Image by It’s important to understand that whenever the expressions “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” occur, they must be taken within the context of the passages in which they are found. After Christ won, He declared, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” This is one of the most profound and inspiring statements ever made on Earth, yet almost no one knows what it means. While Matthew, who addresses himself to the Jews, speaks for the most part of the “kingdom of God,” which has the same meaning as the “kingdom of heaven,” but was more intelligible to non-Jews. What does “at hand” or “near” mean? This edition is a one-volume hardcover version. As previously indicated, the expression kingdom of heaven is confined to Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus giving Peter "the keys of the kingdom of heaven ", (Matthew 16:18), depicted by Perugino, 1492. Understanding this question has been confusing for many. Misunderstanding regarding the latter part however, has given many an incomplete picture of the Kingdom. This one-of-a-kind Bible resource answers that very question. 2. Others have suggested that it is the Church. The Theology of Work Bible Commentary is an in-depth Bible study tool put together by a group of biblical scholars, pastors, and workplace Christians to help you discover what the whole Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--says about work. Meanwhile, we turn our backs on the old ways of work, so that the new way of the kingdom of heaven is made visible in us as we live. or See there! Why Does Matthew Use “Kingdom of Heaven” Instead of “Kingdom of God”? Jesus’ teachings, as recorded by Matthew, speak directly to our life at work. In the Lord’s Prayer, he instructs them to pray, “Your kingdom come. Business, education, law, service industries, medicine, government--wherever you work, in whatever capacity, the Scriptures have something to say about it. In any case, no distinction in sense is to be assumed between the two expressions (ct., e.g., Matthew 5:3 with Luke 6:20) (p. 656). It means a lot of things at a lot of different levels, but basically it means - GOD is near you. Question: "What does it mean that the kingdom of God suffers violence?" Join us for a study, then try it with your own group. What does the Bible have to say about work? Repent ye, &c. — Be sorry for your sins, and amend your lives; for the original word, μετανοειτε, here used, implies this.It properly signifies, says Beza, to be wise after the action, and so to grieve for a fault committed as to amend it, which, in Latin, is properly expressed by resipiscere. What did Jesus mean when He said, “The kingdom of God is at hand”? It is not up in heaven, so that… shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.'" Revised Nov. 4, 2011. Thursday, February 7, 2019 Hey Fletch … Thank you for all you are doing in the will of God. It does not imply that something has actually come, rather that it is close. By means of His death on the cross and victorious resurrection he would provide the ultimate means of healing, redemption and restoration for those wishing to become a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board July 6, 2011. These expressions can possess several meanings. / It is the declaration that "the kingdom of God has come near." Matthew 4:17 says, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Will you explain what that is really saying? The true meaning of “for the kingdom of heaven has come near” is that each of us can gain the refuge or sanctuary of God - the shelter of God - immediately by simply turning to the Supreme Being - by worshiping Him and relying upon Him - and dismissing ourselves ("repenting") from our search for happiness in a materialistic world of emptiness and physical gratification. When one is a loyal subject of the King, he or she will desire to please this King in everything he or she says and does. Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. Find out more on how we use cookies and how to disable them. With your gift of any size, you’ll enable us to continue equipping Christians with high-quality biblically-based content. We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, by continuing to use this site you agree to this. Answer: Jesus’ statement that the kingdom of God suffers violence is found in the context of His commendation of John the Baptist: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12, NKJV). Does it mean heaven is close, yet elusive, out of reach, until we get to heaven? But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV). When we read “kingdom of heaven,” we may think of harps, clouds, and angel choirs, but Jesus is clear that the kingdom of heaven refers to God’s rule on earth. To be sure, the expression heavenly kingdom is found in 2 Timothy 4:18, but there is no contextual evidence that this is an identical expression. © 2014 by the Theology of Work Project, Inc. Similarly, when Jesus sends out his disciples in Luke 10 they proclaim the same message: Luke 10.8-11 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. Contributors: Jonathan Pennington and Alice Mathews They do not know what the kingdom of heaven … Matthew 5:3 Jesus was not saying that Christians go to heaven.In these verses, "of" shows possession, not location. The kingdom of heaven “has come near.” It has come here to this world. Kingdoms are concerned with governance, economics, agriculture, production, justice, defense—issues we see in most workplaces. Some have assumed that the Kingdom is simply in one’s heart. The kingdom of heaven “has come near.” It has come here to this world. So when Jesus came preaching, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:… Others say that this Kingdom is in heaven. The workplace consequences of living in God’s kingdom are profound. There are people who preach saying the kingdom of heaven is here. 13 I 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. Jesus’ answer was that the kingdom of God was not coming in the manner the Pharisees were expecting. Jesus was emphasizing the importance of making God, and His Will, the center of one’s life. John the Baptist was actually the first to say this. The New Bible Dictionary describes the use of these two terms in the Gospels: The kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus’ preaching, according to the Synoptic Gospels. N early 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ and Satan the devil fought the fiercest battle ever. What does it even mean for the kingdom of heaven to draw near? Matthew 3:2. All rights reserved. The use of “kingdom of heaven” in Matthew is certainly due to the tendency in Judaism to avoid the direct use of the name of God. This raises a whole new set of questions for those desiring to follow Jesus. