October
14, 2003
THE
KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
"From
that time Jesus began to preach and to say, 'Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17, NKJV).
Early
in His ministry, Jesus sounded the note of a major theme of
His, repentance and the kingdom of heaven. He reinforced this
message when He said, "I must preach
the kingdom of God--, because for this purpose I have been
sent" (Luke 4:43).
In the
Sermon on the Mount He talked about the necessities of life,
"Do not worry, saying 'What shall
we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'..
For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and
all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew
6:31-33).
Through
parables Jesus described various aspects and elements of the
kingdom of heaven. The disciples asked Jesus one day, "What
does this parable mean? And He said, 'To
you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom
of God' " (Luke 8:9, 10), and He went on to tell
them the meaning of the parable. (See also Matthew 13:11)
One day
Jesus had a conversation with chief priests and elders of
the people who confronted Him as He was teaching. They asked,
"By what authority are You doing these things? And who
gave You this authority?" (Matthew 21:23). Jesus avoided
answering their question directly and asked them a question.
"What do you think?" He said, and then went on to
tell about two sons who were asked by their father to work
in his vineyard. One said no, but then he changed his mind
and did go to work in his father's vineyard. The other son
said he would, but then he did not. Jesus asked, "Which
of the two did the will of his father? They said to
Him, 'The first.' Jesus said to them, 'Assuredly,
I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom
of God before you. John came to you in the way of righteousness,
and you did not believe him; but tax collectors and harlots
believed him; and when you saw it, you did not afterward relent
and believe him" (Matthew 21:31, 32). Those who
believe the message that God sent John the Baptist, Jesus
and all the prophets to deliver, are the ones who receive
the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus
sent His disciples to preach the kingdom of God (see Luke
9:2). He said to them, "Let the
dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom
of God" (Luke 9:60).
Jesus
was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come.
He answered them "The kingdom of
God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See
here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within
you" (Luke 17:20, 21).
It is
the Father's joy and pleasure to share His kingdom with us.
"Do not fear, little flock, for
it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom"
(Luke 12:32).
The love
of God toward us is more wonderful than we can imagine.
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