The Word of the Kingdom

Why speakest thou unto them in parables? Matt 13:10

It is apparent by the question the disciples recognized a distinction in how Jesus spoke to the crowds and how He spoke to them. Could there be a key to true discipleship locked up in their observation?

You don’t speak to us like that. Why do you speak to them like that? What’s the reason? That raises another question. How did he speak to the disciples? Let’s take a look.

In Matthew 4:19 he sets the precedent. “Follow me, I will make you fishers of men.” His words are clear. They are emphatic and they are, according to Tense, Voice and Mood of the original language, imperative. They must be heard and submitted to. This was the disciples initial orientation. Jesus spoke and it came to be. He commanded and it stood firm. They were arrested by the authority of the word of the kingdom.

Matthew 5 is loaded with blessing and words of command. He is speaking to the disciples. By the time we reach Matt 7 vs 29 the people themselves are catching on to the distinction. They comment among themselves, “He taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes." They could see the distinction in words but could not comprehend the source of His identity. They were quite sure however Jesus was unique. He spoke commanding words of instruction and devils left, sicknesses were healed, blind eyes opened and dead men rose again. This was not one purposed to distribute information. His authority was realized in the instructions he gave.

In chapter 8 of Matthew’s gospel a Centurion caused Jesus to marvel by addressing this very point. "For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. "The Centurion was confident in the realm and jurisdiction which was delegated to him. He did not treat the men under him as relatives, friends or associates. They were called to serve under his command. He spoke to them with commanding language. Why was he a successful Centurion? Simple. He knew and the men under him knew he was set into a place of authority over their lives. Therefore, when he spoke with instructions backed by his delegated authority obedience followed. Those servants saw him as their leader. They understood he was given this authority by someone higher than them all. They also understood that to disobey or refuse to follow the instructions given was a serious offense, one which would not be tolerated nor overlooked. If the instructions are not obeyed the Centurion would automatically bring the matter before one of his own superiors. What then would be the fate of the one refusing to follow the instructions of their commander? Ask a court-martialed military man? The repurcussions for disobedience are fatal.

What caused Jesus to marvel at the Centurion's faith? He understood authority, his position, the role of servants? I don’t think so. I believe the Centurion understood that neither he nor his superiors had the authority to speak to the force which was grievously tormenting his servant. Therefore, he abandoned his own authority and submitted to the authority of Jesus, recognizing the scope of His jurisdiction. The Centurion understood words of instruction. He spoke to those “subject” to him and they obeyed. He was set in place to speak them. However, the Centurion's realm of authority was limited to the 100 men under him. The Centurion acknowledged the deficit of his own authority. He said, I speak to my servant, Do this and he does it. For some reason however, it’s not working this time. My servant didn’t get up and do as I instructed him. Why? Because some unseen force outside my jurisdiction has sabatogued his mind. Therefore a higher authority must speak. He didn’t go to men within the ranks of the military force he was joined to. Why? Because the words of the earthly commander (those over him) were not capable of doing what a word from Jesus' man’s kingdom (or realm of authrotity) will do.

The Centurion, though not a disciple, recognized the authority of Jesus. Jesus marveled because the Centurion saw the limitations of the kingdom in which he served and ruled. At the same time he saw the extent of Jesus’s rule and dominion. With this understanding he summed it up. “Just speak the word.” What word? The word of the kingdom in which Jesus was given dominion. How far did it reach? In the eyes of the Centurion it would reach to boundaries of his house. Are you convinced it will reach yours?

Jesus countered the Centurion’s word with great affirmation. “I’ve not seen so great faith.” The Centurion’s servant was healed because the Centurion took responsibility for those under his leadership. He did not ask the Lord to enter into his realm of authority (house). He positioned himself through acknowledgement and submission into the realm of the Lord's authority. He didn’t ask the Lord, tell me what to say or how to heal this servant. He wanted NOW results and he got them. You just speak the word, backed with your authority and my servant will be healed. The Centurion did not want information. He wanted results. He came seeking a word of the kingdom. Send the word and heal my servant and deliver him of his destruction. Speak that word NOW.

