KINGOM OF HEAVEN AND KINGDOM OF GOD

INTRODUCTION
1. The general theme of Jesus parables was the Kingdom of heaven
a. Many of the parables start with The kingdom of heaven is like... - Mt 13:24, 31, 33, 44,
45, 47
b. In explaining why He spoke in parables, Jesus made reference to the mysteries of the
kingdom of heaven - Mt 13:11
2. We also noted that the kingdom of heaven was the theme of...
a. Jesus itinerant ministry - Mt 4:17,23
b. His sermon on the mount - Mt 5:3,10,19-20; 6:10,33; 7:21
The heart of Jesus' teachings centers around the theme of the kingdom of God. This expression is
found in sixty-one separate sayings in the Synoptic Gospels. Counting parallels to these passages,
the expression occurs over eighty-five times. It also occurs twice in John (3:3, 5). It is found in
such key places as the preaching of John the Baptist, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near"
(Matt 3:2 ); Jesus' earliest announcement, "The time has come The kingdom of God is near.
Repent and believe the good news!" ( Mark 1:15 ; cf. Matt 4:17 ; Luke 4:42-43);the prayer Jesus
taught his disciples, "your kingdom come" ( Matt 6:10 ); in the Beatitudes, "for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven" ( Matthew 5:3 Matthew 5:10 ); at the Last Supper, "I will not drink again of
the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God" ( Mark 14:25 );
and in many of Jesus' parables ( Matthew 13:24 Matthew 13:44 Matthew 13:45 Matthew
13:47 ; Mark 4:26 Mark 4:30 ; Luke19:11 ).
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN vs. THE KINGDOM OF GOD
A. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE?
1. Some try to make a distinction (e.g., Scofield Reference Bible)
2. But a quick comparison of the gospels indicate that the terms refer to the same thing
a. Cf. Mt 4:17 with Mk 1:14-15
b. Cf. Mt 5:3 with Lk 6:20
c. Cf. Mt 13:31 with Mk 4:30-31

B. WHY THE DIFFERENT EXPRESSIONS?

1. We find that Matthew used the expression kingdom of heaven almost exclusively, while
the other gospel writers used the phrase kingdom of God
2. It may be that since Matthew wrote his gospel to the Jews, he chose to used the
phrase kingdom of heaven...
a. Because of the Jews reluctance to use the name of God (out of reverence)
b. Because of the Jews misconception of the coming kingdom
1) Many anticipated a physical kingdom
2) The expression heaven (literally, heavens) would emphasize a spiritual kingdom

IT INVOLVES FOUR INTERRELATED CONCEPTS

A. THE REIGN OF GOD...
1. The term kingdom as used by the Jews often stressed the abstract idea of reign or
dominion, not some geographical area surrounded by physical boundaries
a. Possibly used this way by Jesus in Lk 17:21
b. It is used this way by Jesus in Mt 6:10 (Thy kingdom come; thy will be done)
2. Thus, the kingdom of heaven (or kingdom of God) is wherever the REIGN or
DOMINION of God (who is in heaven) is manifested
a. In one sense, the kingdom of God has always existed - cf. Psa 47:2; 103:19
b. But in a special way was the rule or reign of God to be manifested with the coming of
Christ
1) As foretold in the time of Daniel (ca. 500 B.C.) - Dan 2:44-45
2) As proclaimed by John the Baptist - Mt 3:1-3
3) As preached by Jesus - Mt 4:17; Mk 1:14-15
3. Indeed, it is in the Person of Jesus Christ that the reign of God is being expressly manifest
today - cf. 1 Co 15:23-26; Ep 1:20-22; 1 Pe 3:22; Re 1:5

B. SPIRITUAL IN NATURE...
1. The kingdom (or reign of God) would not be found in the form of a physical kingdom
- Jn 18:36
2. It would manifest itself in spiritual ways - Ro 14:17

C. VISIBLY MANIFESTED TODAY IN THE LORDS CHURCH...

1. What is the Lords church?
a. It is a community of souls
b. In whose hearts God is recognized as Sovereign
-- Thus the church can properly be referred to as the kingdom of God today
2. That the terms church and kingdom can be used interchangeably, consider:
a. How church and kingdom were used by Jesus - Mt 16:18-19
b. Comments made to those who were in the church - Co 1:13; 1 Th 2:12
c. The description of those in the churches of Asia - Re 1:4,6,9

D. BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE...

1. The kingdom of heaven has a future element as well as a present one
2. Its future aspect is spoken of by:
a. Jesus in Mt 25:34
b. Paul in 1 Co 15:50; 2 Ti 4:18
c. Peter in 2 Pe 1:10-11
3. Peter described the coming of its future state in 2 Pe 3:10-13
-- Therefore the kingdom of heaven involves the new heavens and new earth
A SUMMARY DEFINITION OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

