The Kingdom of God/Heaven

Many people have heard of the Kingdom of God in a church sermon or Sunday School class. We are exhorted to have faith in Jesus and perform “Kingdom Work” for him. Used this way, the phrase often has the connotation of a group of people working toward a common goal. Sometimes, however, we mention the Kingdom of Heaven. This time the connotation is usually a place, Heaven, the destination for those who believe, putting their faith in God. But what does the Bible tell us about God’s Kingdom?

When God’s Kingdom is mentioned it is natural to think of Jesus teachings; he often proclaimed the coming of The Kingdom as he taught. But many people longed for The Kingdom prior to the New Testament. Consider Psalm 103:15-19. In verse 15 the psalmist speaks about man’s frailty, beautifully contrasting this with the steadfastness of God’s love for those who keep His covenant in verse 17. Verse 19 extends these themes to God’s Kingdom:
“The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”

Another reference to the Kingdom is found in a prophecy in the book of Daniel. Chapter 2 tells a vision of a statue made of different metals, obliterated by a stone. In the midst of describing the decadence represented by the feet made of iron and clay, Daniel relates:
“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…”

Not surprisingly, Old Testament writers describe God’s Kingdom in political terms; the people had many practical examples and so understood the security and peace a good king provided. But in the New Testament, Jesus uses many seemingly unrelated images to describe The Kingdom.

In Matthew 13:44 he says the Kingdom of Heaven¹ is like treasure hidden in a field, and in Matthew 13:45 he pictures it as a merchant in search of fine pearls. Jesus uses yet another image in Matthew 13:47, saying the Kingdom of Heaven is like a net thrown into the sea gathering fish. In order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven we must be born again (John 3:3) and while John the Baptist preached the coming of the Kingdom (Matthew 3:2), Jesus says time and again that the Kingdom is “at hand.” (Matthew 4:17).

What are we to make of all these references? What is the Kingdom and why would people long for it? Do Jesus’ descriptions describe a place or a movement? Does Daniel really long for a Heavenly dictator?

Who is a part of the Kingdom?

In an effort to clarify what the Kingdom is, let’s consider its membership. According to Robert Lindsay, Jewish teachers of Jesus’ day believed joining the Kingdom was spiritual: “With the sages it was a spiritual term meaning the rule of God over a person who keeps or begins to keep the written and oral commandments.” [Source]

Entering the Kingdom of God requires that you submit to the rule of God over your life. For the Israelites, following Torah (practicing the correct way to live as God’s people) only makes sense after you have accepted God’s rule. Note that this contradicts the common idea that following Torah was understood by the Jewish people as granting salvation; Torah is meaningless unless you have already placed yourself under His authority.

The Jewish Encyclopedia agrees with this interpretation and provides some examples from Israel’s history that enhance our concept of the Kingdom: the people witnessed the Kingdom at the crossing of the Red Sea, the people accepted the yoke of the Kingdom at Mount Sinai, and Abraham also accepted the yoke of the Kingdom. [Source] All of these examples demonstrate that “entering the Kingdom of God” means to accept God’s authority and rule.

We often claim that becoming a Christian is easy, how does entering The Kingdom compare? Joseph Frankovic discusses how the Kingdom of God is presented in Jesus’ Parable of the Sower (Mt 13:3-8; Mk 4:3-8; Lk 8:5-8). Based on knowledge of parable structure and farming techniques, Frankovic believes that both the seed that fell among the thistles and the seed that fell in good soil are representative of someone who has been granted eternal life². According to Frankovic, the difference is that the seed that fell among thistles represents people who would not have entered the Kingdom of God. Here is what he says about the seed falling among thistles:

The seed falling among thistles may represent, therefore, an upright person, who allows worry or the accumulation of wealth to govern his or her life. Such a person may be Jewish or Christian (i.e., one whose inheritance of eternal life is likely); he or she may be honest, generous, and amiable; and he or she may be working as a rabbi, priest, or pastor. Nevertheless, while doing so, that person may be devoting considerable effort to saving for a new SUV, larger house, or secure retirement. None of these pursuits ipso facto will bar a person from inheriting eternal life, but it may exempt him or her from entering the kingdom of heaven. [Source]

These people have accepted God’s gift of salvation but have not put themselves completely under His yoke. Many of the things mentioned are things surrounding us today, things we rely on and often covet. Many times we justify these things with intricate explanations. Yet Jesus tells us that the yoke of The Kingdom of Heaven is to be desired above all else: a treasure in an ordinary field, a stash of pearls. The Israelites desired this yoke, though they did not always practice obedience. Do we desire this yoke enough to obey? No, obedience is not as easy as becoming a Christian.

The Road Less Traveled

The phrase “Kingdom of Heaven” is used in multiple ways and carries connotations that I do not fully understand. I am haunted by Joseph Frankovic’s words above about the seed falling among thistles because they speak about my own failings caused by everyday distractions. If I had to use two words to describe The Kingdom of Heaven as I currently understand it, I would choose humility and focus. A humility that allows no room for the arrogance I see all around me (sometimes called Patriotism, sometimes called Christian Fellowship) and a focus that defies the world around me even as it enhances my love for the world. It truly is the “narrow gate,” the way that few choose, even those who love God and are accepted into eternal life. Joseph Frankovic once again uses some eloquently hard words:

Entering the kingdom of heaven goes beyond piety, uprightness, kindness, and generosity. It cannot be contained within the walls of an institution or adequately expressed by the dogma of a community. It requires subscribing to a new economy that is sustained by God’s provision and not material wealth. Those who participate in this economy have joined a movement whose values are inverted, whose agenda is transparent, and whose hierarchy is horizontal. Not many enter the kingdom of heaven. [Source]

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¹I use the terms Kingdom of Heaven and Kingdom of God interchangeably. That’s because Jewish people in Biblical times tried to avoid saying the name of God; instead of using His name they used the word “heaven.” So both phrases mean the same thing. [Source]
²I’ve usually heard this parable interpreted as saying that the seed on good soil is granted salvation, all other seed types are not

© 2012 – Kevin Fitting