The Kingdom of Heaven
The number of
scriptural references reveals the importance and centrality of God’s kingdom in
our faith. It is of utmost importance to our life now and forever.
All Christians are
necessarily servants – if the Lord came not to be served, but to serve! We all
should follow His example). However, for the servants of the word it is even
more important that they deepen their knowledge of God’s will and plan in this
respect by meditating, studying and living the Kingdom.
This is why I hope
to forward to you, before the meeting, the references, and some questions so
you can try to find which references answer each question(s). Then in the
meeting, after a brief introduction, we discuss together what the Holy Spirit
gives us in the available time, and later to each one of us as He sees fit.
It took the Lord
all the time of His ministry on Earth, and His disciples after Him, to deal
with the good news of His Kingdom. Each one of us experienced the Kingdom and
need to go deeper in the knowledge and grow in experiencing it. We need it for
our eternity and for the benefit of those whom we are privileged to serve.
The questions are
open-ended; no answer is perfect, right or wrong. You may discuss them with
fellow servants or ask the Lord in prayer or both. You may like to try all of
them, some of them, or add more questions. You are not limited by the list of
references provided!
Your effort
will be rewarded by the wealth of topics for your service in the future, and by
delicious spiritual nourishment for unlimited growth in the spirit.
The universe is
marvellously organised, (the deeper we look in the apparent chaos the more we
find glorious order.)
1. What are God’s
plan, agenda, and objectives?
A.
In general, from the
creation?
B.
For man?
2. God is omnipotent so what is meant by:
A. “Thy kingdom come?” When?
B. “Thy will be done?”
3. The Kingdom is the reward of the righteous, as hell
is the punishment for sinners.
A.
True.
B.
False. Why?
4. What is the relationship between repenting, and the
Kingdom?
5. Did the Jews expect the Kingdom of Heaven?
6. What do I need to do for the Kingdom?
A. In the way of preparing for the task
given to me?
B. Do I have a role in bringing it about?
7. What will we be doing when the Kingdom comes?
8. If ‘the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating
and drinking’ then what is it about?
9. It is claimed that the kingdom is ‘a pie in the
sky.’
What would you say to that?
10. What is the role of the kingdom in:
- My life?
B. My service.
New Testament References
to the Kingdom of Heaven
- Matthew
3:2
And saying, Repent (think differently; change your mind, regretting your
sins and changing your conduct), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
- Matthew
4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is
near."
- Matthew
4:23
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching
the good news of the kingdom,
and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
- Matthew
5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew
5:10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs
is the kingdom
of heaven.
- Matthew
5:19-20
Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches
others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but
whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the
kingdom of
heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of
the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter
the kingdom of
heaven.
- Matthew
6:10
your kingdom
come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- Matthew
6:33
But seek first his kingdom
and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as
well.
- Matthew
7:21
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only
he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
- Matthew
8:11-12
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will
take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the
subjects of the kingdom
(Isreal) will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be
weeping and gnashing of teeth."
- Matthew
9:35
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every
disease and sickness.
- Matthew 10:7
As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'
- Matthew
11:11-12
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen
anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater
than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
forcefully advancing, and
forceful men lay hold of it.
- Matthew
12:25-28
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided
against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided
against itself will not stand. If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided
against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? But if I drive out
demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- Matthew
13:11
He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been
given to you, but not to them.
- Matthew
13:19-23
3When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil
one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed
sown along the path.
- Matthew
13:24-30
Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a
man who sowed good seed in his field.
- Matthew
13:31-32
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which
a man took and planted in his field.
- Matthew
13:33
He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like
yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it
worked all through the dough."
- Matthew
13:38-43
The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the
sons of the evil one,... The Son of Man will send out his angels, and
they will weed out of his kingdom
everything that causes sin and all who do evil... Then the righteous
will shine like the sun in the kingdom
of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.
- Matthew
13:44
"The kingdom
of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he
hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought
that field.
- Matthew
13:45-46
"Again, the kingdom
of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one
of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
- Matthew
13:47-50
"Once again, the kingdom
of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all
kinds of fish.
- Matthew
13:52
He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been
instructed about the kingdom
of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom
new treasures as well as old."
- Matthew
16:19
I will give you the keys of the kingdom
of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
- Matthew
16:28
I tell you the truth, some who
are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man
coming in his kingdom."
- Matthew
18:1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the
greatest in the kingdom
of heaven?"... And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you
change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in
the kingdom of
heaven.
- Matthew
18:23-35
"Therefore, the kingdom
of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his
servants.
- Matthew
19:12
For some are eunuchs because they were born that way; others were made
that way by men; and others have renounced marriage because of the kingdom of heaven. The one
who can accept this should accept it."
- Matthew
19:14
Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder
them, for the kingdom
of heaven belongs to such as these."
- Matthew
19:23-24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard
for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
- Matthew
20:1-16
"For the kingdom
of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire
men to work in his vineyard.
- Matthew
20:21
"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that
one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at
your left in your kingdom."
- Matthew
21:32
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are
entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came
to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe
him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you
saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
- Matthew
21:43
"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and
given to a people who will produce its fruit.
- Matthew
22:2-14
"The kingdom
of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
- Matthew
23:13
"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You
shut the kingdom
of heaven in men's faces. You
yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
- Matthew
24:7
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes
in various places.
- Matthew
24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom
will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and
then the end will come.
- Matthew
25:1-13
"At that time the kingdom
of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to
meet the bridegroom.
- Matthew
25:31-46
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world.
6
- Matthew 26:29
I say to you, I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until
that day when I drink it with you new and of superior quality in My
Father's kingdom.
- Mark
1:15
"The time has
come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent
and believe the good news!"
