4.2

The Kingdom of God in the Teaching of Jesus (Box 4.2)

Jesus often teaches about “the kingdom of God.” Sometimes he appears to be talking about the present reign of God in human lives; other times he appears to be talking about a future realm where people will live forever with God in heaven. Frequently his references to “the kingdom of God” appear to entail both meanings. The kingdom of God is a phenomenon that cannot be limited by time or space; it is both present reign and future realm.

• “Strive first for the kingdom of God and [God’s] righteousness” (Matt. 6:33; cf. Luke 12:31).
• “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Matt. 12:28; cf. Luke 11:20).
• “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15; cf. Matt. 4:17).
• “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how” (Mark 4:26–27).
• “There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with power” (Mark 9:1; cf. Matt. 16:28; Luke 9:27).
• “It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell” (Mark 9:47).
• “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14; cf. Matt. 19:14; Luke 18:16).
• “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15; cf. Matt. 18:3).
• “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:23; cf. Matt. 19:23; Luke 18:24).
• “I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God” (Mark 14:25).
• “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20).
• “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out” (Luke 13:28).
• “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20–21).
• “No one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above” (John 3:3).

Compare These References from the Letters of Paul

• “The kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).
• “The kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power” (1 Cor. 4:20).
• “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50).