What is the word of the kingdom? A word decreed by the King. A word, which once received, must be listened to and obeyed. Why? Because the Word is the King's determination in regards to the matters of his kingdom. It is impossible for you to obey a word of instruction from the King without achieving a manifestation of the kingdom. His commands stand firm. Obey his commands and reap the benefits of Deut 28. Ignore the commands….shut your eyes to the authority behind the command, cast off the words as mere rhetoric like the Pharisees, or catalogue them as mere information….what results will follow? Jesus said it well. “You make the commandment of none effect.”[1]

The effectiveness of the command is in your obedience. Refuse to obey….you see no results. Close your eyes to the authentic authority with which it is commanded….you’ll miss your healing.That’s why true BELIEVERS can say, “Is anything too hard for God?” Of course not. He just speaks and it comes to be. He commands and it stands firm. Jesus sent the disciples forth commanding them to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out devils. They didn’t heal the sick because they prayed. He had not even taught them to pray yet. The results were not related to their fasting. John’s own disciples challenged him as to why the Lord’s disciples did not fast. The disciples healed the sick because they were COMMANDED to heal the sick. When they obeyed the command of their superior officer they achieved results. The authority of the King manifested to confirm the words they spoke on His behalf.The disciples obeyed instructions. Why the disciples and not the masses? Because they saw/knew the authority given to the one who spoke them. They also acknowledged through their obedience that they were subject to the King. Subjects of the kingdom carry out and obey the words of the King. Why did the disciples have tangible results when they laid hands on the sick? The answer is easy. Jesus commanded them to do it. They recognized him as one with authority. They submitted to his authority following through with action on their part. What happened when they believed they were to obey His instructions? Signs and wonders followed them because they believed they were to obey the instructions.

How can we be assured of results? The same way. We must open our eyes to his divinely appointed position of authority and submit to the word of the Kingdom. How do we do that? Just obey. Like the words of the song. Trust and Obey for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Because it is given unto you to know.

Jesus made it unmistakably clear, knowing the mysteries of the kingdom is a gift. Some receive it. Some do not. What is the deciding factor? Could it be connected to those who come back after the parable is spoken and ask for understanding? They are the only ones who heard him say, "the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are given to you". Disciples then are those who are submitted to Jesus’ as a commander. The reward of obedience is knowledge of the mysteries. He goes on to say that those who have.... Have what? Have questions? Have need of understanding? Have a relationship with the Great Teacher? He said those who have shall get more. More what? Those who have questions and have a relationship with the one who has the answers will have more abundance. But if you don’t have a desire for understanding even the information you received will not profit you because you will not retain it.

Jesus next reveals the source of the problem for those who hear and walk away. "Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand".They saw him as a teacher with authority according to Matt 7:29 but they did not see Him as the source of understanding. They heard the words of the parable but they could not hear his invitation to take up your cross daily and follow me. They don’t understand the mysteries are revealed sitting at his feet. So they go their own way.

They are fulfilling prophecy and don’t even know it. Jesus adds another dimension to the problem. They are fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy. The problem; hearing with out understanding and seeing without perception. They are learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted[2], and I should heal them. Vs 15 Here’s the diagnosis; a heart waxed gross, dull of hearing and they have closed their eyes. They have made a decision they don’t want to see it. The problem is simple. It’s not a demon. It’s not a curse. It’s not a generational sin. It’s just they don’t want to see. The solution to their healing however is quite easy to obtain. The problem came when they shut their eyes. Guess when the turn around begins. When they choose to open them. Jesus says if at any time they decide to open their eyes, hearing and understanding would following. They will then be converted and I should heal them. That makes me ask a question. What is it they have not seen if in fact they have seen something? What must one see to be healed? What must be heard? What understanding is needed to be converted?I believe we can answer those questions with a quick look back to the Centurion. What did he see? He saw Jesus with a more encompassing authority than his own. Was he not the authority over his own house? Over his own servants? Over the 100 men in his charge? Sure he was. But the Centurion saw Jesus as the ultimate authority. How do I know that? Well, he did not go to his superior officers and ask them to speak a word into his house to heal his servant. Why? Their authority had no jurisdiction within his own home. The Centurion opened the door for Jesus to exercise His God-given authority within the realm of his own house. He humbled himself, disregarding his own position, and submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. The Centurion SAW Jesus and in seeing he waited to hear the word of the kingdom which was sent to heal the disease of his servant. Did the servant get healed with information? No. He was healed by the word of the kingdom. A word which was backed by the authority of heaven on earth.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

Vs 16 Jesus spoke to disciples by command. They responded with obedience. As long as they saw him as their commander they obeyed the commands. Jesus called this relationship blessed. They SAW Him. Because they saw him they heard him. When they heard they asked for understanding. It was this ongoing relationship which assured them of abiding in His kingdom. Jesus declared, "blessed are your eyes for they see".

