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Yesterday we learned through Scripture that God’s kingdom is everlasting, He is the head and ruler of the kingdom, His kingdom rules over all others, and His throne is in heaven. His creation speaks of the glory of His kingdom and of its splendor!
We also learned that His kingdom will never be destroyed, or left to another people. It will break in pieces all other kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. (Daniel 2:44-45)
Oh, how different it must have been for the first-century Jews to hear Jesus talk about the kingdom of God! They were expecting their Messiah to come and take over Rome, to rule and reign here on earth and save them from oppression.
Expectations and assumptions can be a recipe for disaster, can’t they? Yes, God’s kingdom is all those things the Old Testament teaches. But what they missed was how the kingdom of God would come to be, who would be part of it, and how it would work.
Today let’s read what Jesus says about the kingdom of God. Take note of the various descriptions. What new truths did you learn?
Matthew 3:2 ESV
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Luke 17:20-21 ESV
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, [Jesus] answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Matthew 18:1-4 ESV
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3, 10 ESV
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven … Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 21:28-32 ESV
“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.
How might the Kingdom of God look different from other earthly kingdoms?