The gospel of Matthew is a winding journey that takes us on a trek from Jesus’ humble birth, all the way to his victorious return from the grave. In between, there are countless stories, teachings, and interactions that fill in so much of who this Jesus is and what kind of kingdom he came to create.

In this section, we see many people start to understand the “kingdom” that Jesus talked so much about. The disciples and others begin wrapping their minds around who Jesus is, what he is up to, and what he’s inviting them into as well.

And while it is a rocky journey of discovery for many of them, we get to learn through their eyes about what it means for us to embody the kingdom of God in our day and age.