In our last issue we began to look at the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven.
We compared identical records where the kingdom of heaven was used in the gospel of Matthew and the kingdom of God was used in the gospel of Luke.
We saw that the gospel of Matthew was the only gospel that this phrase was used. All of the other gospels use the phrase kingdom of God.
It is interesting to note that Matthew also uses the phrase kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 19:23-24 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 the above verses Matthew uses both phrases to describe this rich man having trouble to enter into the kingdom.
From just this verse it would appear that there is no difference between the two. I am pretty sure Matthew is referring to the same kingdom.
It would appear that the two phrases are used interchangeably.
The teaching of the kingdom was Jesus Christ central theme. This is un-noticed in much of Christianity. However the student of the word can quickly see this truth.
Matthew 4:23-25 23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. 24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them. 25And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
The commencement of the ministry is described in these words, "And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people."
Luke 8:1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
He was instructing his apostles and going through out every city preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. He then sent his disciples out to do the same.
Luke 9:1-2 1Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Matthew 13:10-11 10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He 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.
The kingdom teachings were explained in many of the kingdom parables.
Matthew 13:31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Matthew 13:33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Matthew 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Matthew 13:51-53 51Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. 53And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. Luke 13:18-22 18Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. 20And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 22And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.
How much could be learned from studying the kingdom parables?
After the resurrection up until the day of the ascension Jesus was teaching his disciples about the things that pertain to the kingdom.
Acts 1:1-3 1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Jesus taught a six week class on the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:6-8 6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
What other question could they ask? He taught them this truth through his entire ministry. He just spent almost 6 weeks with them teaching them once again about the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Wouldn't you want to know when Lord when will you restore the kingdom?
He had other things in mind for them the church that you and I were going to be a part of needed to be built and this surpassed the urgency of the kingdom.
God had something up his sleeve he wasn't quite done yet with the devil.
1 Corinthians 2:7-9 7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
God kept it a secret no buddy knew the mystery of the church of grace.
However the kingdom teaching did not originate with Jesus Christ. This knowledge was known long before Jesus was born.
John knew and he preceded Jesus.
Matthew 3:1-2 1In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
But farther back then John the kingdom was known.
Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Daniel 7:13-14 13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
These passages in Daniel form the proximate source of the phrase kingdom of God / heaven.
Luke 15:20-21 20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
Here we see that heaven represents God. In closing the kingdom of heaven / God are used interchangeably in the scriptures. This kingdom has different aspects along the way but will culminate on earth with the presence of God and his Christ ruling the kingdom.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
This is our final destination where ever Jesus goes we will be there with him in the Kingdom.
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