This is the first installment of a series of studies about the Parables of the Kingdom of Heaven. Before investigating the mysteries of the Kingdom parables, it will be useful to understand what the Kingdom of Heaven is!
The "Gospel" of the Kingdom
The “gospel” of the kingdom is the good news that this “kingdom” is at hand, and that some may enter, and be subjects of the kingdom. The terms "Kingdom of Heaven" used by Matthew, and "Kingdom of God" are synonymous. The first thing we should know is that John the Baptist, Jesus, and even His disciples preached about the Kingdom of Heaven throughout their ministries.
Matthew 3:1-2 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” HCSB
Mark 1:15 [John speaking] “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. NKJV
Matthew 4:17 From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!” HCSB
Matthew 10:5, 6-8 Jesus sent out these 12 after giving them instructions...go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, announce this: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge. HCSB
Who are the citizens of this kingdom? We learn its inhabitants will include the meek, the persecuted, and the righteous. Jesus gave us a glimpse of this kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:3 “The poor in spirit are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. HCSB
Matthew 5:10 Those who are persecuted for righteousness are blessed, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs. HCSB
Mark 10:15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” NKJV
Matthew 5:19-21 Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. HCSB
The "Gospel" or "good news" of the Kingdom of God is that the King grants eternal life to those who enter, and they can never be snatched away from His protection. We are exhorted to try to obtain citizenship in this Kingdom:
Matthew 6:33 [Jesus speaking] ...But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
And in numerous places in the New and Old Testament, the message is preached that God's kingdom will be everlasting and righteous in its judgments:
Hebrews 1:6 ...but to the Son: Your throne, God, is forever and ever, and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of justice. HCSB
Societies in the past chose their own kings to protect them and honored them with gifts or tribute in return for security. Conversely, in the Kingdom of Heaven, God gives inhabitants the free gift of citizenship through salvation and eternal life. Believers in the Kingdom of God enjoy the protection of eternal security and all its blessings if they submit to His will and obey His commands in this life.
The Kingdom of This World
By contrast, there is the kingdom of the world. This is the antithesis of the Kingdom of Heaven. The kingdom of the world is characterized by deception, violence, greed, and lust, and driven by selfishness and ambition. Its ruler is none other than Satan himself - the 'god' of this Age. This is confirmed by Paul:
2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. HCSB
Those who belong to the kingdom of the world are blind to spiritual truth, living in their sins and in spiritual darkness. Many have given allegiance to the devil, whose evil purpose (ironically) is to destroy the very people worshiping him. And sadly, these blind people, having refused grace, will be judged at the end of their lives. The destruction of the kingdom of the world is foreordained by God and "already done" in God's Mind:
Psalm 2:1-9 Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the Lord and His Anointed One:
“Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them. Then He speaks to them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath:
The primary characteristic of the kingdom of this world is rebellion against God. Every commandment of God and teaching of Jesus and the New Testament writers is directly opposed by society, governments, universities, culture and entertainment industries around the world. The requirements to join the kingdom of world are fairly easy, but the list to exclude us from the Kingdom of God is extensive.“I have consecrated My King on Zion, My holy mountain.” I will declare the Lord’s decree: He said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; You will shatter them like pottery.” HCSB
Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. NKJV
Choose any moral teaching or boundary set by God for mankind, and there you will find the culture, societies' laws and behaviors of individuals and organizations directly opposed to God's righteous laws. Do not murder: abortion on demand is idolized. He made them male and female: apparently God forgot the other 200 genders.... Do not fornicate: prostitution, pornography and promiscuity is glorified. Do not engage in sorcery: the drug cartels literally run countries around the globe. Do not engage in idolatry: every vile creature and dead idol is worshipped. Love your neighbor: no, it's easier war against them and take their lands and property. The list is endless.
The key to remember is the kingdom of this world will end in destruction.
1 John 2:16-17 For everything that belongs to the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever. HCSB
Which Kingdom Are You a Citizen of?
A serious warning to all concerning your citizenship and allegiances:
Matthew 7:21-27 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” HCSB
Most citizens of the kingdom of this world do not want to hear the truth about Jesus and do not want to submit to His authority as the righteous king:
John 10:24-31 Then the Jews surrounded Him and asked, “How long are You going to keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”
“I did tell you and you don’t believe,” Jesus answered them. “The works that I do in My Father’s name testify about Me. But you don’t believe because you are not My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.” Again the Jews picked up rocks to stone Him... HCSB
How Do We Become Citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven?
Those who are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven hear the voice of the shepherd and obey. Jesus explained this to Nicodemus, who was a teacher of the people.
John 3:3-5 Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. HCSB
And we are commended to fulfill the Great Commission and preach the Kingdom just as Jesus and His followers did after His resurrection!
Acts 1:2-3 ...until the day in which [a]He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. NKJVActs 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. NKJV
So, the requirements to enter the Kingdom of Heaven are to hear Jesus' voice, obey His commands and be "born again" out of this world and into the new life. Your sins are forgiven, so you are "perfect" and "righteous" because you accept the sacrifice of Jesus and His perfect righteousness.
Jesus came to the Earth expressly for the purpose of seeking and saving the "lost" -- those whose citizenship are in the kingdom of this world. He is actively seeking new citizens even today. We are now in the Church age in a time of testing. we are exhorted to persevere to the end; knowing that our King will be victorious and His Kingdom will never end. Hold fast for yet a while:
Mathew 24 11-14 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come. HCSB
Our study goes into more detail in further posts, where Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven in the form of parables to communicate spiritual truths.
Mark 4:11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables.... NKJV
Further reading on this subject:
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Scripture citations are from: Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) © 2009 Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville TN or New King James Version®. (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson
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