Redefining the Nature of God's Kingdom
Photo by Bill Gullo on Unsplash
Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: (Matt 5:1-2 NIV) [see full text in button/link below]
Introduction to Redefining the Nature of God’s Kingdom
Why were people drawn to Jesus? What drew people to Jesus? When Jesus began His public ministry, many people followed Him. They came from far away to be close to Him—to see Him, touch Him, and hear Him (Matt 4:17, 23-25). He was the ultimate Rabbi or Teacher.
Jesus was unlike other rabbis who had their own interpretations and traditions based on the Law of Moses. Other rabbis were exclusive, expecting their disciples to accept and respect their teaching and authority. But Jesus was not like them.
The message Jesus taught was simple yet deep. It was not deep in an unreachable sense, but it penetrated the heart—a person’s inner being and spirit.
The condensed version of the Lord’s message precedes the Sermon on the Mount—
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”(Matthew 4:17 NIV)
For the complete message of Jesus, we need to read all four gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—and be familiar with the Old Testament Scriptures He referred to, and those He fulfilled as the Messiah.
The Sermon on the Mount is an expanded version of the Lord’s message on the Kingdom of Heaven. Many of the parables in the Gospel of Matthew begin with the introduction, “The kingdom of heaven is like….” Matthew’s gospel is written from a Jewish perspective, so he uses the term Kingdom of Heaven, the term the Jews favored out of reverence for God’s name.
The other gospels use the Kingdom of God. They are essentially interchangeable terms to describe the realm of God’s sovereign rule.
The Sermon on the Mount—a collection of teachings
These three chapters in Matthew—5, 6, and 7— are Matthew’s collection of Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven (God). It is the heart and soul of God’s kingdom—God’s sovereign realm or domain. It is neither geographic nor political but much greater and more personal.
The Jewish view of God’s kingdom became geopolitical—localized to the physical region of the Promised Land on earth and their national identity as Israel. This is similar to the view of the church during the time of the Crusades.
Sadly, these same limits exist in the hearts and minds of many self-proclaimed Christians today. But as said before, God’s kingdom is much greater. It is not limited to a physical territory or sense of national identity. The Kingdom of God (Heaven) is not a geopolitical realm but spiritual and eternal.
Insights
In the coming weeks and months, we’ll consider how great and pervasive the Kingdom of Heaven is through devotional studies of the Sermon on the Mount.
The Kingdom of Heaven (God) is the realm of God’s reign within a person’s heart and mind. When people choose to become followers of Jesus, they choose to have God reign in their lives—their heart, their mind, and their actions.
The reign of God in a person’s life is not intended to be private but to influence and impact the lives of others around us. This is the essence of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.
Redefining the Nature of God’s Kingdom
Jesus was the ultimate rabbi but His message wasn’t restricted to a few or for the most spiritually minded. His message was intended for all who would hear Him, listen to Him, and trust Him. While He taught His disciples, other followers heard Him also.
His message wasn’t exclusive and neither did He exclude those who followed Him.
People from many walks of life, regardless of economic or social status, were drawn to follow Jesus. Even those He chose as apostles were from many different backgrounds and would not associate with one another if not for following Jesus.
In the first portion of Chapter 5, Jesus redefines the nature of God’s kingdom. This is seen in the list of attributes or heart attitudes known as the Beatitudes and the metaphors of salt and light used to describe the influence and impact of those in God’s kingdom.
Next week, we’ll begin to look at the Beatitudes. But read ahead—there is a richness and depth to these simple statements of Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount. The goal of these devotions is for you to discover the truth that will impact your life and the lives of those around you.
Have you read through the whole Sermon on the Mount?
If so, how has the Sermon on the Mount impacted your life…
or has it?
Reflection—
The Kingdom of Heaven (God) is not a geopolitical realm but spiritual and eternal. When God reigns in a person’s life it ought to influence and impact the lives of others around them. This is the essence of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.
Prayer Focus—
Even if you’re familiar with the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, ask God for fresh insights and applications of truth from it, as you read and study. If you’re not familiar with it, ask the Lord to open your understanding of what He intended for those who trust in Him.
This is an excerpt from a soon-to-be-published book, one of a series of three, called, The Heart and Soul of God’s Kingdom. Look for it on Amazon with my other books— Trip Kimball on Amazon
