There are only two specific references to the Church in the Gospels and they are both found in Matthew, the gospel of the Kingdom – Matthew 16 v.15 -20 and Matthew 18 v. 15 – 20. Neither Mark – Luke nor John mentioned the Church .

The background of Christ’s promise to build his Church is significant. The gospel of Matthew is distinctly the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus Christ, the seed of Abraham and David, the king of the Kingdom came to his own people Judah and presented to them the Kingdom of God.

It was not the type of Kingdom they expected. They were looking for a carnal – earthly – political and materialistic kingdom. They were looking for a Kingdom like David’s of military might and power and subjugation of all gentiles’ enemies.