Jesus offers this powerful, intimidating, yet exhilarating exhortation to the Jewish multitudes, including His disciples, in the Sermon on the Mount.
Did he mention the Kingdom of Heaven prior to Matthew 6: 33?
"3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 3)
and
"10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 10)
Then later on, Jesus says:
"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
"20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5: 19-20)
"Kingdom of Heaven" implies distance, separation. In the verses in Matthew 5, the emphasis on separation and emptiness in man stands out. Poor in spirit, persecuted --- yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Then Jesus declares the following:
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness."
We find the phrase Kingdom of God, not heaven.
What's going on here?
Jesus is emphasizing that this Kingdom is not a place which we get to through our efforts.
This is a kingdom which He gives to us through His Holy Spirit.
We receive this gift through grace. For the Jews of Jesus day, they believed that they could work their way to God. I believe that when Jesus specifically and directly stated "Kingdom of God", he heightened the offense for those beset with religious pretense.
We receive the Kingdom of God as a gift, as confirmed in the Gospel of Luke:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)
Jesus wants us to just be His sheep, to identify with God as our Father, and to receive the gift of His Kingdom.
Yet we can only receive the Kingdom as a gift of grace.
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness."
We find the phrase Kingdom of God, not heaven.
What's going on here?
Jesus is emphasizing that this Kingdom is not a place which we get to through our efforts.
This is a kingdom which He gives to us through His Holy Spirit.
We receive this gift through grace. For the Jews of Jesus day, they believed that they could work their way to God. I believe that when Jesus specifically and directly stated "Kingdom of God", he heightened the offense for those beset with religious pretense.
We receive the Kingdom of God as a gift, as confirmed in the Gospel of Luke:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12: 32)
Jesus wants us to just be His sheep, to identify with God as our Father, and to receive the gift of His Kingdom.
Yet we can only receive the Kingdom as a gift of grace.
Jesus' kingdom is indeed a gift of grace, a gift of the Holy Spirit. This new kingdom of heaven is first mentioned in Mt. 3-4 when John the Baptist says this kingdom and its coming king are near; he says the coming king will baptize with the Spirit. When Jesus is baptized, the Spirit descends from the heavens anointing Jesus as the new king. The kingdom of (and from) heaven has begun. Then the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to suffer hunger and temptations (to rule like other kings of the earth). Jesus remains true to his new kingdom and begins to call disciples to leave their businesses and follow this poor Messiah. Thus in Mt. 5:3, his first beatitude should be translated: blessed are the poor in the Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Jesus himself is the first and foremost one who is poor and in the Spirit; and in the future he will baptize his disciples with the Spirit.
ReplyDeleteGreat points.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for reading!