A. IN THE PRESENT SENSE...

1. It is found wherever the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD is accepted in the hearts of men
2. It is a SPIRITUAL KINGDOM, for God rules in the hearts of men
3. Its outward manifestation today is the LORDS CHURCH
4. The kingdom was INAUGURATED on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2

B. IN THE FUTURE SENSE...

1. The kingdom will be CULMINATED with the coming of the Lord
a. When Jesus delivers the kingdom to God the Father - 1 Co 15:24
b. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. - Mt
13:43
2. It will be that NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH described by Peter and John
a. In which righteousness dwells - 2 Pe 3:13
b. In which the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall
be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. - Re 21:3
3. It will be experienced only by those in the church who are submitting to Gods will
a. Those who do the will of My Father in heaven - Mt 7:21-23
b. Those who are diligent to be found by Him in peace - 2 Pe 3:13-15a

Consistent and realized: In certain passages, for example, it is clear that the kingdom of God is
future. In the Lord's Prayer we pray "Your kingdom come" (Luke 11:2), and the kingdom must as
a result be future. Jesus' saying that "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, ' will enter the
kingdom of God" must also refer to a future event, for he continues "Many will say to me on that
day" (Matt 7:21-23).Jesus' institution of the Last Supper also looks forward to "that day when I
[Jesus] drink it anew in the kingdom of God" (Mark 14:25 ). Other passages associate the coming
of the kingdom of God with the final judgment (Matt 5:19-20 ; 8:11-12 ; 25:31-46 ; Luke 13:22-
30 ).It cannot be denied therefore that there are numerous passages in the Gospels that indicate
that Jesus understood the kingdom of God to be still future.

In other passages, however, it is equally clear that the kingdom of God is already present. Jesus
told his hearers "if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come
to you" (Luke 11:20; cf. Matt 12:28 ). In four of the other instances where the same verb "has
come" (ephthasen) is used in the New Testament it clearly means "has arrived, " is "now present"
( Rom9:31 ; 2 Col10:14 ; Php 3:16 ; 1 Thess 2:16 ).In the other instance where it is future,
however, the tense is future (phthasomen, 1 Thess 4:15 ).Elsewhere Jesus declared that his coming
marked the end of the old era when he said"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John.
Since that time, the good newsof the kingdom of God is being preached" (Luke 16:16). Here two
distinct periods of history are distinguished. The former is referred to as the period of the Law and
the prophets. The second is the period of the kingdom of God. John the Baptist is seen as a bridge
who both brings the "old" to its conclusion and announces the breaking in of the "new." This "new"
thing, which cannot be mixed with the old ( MK 2:21-22 ),which gathers the outcasts ( Matt 11:4-
6 ) and the lost tribes of Israel ( Mk 3:13-19 ; Matt 19:28 ), which manifests signs and marvels
( Matt 13:16-17 ),which inaugurates a new covenant ( 1 Cor 11:25 ), is nothing other than the
arrival of the kingdom of God. Jesus also announced that nowalready the long-awaited messianic
banquet had begun (Luke 14:15-24).The kingdom of God was now in their presence (Luke 17:20-
21 "among" is a better translation than "within).

Both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament the term "kingdom" (malkut) is understood
as dynamic in nature and refers primarily to the rule or reign of a king. It is seldom used in a static
sense to refer to a territory. As a result, in the vast majority of instances it would be better to
translate the expression "kingdom of God" as the "rule of God." That Jesus understood it this way
is evident from such passages as Luke 19:12 ("A man of noble birth went to a distant country to
have himself appointed king, literally "to receive a kingdom [basileia]";cf. also v. 15); Matthew
6:33 ("seek first his kingdom"); and Mark 10:15("receive the kingdom of God like a little child").
Understood as the "reign of God" it is possible for Jesus to announce that in fulfillment of the Old
Testament promises the reign of God has arrived. In Jesus' coming Satan has been defeated ( Luke
10:18 ; 11:20-22 ), the outcasts of Israel are being gathered as predicted ( Mark 2:15-16 ; Luke
14:15-24 ),the Old Testament promises are fulfilled ( Luke 10:23-24 ),the resurrection of the dead
has begun ( 1 Cor 15:20 ), a new covenant has been inaugurated ( 1 Cor 11:25 ), the promised
Spirit has come as the prophets foretold ( Mark 1:8 ). Indeed the kingdom is "already now" realized
in history.

However, the consummation of the "already now" still lies in the future. The coming of the Son of
Man, the final resurrection, faith turning to sight, are "not yet." The kingdom of God is both now
and not yet. Thus the kingdom of God is "realized" and present in one sense, and yet "consistent"
and future in another. This is not a contradiction, but simply the nature of the kingdom. The
kingdom has come in fulfillment of the Old Testament promises. A new covenant has been
established. But its final manifestation and consummation lie in the future. Until then we are to be
good and faithful servants ( Luke 19:11-27 ).