, there won’t be any more pain, sickness, or death. Just like darkness disappears when the light shines, all brokenness will be gone when God’s Kingdom is fully here.
So as Jesus announced the Good News: “The Kingdom of God is close at hand,” sickness and all kind of suffering were driven away.
With all the excitement, crowds of people started following Jesus. And that sounds like a good thing. Maybe it is. I’m sure it felt good for the Disciples to see their Master succeeding and gathering such large crowds. But the idea of "Crowds" in the Gospels is always a tricky thing.
On one hand, it’s exciting to see a big crowd of people who seem to love and support you. But how can you tell if they’re all there for the right reasons? Some people in the crowd truly wanted to hear Jesus’ message and follow His teachings—like loving God and loving others. But others were only there because they hoped Jesus would get rid of the Romans so they could do whatever they wanted. Some just wanted free food or to watch Him do cool miracles. A lot of people were more interested in what Jesus could give them than in actually following Him and living the way God wants.
And don’t forget—at the end of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus was on trial, Pilate actually wanted to let Him go. But the crowd shouted for Barabbas, a known criminal, to be set free instead. Then they yelled for Jesus to be crucified. This shows how quickly a crowd can change and how people sometimes choose what’s easier or more familiar instead of what’s right and true.
But for now in the story, Matthew tells us that crowds of people gathered to follow Jesus whereever he went. Jesus had a platform to share His wonderful Good News about the Kingdom so people could decided for themselves how to respond.
And now, I believe the Holy Spirit is leading me to bring this message home—to you and your life. The same Spirit that led Jesus to preach the Good News of the Kingdom is speaking to you today.
So let me ask: Are you just
one more person in the crowd, following Jesus around because you want something
from Him—maybe a blessing, a miracle, or some help with your problems?
Or are you truly hearing His message and realizing something deeper?
The Kingdom of God is here. It’s not just about getting what you want—it’s about recognizing that Jesus is the King, and He calls us to follow Him with our whole heart.
Have you been living for His
Kingdom, or just for yourself?
Have you made Jesus your King—or just someone you call on when you're in
trouble?
Now is the time to respond.
Will you keep standing in the crowd, watching from a distance?
Or will you step forward, follow Jesus, and be part of the real Kingdom He came
to bring?
He’s calling you. How will
you respond?
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Outline Review of Matthew's Beginning Chapters 1-4
Chapters 1:
The genealogy of Jesus, His conception, and Mary and
Joseph’s reaction
Chapter 2:
Jesus’ Birth, the visit
of the Wisemen, Herod’s reaction, the holy family’s Escape to Egypt, and their
eventual return to Nazareth
Chapter 3:
John the Baptist prepares the way and baptizes Jesus
Chapter 4:
Jesus’ Temptation in the wilderness, His ministry begins, the
first disciples, and the crowds start following Jesus
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