The Kingdom

of Heaven “Blessed are the poor

in spirit, For theirs isthe kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:3

The Kingdom of HeavenThe phrase is used continually throughout the sermon on the mount

Matthew 5:3; 10, 19-20; 6:10, 33; 7:21

Matthew 5:3,10(3), Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(10), Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19-20Whoever therefore breaks one of

the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 6:10, 33(10), Your kingdom come. Your

will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

(33), But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 7:21Not everyone who says to Me,

“Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

The Kingdom of HeavenThe phrase is used continually throughout the sermon on the mount

Matthew 5:3; 10, 19-20; 6:10, 33; 7:21

“Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” refer to the same thing

Matthew 4:17 – Mark 1:14-15Matthew 5:3 – Luke 6:20Matthew 13:31 – Mark 4:30-31

Comparison 1(Matthew 4:17), From that time

Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

(Mark 1:14-15), Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Comparison 2(Matthew 5:3), Blessed are the

poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

(Luke 6:20), Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.”

Comparison 3(Matthew 13:31), Another parable

He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field.”

(Mark 4:30-31), Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it? 31 It is like a mustard seed which, when it is sown on the ground, is smaller than all the seeds on earth.”

The Kingdom of HeavenThe phrase is used continually throughout the sermon on the mount

Matthew 5:3; 10, 19-20; 6:10, 33; 7:21

“Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” refer to the same thing

Matthew 4:17 – Mark 1:14-15Matthew 5:3 – Luke 6:20Matthew 13:31 – Mark 4:30-31

The Phrase: “Kingdom of Heaven” found only in the gospel of Matthew

Four Kingdom ConceptsGod’s Kingship, Rule, and Recognized Sovereignty

Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 6:10

Luke 17:20-21Now when He was asked by the

Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Internal (A matter of will/submission)

Matthew 6:10Your kingdom come. Your will be

done on earth as it is in heaven.

The “kingdom of heaven” is wherever the God of heaven is allowed to rule in the hearts of men

Four Kingdom ConceptsGod’s Kingship, Rule, and Recognized Sovereignty

Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 6:10

It is Spiritual in its NatureJohn 18:36; Romans 14:17

John 18:36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is

not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

Christ’s rule is as head of a spiritual kingdom, not a physical one.

Romans 14:17For the kingdom of God is not

eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Four Kingdom ConceptsGod’s Kingship, Rule, and Recognized Sovereignty

Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 6:10

It is Spiritual in its NatureJohn 18:36; Romans 14:17

Its Visible Manifestation in our Time is in the Lord’s Church

Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:4,6,9

Matthew 16:18And I also say to you that you are

Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

The terms “church” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably. On earth, it is in the church where Christ has His dominion and subjects

Colossians 1:13He has delivered us from the

power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

As we are added to the church in the day of our salvation, we are conveyed into His kingdom

Revelation 1:4,6,9(4), John, to the seven churches which

are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.

(6), and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

(9), I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Four Kingdom ConceptsGod’s Kingship, Rule, and Recognized Sovereignty

Luke 17:20-21; Matthew 6:10

It is Spiritual in its NatureJohn 18:36; Romans 14:17

Its Visible Manifestation in our Time is in the Lord’s Church

Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:13; Revelation 1:4,6,9

It has a Future Element as WellMatthew 25:34; 2 Timothy 4:18; 2 Peter 3:10-13

Matthew 25:34Then the King will say to those on

His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

The final realization of our inheritance is found in eternity. We will possess the everlasting blessings of our citizenship in Christ’s Kingdom.

2 Timothy 4:18And the Lord will deliver me from

every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

2 Peter 3:10-13But the day of the Lord will come as a

thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Contemplating the Kingdom

In the “present sense” the kingdom of heaven is a spiritual kingdom, found wherever the sovereignty of God is accepted in the hearts of men, inaugurated on Pentecost.

In the “future sense” the kingdom will be culminated in the coming of Christ, when a new order is established, described by Peter as “new heavens and a new earth.”

ConclusionOnly those in the church

who are submitting to the will of God will be granted final entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven!

Matthew 7:21-23

Matthew 7:21-23Not everyone who says to Me,

“Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” 23 And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”