Matthew summarized the start of Jesus’ ministry this way: “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (Matt. 4:23). “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” was Jesus’ message (Matt. 4:17). His most famous sermon was full of references to “the kingdom” (Matt. 5:3, 10, 19-20; 6:10, 33; 7:21). His parables told what “the kingdom of heaven is like” (Matt. 13:31, 33, 44, 45, 47, 52). “Kingdom” was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry and mission. So, what exactly is it?
“Kingdom of heaven” might seem fairly obvious. “Oh, that’s the place where God is and where we all want to go when we die.” The New Testament does speak frequently of the kingdom as something we inherit (cf. I Cor. 6:9-10, 15:50; Gal. 5:21; Eph. 5:5). Facing the end of his life, Paul with hope and confidence wrote, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom” (II Tim. 4:18). So, maybe the kingdom of heaven is a place – like we think of the United Kingdom “across the pond” – that Jesus came from, told us about, and is making a way for us to go to? Yes – but not entirely.
After all, Paul wrote of the present reality that God “has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14). The Hebrews writer said, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken” (Heb. 12:28). So, the kingdom must be the church to which Jesus adds us (cf. Acts 2:47). Like Spain is a “kingdom” because its government is a constitutional monarchy, the “kingdom of heaven” must be the body of which Jesus is the head (cf. Col. 1:18). Yes – but there is still more.
Basileia, the Greek word translated “kingdom”, is not just about borders and constitutions: it is about dominion and reign, the realization of God’s rule “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). When we become part of the Lord’s church, we are submitting to that rule (cf. Eph. 5:23-24). When Jesus “delivers the kingdom to God” after destroying every enemy including death, we will spend eternity in God’s presence (I Cor. 15:24-28). Yet, more than just a future destination, a present membership, or a concept to discuss, kingdom is a reality of God reigning in our lives that begins right now when we learn to follow Jesus.
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