The Scripture What Does the Kingdom of God or of Heaven Refer To? By going through all of Matthew s uses of kingdom of heaven and the use of this term in Acts, we can learn much about what this phrase means. Matthew 3:2 Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It requires repentance and it is near but not quite present. Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus preaches the same message as does John. Matthew 4:23 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. It was a message preached through all Galilee. Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. There is a relationship between being poor in spirit and possession of the kingdom. Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Persecution implies, but does not require, the possession of the kingdom. Matthew 5:19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Status in the kingdom is dependent on doing the commandments. Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. An extreme righteousness is required to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. We should pray for the fulness of the kingdom on earth. Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Significant rewards are dependent on seeking first the kingdom of God.
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Walking the walk must accompany talking the talk to enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, Gentiles will enter the kingdom of heaven along with Jews. Matthew 8:12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Some Jews will not enter the kingdom but instead be thrown into outer darkness. Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.? Jesus proclaims the kingdom in Galilee. Matthew 10:7 And proclaim as you go, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus instructs his disciples to proclaim the nearness of the kingdom. Matthew 11:11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Present membership in the kingdom in some way exceeds prior membership in Israel. Matthew 11:12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. In some sense the kingdom suffers violence from violent people who take it by force. Matthew 12:26 And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Satan has a kingdom. Matthew 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. The presence of the kingdom is demonstrated in Jesus victory over demonic forces. Matthew 13:11 And he answered them, To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. The secrets of the kingdom are open to some and denied to others.
Matthew 13:19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. A failure to understand the word of the kingdom results in a loss of the seed (word). Matthew 13:24 He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. The kingdom is identified with good seed that is sown in the field (world). Matthew 13:31 He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. The kingdom of heaven has small beginnings. Matthew 13:33 He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened. The kingdom will grow from small beginnings. Matthew 13:38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, The good seed is identified as sons of the kingdom. Matthew 13:41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, There will be in the (visible) kingdom law-breakers and causes of sin; judgment will follow. Matthew 13:43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. The righteous shine in the kingdom. Matthew 13:44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The kingdom is more valuable than all other treasures. Matthew 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. The kingdom is the greatest of all gems. Matthew 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. The kingdom has in it both good and evil.
Matthew 13:52 And he said to them, Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. Proper training in the kingdom recognizes the value of the old and the new in God s revelations. Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom. Matthew 16:28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Some in that day saw the actual coming of the kingdom. Matthew 18:1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? There are levels of greatness in the kingdom. Matthew 18:3 and said, Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Humility is required to enter the kingdom. Matthew 18:4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Humility is required to enter the kingdom. Matthew 18:23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. There are various levels of reward in the kingdom. Matthew 19:12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it. Self-denial is required of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:14 but Jesus said, Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven. The humility of children illustrate the members of the kingdom.
Matthew 19:23 And Jesus said to his disciples, Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. The nature of riches makes it difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom. Matthew 19:24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. It is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom. Matthew 20:1 For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Both young and old in the faith receive a great reward in the kingdom. Matthew 20:21 And he said to her, What do you want? She said to him, Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom. Some are greatly honored in the kingdom. Matthew 21:31 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. Doing the will of the father indicates the true members of the kingdom. Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. The kingdom will be taken away from the Jews and given to the Gentiles. Matthew 22:2 The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. All, great and small, are invited to the wedding feast in the kingdom. Matthew 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in. Religious leaders can be a barrier to those seeking the kingdom which they themselves do not enter. Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. The end (of something) will come after the proclamation of the kingdom to the whole world. Matthew 25:1 Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.
One must be prepared to meet the king of the kingdom when he arrives. Matthew 25:34 Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. The human population will ultimately be divided into two groups, the saved and lost, depending on their relationship to Jesus. Matthew 26:29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father s kingdom. Jesus will celebrate with us in the kingdom. Acts 1:3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. After the resurrection Jesus continued to teach about the kingdom. Acts 1:6 So when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? Even after the resurrection and forty days of additional instruction on the nature of the kingdom, the disciples still don t understand it. Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. The good news or the gospel is the message of the kingdom. Acts 14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. To ultimately enter the kingdom, many must first go through tribulations. Acts 19:8 And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. Paul s message concerning Jesus was about the kingdom of God. Acts 20:25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Paul went about the Mediterranean world preaching the gospel and thereby proclaiming the kingdom. Acts 28:23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
Near the end of his life gospel preaching life, Paul continues to testify to the kingdom of God. Acts 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. The message to the Jews is that the kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus Christ are one and the same message. A Few Observations One, the kingdom, although near, was not fully present during Jesus ministry (4:17; 10:7). Two, an extreme righteousness is required to enter the kingdom (5:20). Three, the kingdom is open to Gentiles as well as Jews (8:11). Four, some Jews will not enter the kingdom but instead be thrown into outer darkness (8:12). Five, the knowledge of the kingdom is not given to all men (13:11). Six, the kingdom came in that generation (16:28). Seven, obedience to the king is an indicator of membership in the kingdom (21:31). Eight, after the resurrection Jesus continued to teach about the kingdom (Act 1:3). Nine, Philip identified the good news or gospel with the kingdom of God (Acts 8:12). Ten, Paul s message about Jesus was in fact about the kingdom of God (Acts 19:8). Eleven, as Paul proclaimed the gospel in the ancient world, he was in fact proclaiming the kingdom of God (Acts 20:25). Twelve, as Paul s gospel ministry draws to a close, his message is still testifying to the kingdom of God (Acts 28:23, 31). Conclusion: The Church of Jesus Christ When Jesus speaks of the coming reign of God, He appears to connect it definitely with the new community in which it will be realized. 1 It would seem that in these verses and others in the New Testament the kingdom (or rule) of God (or Heaven) is used in a variety of ways. But clearly, one of them is as a synonym for the Church of Jesus Christ. And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, (Daniel 2:44, ESV)