In this passage, Christ starts His public ministry and says, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (v. 17) The very reason that the Son of God became a man was to save His people and make them into the Kingdom. Christ appoints 12 disciples so that they can continue God’s work by preaching the good news to His elect people even after He ascends to heaven. Christ started His ministry around the age of 30 (Luke 3:23). It is commonly believed that Ezekiel also received his prophetic role at this age. Even if it is not true, the age 30 is associated with the Levites (Numbers 4:3,35,39,43,47). King David was also 30 years old when he became a king, and he reigned for 40 years. David, as the shadow of the real King, also hold the three offices – king, prophet, and priest. He was the king of whole Israel. He wrote prophecies as we read them in the Psalms. And he wore the linen ephod when he inquired of the Lord, which only the high priest wore (Exodus 28:4).

Christ started His ministry at 30 and Jerusalem fell in AD 70. In this passage, Christ’s public ministry was His reign. He was the King of the Jews (John 19:19). As any other worldly leaders, He appointed His officials. Although Judas betrayed Christ, he was replaced by Matthias in Acts 1:12-26. Therefore, the number twelve remained intact according to God’s words.

The distinctive features of the disciples are that they actively sought God’s will, prayed, understood God’s words written in the OT, preached the good news, and fulfilled His prophecies by His Spirit. They were also the features of the prophets in the OT. But it became clearer in the NT. The disciples were given the authority to interpret God’s words in the OT.

In this passage, Matthew talks about the miracles Christ performed. Miracles were used to draw people’s attention so that they would come to see Christ and hear the good news. Miracles are the shadows of the Kingdom where there is no sickness or pain.

Jesus was going about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people. (v.23)

Many churches use this healing power to draw people. But most of them (if not all of them) do not teach the good news. They deny Sola Gratia. Christ spent much time on teaching the knowledge of God. By His words, we discern who is from God and who is not from God. There are the sons of the devil in sheep’s clothing.

You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:44)

We were all once idolaters and followed false teachers. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we now understand God’s words and discern. There is no doubt, the anti-Christ will perform many miracles at the end. Many will follow him as destined.

they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” A mouth was given to him speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority was given to him over every tribe, people, language, and nation. All who live on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written since the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slaughtered. If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints. (Revelation 13:4-10)