What is the Kingdom of God? Matthew 13: 44-58 Pause for a moment and picture for me the Kingdom of Heaven? What can you see? Is there cars, beer? We think of the Kingdom of God as Heaven. That place we will go to after Christ has returned. But when we read passages like the parables of today speak of the Kingdom of God, we are lost. Matthew 13 talks of it as being now in this time. The time between when Christ returned to Heaven but before the 2nd coming. Matthew 13 certainly is confusing. Over the last 2 weeks as Matthew 13 has been read we have heard often the saying “The Kingdom of God is ….” It has given us some great visual pictures but is anyone any clearer on the Kingdom of God? God has a way of doing that, giving us just so much information that we need time to stop and ponder what he is saying. There are 8 parables here giving us at least 6 glimpses of the Kingdom of God. In the parable of the sower of the seeds (v3-9) it shows us that there are great hindrances when teaching about the Kingdom of God. Not all will respond when hearing about it and for some who do, they won’t profit due to their own folly. In the parables of the net cast into the sea (v47-50), mentioned today and the parable of the tares (v24-30) from last week, we see that the Kingdom of God is not clear. We would think it is the church, but even there, there is a mixture of good and bad, which would continue till the great separation between them in the judgment day, when Christ returns.

They describe an age in which we have spiritual enemies. The kingdom of God, here, is not a utopia in which everything is perfect. It is a time of struggle, trials, worries and deceit—but it is also a time of growth that leads toward God’s harvest.

In this chapter we also hear the Kingdom of God described as a small amount of yeast (v33) or mustard seed(v31-32). These parables describe a Kingdom that begins small and inconspicuous, but it grows large.

The small beginning of the kingdom would have surprised Jesus’ listeners. They were hoping that a Messiah would lead the Jewish people to a great victory over the Romans. They were hoping to become an independent nation, with the power of David’s kingdom and the wealth of Solomon’s. But Jesus was announcing that the kingdom must begin in a very small way.

God gives each person time, but eventually there is a judgment. That is what the Kingdom of God is like.

The parables of the pearl (v45-46) and the hidden treasure (v44), has 2 definitions that are argued and debated by theologians from all generations.

One definition is that they represent the Kingdom of God as something of great value in itself, and of great advantage to those who embrace it, and are willing to come up to its terms and make it their own.

The other definition is that they, the pearl and the treasure, represent you – someone so precious and valuable that Jesus would give his all for you. Jesus gave everything to redeem the whole world to preserve a treasure in it, and the treasure is His people.

Charles Spurgeon wrote, “So did Jesus himself, at the utmost cost, buy the world to gain his church, which was the treasure which he desired.” And the last parable the parable of the good householder who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old. The Kingdom of Heaven is defined by all that God has taught from the beginning of time and will continue to teach, the new. So, does this help you understand what the Kingdom of God is and what it is like? I’m sure it just brings about more questions.

So, who is the King in our great Kingdom? Jesus Christ. When the angel spoke to Mary he said.

Luke 1:31-33 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Who belongs in the Kingdom of God?

Admittance into the Kingdom of God requires belief and repentance. It is for all who accept

Christ as Lord. It is to be received. It is not earnt but a gift given by grace.

We are adopted as coheirs with Christ. The church is a part of the Kingdom of God but not necessarily everyone within the church is in it, and it is also no the totality of His Kingdom as we heard from our parables earlier. So, you may ask: where is this Kingdom of God? Is it in Heaven? How can it be here on Earth as well and in Heaven? The Kingdom of God is not a particular place here on earth:

• it is wherever people love God and love other people. God’s Kingdom can be anywhere in the world and everyone can choose to be a part of it. • it is wherever there is someone who knows that every good thing comes from God and so they share what they have. • it is wherever people are that accept that God forgives them for messing up and so forgives others too. • it is wherever someone learns about Jesus and tries to do what Jesus taught. • It is wherever someone follows Jesus and puts their beliefs into action. • It is in the midst of you, right here and now. • It is wherever you bring Jesus to people through love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and gentleness.

What else do we know of this Kingdom? The kingdom of God is often referred to as an upside-down Kingdom, because its values are the opposite to the worlds. Many of the Jews expected royalty and kingly authority when Jesus the Messiah came but what did they get, a babe born in a lowly stable, a king who was a servant, a royal possession with a ride a donkey rather than a stallion, where the poor are blessed, as with the meek and the merciful. It is a Kingdom that runs on Love, where its Kingly command is the 2 great commandments to Love God and Love one another. (Mth 22: 37-40) So, what does all this mean for us as citizens of the Kingdom of God? As believers of Christ, we are to worship Him as Lord and King. We are to live out His teaching and proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to others. Our parables highlight an urgency and need. And we must live in anticipation of His return. As we pray - “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” May we take action too and love as Jesus did, as he taught. (Matthew 6:10) And our last question: Is this the way it will always be?

No.

Yes, we live in the “now and not yet” period of time. But God will finish His great task when Jesus returns to make all things new and then the Kingdom of God will be fully completed on earth as it is in Heaven.

Revelation 21:1-4 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

A prayer for us all: Loving God, thank you for the privilege of being a part of your Kingdom. May we give you the honour and worship due. Guide us to live as you have commanded by loving you and loving one another. Please give us the urgency and challenge to tell others about you and to live a life that will exemplify who you are. In Jesus name. Amen

God Bless Kara Ford