- Mark
4:11-12
He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to
those on the outside everything is said in parables.
- Mark
4:26-29
He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on
the ground.
- Mark
4:30-32
Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or
what parable shall we use to describe it?
- Mark
9:1
And he said to them, "I
tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death
before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
- Mark
9:47
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to
enter the kingdom
of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell [He doesn't want us to maim ourselves.
He is only illustrating how serious sin is. Jesus is desperately trying
to tell us that to enter the Kingdom and escape hell, sin is not
allowed, period.]
- Mark
10:14
When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the
little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
- Mark 10:15
I tell you the truth, anyone
who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never
enter it."
- Mark
10:23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for
the rich to enter the kingdom
of God!"
- Mark
10:21-31
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again,
"Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom
of God."
- Mark
11:10
"Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
- Mark 12:32-34
When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You
are not far from the kingdom
of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.
- Mark
13:8
Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various
places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
- Mark
15:43
Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself
waiting for the kingdom
of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.
- Luke
1:33
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never
end."
- Luke
4:43
But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other
towns also, because that is
why I was sent."
- Luke
6:20
Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom
of God.
- Luke
7:28
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John;
yet the one who is least in the kingdom
of God is greater than he."
- Luke
8:1
After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another,
proclaiming the good news of the kingdom
of God. The Twelve were with him.
- Luke
8:10
He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been
given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though
seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
- Luke
9:2
and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
- Luke
9:11
but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and
spoke to them about the kingdom
of God, and healed those who needed healing.
- Luke 9:27
I tell you the truth, some who
are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of
God."
- Luke
9:60
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go
and proclaim the kingdom
of God."
- Luke
9:62
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for service in the kingdom
of God."
- Luke
10:9
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'
- Luke
10:11
'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against
you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom
of God is near.'
- Luke
11:2
He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be
your name, your kingdom
come.
- Luke
11:20
But
if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to
you.
- Luke
12:31
But seek his kingdom,
and these things will be given to you as well.
- Luke
12:32
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased
to give you the kingdom.
- Luke
13:18-19
Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it
to?
- Luke
13:20-21
Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to?
- Luke
13:22-30
"There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you
yourselves thrown out... People will come from east and west and north
and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.
- Luke
14:15-24
When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus,
"Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."
- Luke
16:16
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that
time, the good news of the kingdom
of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
- Luke
17:20-21
Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to
them by saying,
The
kingdom of God does not come
with signs to be observed or with visible display,
Nor will people say, Look! Here! or, See there! (because it will not be visible to the
world)
For behold, the kingdom of God
is within you and among you.
One hundred generations of
Christendom have sat, waiting on a physical return,
thereby missing the
possibility of preparing for his personal return to them.
This is a major deception with
disastrous consequences to those deceived.
Prize your time; use it
wisely, for it is finite.
- Luke
18:17
I tell you the truth, anyone
who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never
enter it."
- Luke
18:16
But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little
children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to
such as these.
- Luke
18:24-30
Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter
the kingdom of
God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for a rich man to enter the kingdom
of God."..."I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them,
"no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or
children for the sake of the kingdom
of God will
fail to receive many times as much
- Luke
19:11-27
While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable,
because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to
appear at once.
- Luke
21:10-19,31
Then
he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom...even
so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
- Luke
22:16-18
For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in
the kingdom of
God."... For I tell you I will not drink again of the fruit of the
vine until the kingdom
of God comes."
- Luke
22:29-30
And I confer on you a kingdom,
just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at
my table in my kingdom
and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
- Luke
23:42
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
- Luke
23:51
who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the
Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God.
- John
3:3
In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is
born again."
- John
3:5
Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is
born of water and the Spirit.
- John
18:36
Jesus said, "My kingdom
is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my
arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom
is from another place."
- Acts
1:3
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many
convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period
of forty days and spoke about the kingdom
of God.
- Acts
1:6
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this
time going to restore the kingdom
to Israel?"
- Acts
8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name
of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
- Acts
14:22
strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the
faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they
said.
- Acts
19:8
Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months,
arguing persuasively about the kingdom
of God.
- Acts
20:25
"Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching
the kingdom
will ever see me again.
- Acts
28:23
They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger
numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he
explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about
Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.
- Acts
28:31
Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught
about the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Romans
14:17
For the kingdom
of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- 1
Corinthians 4:20
For the kingdom
of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
- 1
Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be
deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor
male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor
drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
- 1
Corinthians 15:24
Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father
after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
- 1
Corinthians 15:50
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the
perishable inherit the imperishable.
- Galatians
5:19-21
The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity
and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits
of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness,
orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live
like this will not inherit the kingdom
of God.
- Ephesians
5:5
For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a
man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God.
- Colossians
1:12-13
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the
inheritance of the saints in the kingdom
of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and
brought us into the kingdom
of the Son he loves.
- 1
Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who
calls you into his kingdom
and glory.
- 2
Thessalonians 1:5
All this is evidence that God's judgment is right, and as a result you
will be counted worthy of the kingdom
of God, for which you are suffering.
- 2
Timothy 4:18
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely
to his heavenly kingdom.
To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- Hebrews
1:8
But about the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever
and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
- Hebrews
12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be
thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
- James
2:5
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the
eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those
who love him?
- 2
Peter 1:10-11
Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and
election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you
will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
- Revelation
1:6
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has
made us to be a kingdom
and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for
ever and ever! Amen.
- Revelation
1:9
I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient
endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of
the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
- Revelation
5:10
You have made them to be a kingdom
and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."
- Revelation
11:15
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in
heaven, which said: "The kingdom
of the world has become the kingdom
of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and
ever."
- Revelation
12:10
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the
salvation and the power and the kingdom
of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our
brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled
down.
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