Living Outloud: The Kingdom Costs Everything (and Why That’s Good News)
Let’s be honest: Matthew 12–16 is not a gentle stroll through the Gospels. It’s a wake-up call. These chapters aren’t just a highlight reel of miracles and parables—they’re a gut-check on what it actually means to follow Jesus. Not admire Him. Not agree with Him. Follow Him.
Jesus doesn’t ease us in. He starts by redefining family:
“Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Translation? Obedience isn’t optional—it’s relational. Doing the Father’s will isn’t just a spiritual checkbox; it’s how we belong to Jesus.
So what is the Father’s will? Jesus answers that with stories. A man finds treasure buried in a field and sells everything to buy it. Another discovers a pearl so valuable he gives up all he owns to possess it. These aren’t just cute parables—they’re kingdom math. Everything minus everything equals everything. The kingdom is worth it. All of it.
But here’s the rub: we don’t always believe that. We say we do, but then we cling to comfort, reputation, relationships, dreams, control. We treat Jesus like a life upgrade, not a life exchange. And that’s where Matthew gets uncomfortable—in the best way.
Jesus quotes Isaiah:
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Ouch. That’s not a critique of pagan culture—it’s a warning to religious people. To us. To anyone who’s mastered the art of spiritual lip service while keeping their heart safely guarded from surrender.
And then comes the line that wrecks us—in the best way:
“If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” This isn’t motivational. It’s surgical. Jesus isn’t offering a better version of your life; He’s inviting you to lose it. Not because He’s cruel, but because He knows what’s on the other side: real life. Eternal life. Kingdom life.
So here’s the question Matthew 12–16 keeps pressing: Are we living for the perks of Christianity, or in response to the Person of Christ?
Because if we’re just chasing blessings, comfort, or a spiritual safety net, we’ve missed the point. Jesus didn’t die to make our lives easier. He died to make us new. To absorb the wrath we deserved and offer us Himself instead.
And that changes everything.
So maybe today’s not about tweaking your schedule or adding a new devotional. Maybe it’s about asking:
What am I still clinging to that I wouldn’t sell for the treasure in the field?
What part of me still believes comfort is the goal?
What would it look like to follow Jesus—not just admire Him—from here?
The kingdom is costly. But it’s worth it. Not someday. Not when life settles down. Now.
