Jesus Models the Way of His Kingdom by Substitutionary Atonement (Mat 20:24-28).

Class Outline:

Thursday September 4, 2025

 

Main idea: Believers need consistent reminders of the foundational way of Christ.

 

MAT 20:24-28

 

Believers need constant reminders of the foundational way of Christ. We need to consistently adjust our perspective to remembering Christ and His way because the world around us pulls our affection for Christ away.

 

The disciples have failed to grasp the foundational way of the kingdom of heaven - service and slavery to the King.

 

To serve the King is to serve and be a slave of others.

 

You are a slave to their need, the important need, to come to know Christ.

 

Jesus will teach them the same idea again in a different way in the quest to serve them understanding (fourth soil).

 

Keep hearing the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.

 

He will contrast kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of heaven.

 

Three parallels: kingdoms of the nations, disciples, and the Lord.

 

PRO 29:2

 

Historical examples of nations: Romans and Judaism at the time.

 

Only the Lord Jesus has an eternal kingdom.

 

DAN 7:13-15

"I kept looking in the night visions,

And behold, with the clouds of heaven

One like a Son of Man was coming,

And He came up to the Ancient of Days

And was presented before Him.

14 "And to Him was given dominion,

Glory and a kingdom,

That all the peoples, nations and men of every language

Might serve Him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

Which will not pass away;

And His kingdom is one

Which will not be destroyed.

 

Prophetic examples of the kingdom: ISA 9:6-7; ISA 11:1-10; ISA 25:7-9; ISA 65:17 f; DAN 7:13-14 (“Son of Man”).

 

His kingdom is not like the world’s. He is in you. He indwells every believer. His way, His life is in you. (GAL 5:1; GAL 5:13).

 

GAL 5:13

 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

Jesus will use Himself as an example and teach them the concept of substitution.

 

The truth of substitutionary atonement would blossom all over the New Testament (huper - “for” you). JOH 10:11; ROM 5:6; ROM 8:32.

 

Peter’s pride made him think that he could be a substitute for Christ, JOH 13:37-38.

 

“Just as” means that the life of the King is our own.

 

“For us” becomes “for one another.” In this context - giving, serving, helping “one another” is in the NT about 100x. ROM 15:7.

 

ROM 12:9-16

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.

 

ROM 13:8

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law

 

EPH 4:1-6

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

 

EPH 4:32

Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

EPH 5:18-21

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

 

COL 3:12-17

 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

 

1TH 4:18

Therefore comfort one another with these words.

 

1TH 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

 

1TH 5:13-15

Live in peace with one another. 14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people

 

HEB 10:24-25

let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

 

1PE 4:9-10

Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 

Hear these and see in the eyes of your heart the ways of the kingdom of Christ in ourselves.

 

Conclusion:

 

The spiritually proud who wanted great seats and the indignant ten in whom bitterness rises show the opposite of Christ’s kingdom.

 

The Lord wanted them to look around and remember the kingdoms of the world, even Israel, so He could put the question to them, “Do you think My kingdom would be like theirs?”

 

 

Application:

 

Don’t let your heart be stuck, or re-stuck in the world and its familiar ways of success and promotion and worth. Remember the Lord’s teaching:

 

Remember that this world is temporary. It will not go on and it though you are in it, you are not of it. Let Christ’s light shine through you by your servanthood and slavery to the Lord, “Let your light shine that they may see …”

 

Let your heart be enlightened. Pray for it. You are a servant because Christ was. You are a slave because He was obedient to the point of death. Remember the reward. Quit evil ambition and seek His treasure.

 

Your life will contain aspects of tyranny, unkind or unfair authority. Solution is to trust in Christ as your true King and patiently await His deliverance.