In vs 18 Jesus demonstrates the authority he exercises to the obedient. “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower? He left no room for error. Speaking with authority he commands their attention, “Hear ye.” As their leader, one ordained to be with them, Jesus takes responsibility for their hearing. He issues a heavenly mandate. “Hear.”We see a similar command at the beginning of the parable. “Behold.” Those who responded to the command, receiving it as a word of instruction and backed with authority which must be followed, saw something. What did they see? Obviously, from their actions, they could see who to go to for the answer to their questions. They didn’t listen to the message over and over hoping to catch it. They didn’t even discuss it among themselves. They SAW Jesus as the final authority. They came to him. How did they see him? In this setting they saw him as the Teacher. They went to the one they saw. They “opened their eyes” to his identity and by virtue of their actions declared the profession or conviction of their faith. He is the sent one, the Apostle. Sent to us with a word which will heal our disease, and deliver us from our destruction. Their actions confimed the words of their lips, "The words you speak are spirit and they are life".

Did they say these words with their lips? If they did it wasn’t important enough to record. Their actions, however, spoke the conviction. They saw Jesus as the answer, therefore, they received answers to their questions. Jesus goes on to say. “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and understands it not” something is guaranteed to happen. The wicked one will steal it. Let’s look closer at this for a moment. Take specific note of his words. He has expounded upon the parable to the disciples. He’s bringing understanding. He’s now focused on a target “the word of the kingdom”. It’s not just the spoken word. It’s a word which emanates from the kingdom. That alerts us to stand at attention. The King is speaking. Now we come closer to the revelation. “If anyone hears the word of the kingdom and doesn’t understand the KING gave this instruction or commandment he is guaranteed a visit from the thief.

Let’s take a look momentarily at a couple of examples of this so we can understand the wiles of Satan. In the beginning God issued a “word of the kingdom”. Do not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Because of his subtlity Satan persuaded Eve this was just a word of information. When in fact it was a divine mandate from heaven, a word to be obeyed. Satan blinded her eyes to the origin and intent of the words so that she received it as information or knowledge to be accumulated instead of an instruction to be obeyed.They no longer saw God as the Ruler of the Universe, the authority to whom they were responsible or the Lord of their lives. They shut their eyes to his authority, his sovereignty, his divinity. Satan didn’t change the Father. He changed the view of the Father in the eyes of the creature. Because they shut their eyes to the command they could no longer see the commander.

Namaan, the leper, is another example of this. He heard the “word of the kingdom”, uttered through Elijah's mouth. However he discounted the authority behind the word. He closed his eyes to divine authority. In that moment he saw Elijah as a man dispensing information instead of a prophet of God giving instructions to heal his disease. In closing his eyes to God’s delegated authority he could only see the authority of the disease which had control of his body. How did Namaan’s eyes go shut? He chose to reject Elijah’s authority as a prophet thus negating the effectiveness of the instructions. He saw it only as information. Luckily for him his servant girl didn’t take the instruction so lightly. She intercepted the enemy’s blinders and brought him understanding. When Namaan opened his eyes to receive the “Word of instruction” as a command to be obeyed he received his healing.

When will you receive your healing, deliverance, breakthrough? According to Matthew 13:15 "lest at anytime they open their eyes...understand He is The king who stands ready to receive you into his kingdom, his sphere of influence and authority. What is his promise. The same as the one he spoke to the Centurion after hearing the condition of his servant. "I will come and heal him."

How long will it take for Him to heal you? Good question. How long will it take for you to see Him High and Lifted up? seated on the right hand of the Father? full of compassion and ready to heal? Why not ask the King to issue a royal decree concerning your circumstances? Then you will know the certainty of the kingdom declaration. "He sent his word and healed us of our diseases and delivered us from our destructions."


1994 epistrepho { ep-ee-stref’-o} from 1909 and 4762; TDNT - 7:722,1093; v AV - turn 16, be converted 6, return 6, turn about 4, turn again 3, misc 4; 39GK - 2188 { ejpistrevfw }1) transitively 1a) to turn to 1a1)to the worship of the true God 1b) to cause to return, to bring back 1b1) to the love and obedience of God1b2) to the love for the children 1b3) to love wisdom and righteousness 2) intransitively 2a) to turn to one’s self 2b) to turn one’s self about, turn back2c) to return, turn back, come back