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 Explore what Matthew says about the kingdom of God and your work. Though his Good News does relate to what happens after death, it also has everything to do with this life. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. However, the Kingdom of God (the Matthean equivalent being "Kingdom of Heaven") is a prominent phrase in the Synoptic Gospels and there is near-unanimous agreement among scholars that it represents a key element of the teachings of Jesus. and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Jesus’ teachings, as recorded by Matthew, speak directly to our life at work. Although some Bible students in earlier generations expended a great deal of time and energy seeking to establish a difference between these two terms, most authorities today believe that when all of the evidence is examined the two expressions are used in a completely interchangeable way. Luke 10:10 But if you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into the streets and declare, Luke 10:11 Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. KG is the realm where God exists in complete authority, full of righteousness and holiness, and where His rule is acknowledged in the hearts of believers. One of the esoteric parables, which I believe was also borrowed, is that the kingdom of heaven is within. Is it Possible that My Loved Ones are Suffering in Purgatory? It means to draw near to something. I need a clear understanding of that Jesus adds in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord.' Mat 3: 1 In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 & saying, Repent for the kingdom of heaven draws near. For all practical purposes, the terms “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” have the same meaning. Based on a work at www.theologyofwork.org. You are free to share (to copy, distribute and transmit the work), and remix (to adapt the work) for non-commercial use only, under the condition that you must attribute the work to the Theology of Work Project, Inc., but not in any way that suggests that it endorses you or your use of the work. Counting parallels to these passages, the expression occurs over eighty-five times. Used under license from Veer. Jesus instructed us to preach saying. A very clear description of “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” (which I will abbreviate as KG and KH, respectively) is found in Vine’s Expository Bible Dictionary. What does this mean? The kingdom would not be inaugurated with spectacle or splendor; there would be no great and magnificent leader who staked out a geographical claim and routed the Romans; rather, the kingdom would come silently and unseen, much as leaven works in a batch of dough (see Matthew … Mt 10:7: And as ye go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ The kingdom of heaven is at hand – It is not yet here. For example, consider Psalms 103:19: “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.” You can hear the basic meaning of the word kingdom as rule.It doesn’t mean that his kingdom rules over his realm; it means that God’s reign or rule governs all things. The first part of Jesus answer has been fairly easy to understand. While Matthew, who addresses himself to the Jews, speaks for the most part of the “kingdom of God,” which has the same meaning as the “kingdom of heaven,” but was more intelligible to non-Jews. For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:20-21). Daniel also makes the statement that the “God of heaven” will “set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed” (Dan 2:44; confirmed in the prophecy of Dan 7:13-14, 27.) Growing up in Christian circles, I’ve heard that phrase often, but I never paused to consider what it might mean, until recently. In Luke 17:21 Jesus tells us that when we repent and believe, "the kingdom of God is within you". GOD wants you. But it was not a kingdom with human glory like David's or Solomon's, but one with spiritual glory like the Kingdom in the Wilderness, where the King himself dwelt in the midst of his people. This series will not be week-to week, but I hope to occasionally write an article on the kingdom of heaven. It could just have correctly been translated, "heaven's kingdom" just as we often use "God's Kingdom" rather than "Kingdom of God. In the Sermon on the Mount, he inducts his followers into the values, ethics, and practices of this new kingdom. Produced by TOW Project, Bible Study: Wednesdays, Oct. 14 - Dec. 16, Theology of Work Project Online Materials, 10 Key Points About Work in the Bible That Every Christian Should Know, Beyond Rank and Power: What Philemon Tells Us About Leadership, The Kingdom of Heaven Has Come Near (Matthew), Working as Citizens of God's Kingdom (Matthew 1-4), The Kingdom of Heaven at Work in Us (Matthew 5-7), "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven" (Matthew 5:3), "Blessed are Those Who Mourn, For They Will be Comforted" (Matthew 5:4), "Blessed are the Meek, for They Will Inherit the Earth" (Matthew 5:5), "Blessed are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness" (Matthew 5:6), "Blessed are the Merciful, For They Will Receive Mercy" (Matthew 5:7), "Blessed are the Pure in Heart, For They Will See God" (Matthew 5:8), "Blessed are the Peacemakers, For They Will be Called Children of God" (Matt 5:9), "Blessed are Those Who are Persecuted for Righteousness' Sake" (Matt 5:10), Salt and Light in the World of Work (Matthew 5:13-16), Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread (Matthew 6:11), Store Your Treasure in Heaven, Not on Earth (Matthew 6:19-34), “Do Not Judge, So That You May Not be Judged” (Matthew 7:1-5), Do to Others as You Would Have Them Do to You: The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12), Paying Taxes (Matthew 17:24-27 and 22:15-22), Living in the New Kingdom (Matthew 18-25), The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32), Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-41), The Great Commandment is a Great Framework (Matthew 22:34-40), Parable of the Faithful Servant (Matthew 24:45-51), The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus' Death and Resurrection (Matthew 27-28), Theology of Work Commentary Volume 4: Matthew through Acts, Theology of Work Bible Commentary - One Volume Edition, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. 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