Is there a difference between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven?
To start, the phrase "kingdom of heaven" is used 32 times and only occurs in the gospel of Matthew. The phrase, "Kingdom of God" occurs 68 times in the New Testament in ten different books. Some have noted the Jewish nature of Matthews's gospel in keeping with the custom not to speak the name of God. However, the word "God" is used throughout Matthews's gospel.
Some believe that the "kingdom of heaven" is referring to the millennial kingdom of the future. This can be quickly dismissed by observing the following records:
Matthew 19:16-24 16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
In verse 23, Jesus refers to the kingdom of heaven. In the following verse, speaking of the same kingdom, he calls it the "Kingdom of God." In parallel accounts where Mark and Luke use the phrase "Kingdom of God," Matthew chooses to use the phrase kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 4:1 1Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred 17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
In the preceding record you have Jesus led up by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. After Jesus heard that John was in prison, Jesus goes to Capernaum.
Matthew 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Then the scripture teaches…
Matthew 4:17-22 17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
So the context is as follows Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights and then he was tempted of the devil. The devil ends his temptations and angels com and minister to Jesus in verse 11.
Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
He finds out John is in prison and ends up in Capernaum.
Matthew 4:12-13 12Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; 13And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:
Then in verse 17 he calls men to repentance and begins to preach about the "kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. As he is walking by the sea of galilee he see two brothers and calls them to the ministry they respond and follow Jesus. Matthew 4:18-20 18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
As he continues to walk, he sees two more brothers and calls them to ministry. They also respond and follow.
Matthew 4:21-22 21And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. 22And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
This is Matthew's account and Matthew says he was preaching the "kingdom of heaven."
Now let's look at the identical record in Marks gospel.
Mark 1:12-13 12And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. 13And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.
Mark notes the temptation where Matthew goes into detail. However, this is talking about the same record.
Mark 1:14-15 14Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Here in verse 14 Mark records after John was put in prison. Matthew teaches Jesus heard about John's imprisonment then came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the "Kingdom of God."
Verse 15 records the invitation to repent and believe the gospel of the kingdom of God.
Then as He is walking by the Sea of Galilee, He sees the first of two brothers, Simon and Andrew. He calls them to the ministry.
Mark 1:16-18 16Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 17And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 19And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
He then continues to walk and comes upon the next set of brothers He calls to the ministry, James and John.
Mark 1:19-20 19And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. 20And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
Now, you have identical records. In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus is calling men, to repent and tells, them the "kingdom of heaven" is at hand. In Marks gospel he calls it the kingdom of God.
The same truth can be observed by comparing the following.
Matthew 11:11-12 11Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Luke 7:28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
To be continued ÿ