Exhortations To Join The Kingdom
What do you think Jesus would say to us if He were to walk into this sanctuary? Would He applaud what we are doing? Would He commend us? Would He rebuke us?
It is easy for us to think about being rebuked. We are imperfect, unworthy of His praise, and guilty of letting Him down. But His message to us would be no different than it was two thousand years ago. What did He say at that time?
Jesus urged people to accept His invitation to join His kingdom immediately because the kingdom was “at hand.” He told His disciples to proclaim the same message; and I am convinced if Jesus were speaking to this congregation today He would say the same thing. He is the same today as He was two thousand years ago. He has not changed, His purpose has not changed, and His message has not changed.
I plan to present a brief summary lesson from twelve parables this evening. You will be getting a dozen in one.
My goal in this series is to present the central theme of the Bible as presented by Jesus in twelve parables. It is all about His kingdom. This was His message, and it is the central theme of His Word.
The Kingdom of God Is Always at Hand
When Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God being “at hand,” He meant that the kingdom is always near because He rules wherever He is King. His proclamation to prepare for the kingdom of God is ultimately a call to salvation. Today is the day of salvation. Today is the day to accept His invitation to join His kingdom. Today is the day to accept Him as your King.
In this earthly kingdom, where we currently live under the reign of Satan—referred to as “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:3–4)—Christ’s kingdom exists within every believer. This means the kingdom of God is just one decision away—a decision to accept Jesus as king and lord over our lives. As soon as we accept Jesus as King, His kingdom is established in our hearts.
Are the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven the Same?
It is interesting to note that Jesus said in Luke 21:31, “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand,” and in Matthew 4:17, He said, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Could it be that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are both at hand because they are the same kingdom?
The answer is yes. The kingdom of God refers to who the King is, while the kingdom of heaven refers to where His throne is. For example, Hebrews 11:16 says of Abraham and his heirs, “But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Abraham never found that city on earth because it is a heavenly city in heaven. Similarly, Paul referred to the kingdom as being heavenly in 2 Timothy 4:18: “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Interestingly, the phrases “kingdom of God” and “kingdom of heaven” are used only in the New Testament and are often used interchangeably by Christ. Nonetheless, I showed in previous lessons that the kingdom of God is spoken of regardless of the three-word phrase, “kingdom of God.” Paul, for example, and others wrote about God’s kingdom being heavenly.
Theme Verses
Because the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is unique to the book of Matthew, I chose Matthew 4:17 as my personal theme verse for the book.
I have read every book in the Bible several times and selected a theme verse that best represents the main idea of each. In the case of Matthew 4:17, it is a perfect theme verse for the book of Matthew: “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” While there are other verses in Matthew that could represent the book’s theme, none capture the theme and use the phrase “the kingdom of heaven.” This verse captures not only the message of the book of Matthew, namely, what Jesus did and said, but also uses the unique phrase, “the kingdom of heaven” is at hand.
As for the Bible as a whole, I believe Matthew 6:33 best represents its central theme: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” This statement comes from the mouth of Jesus, stating that the first thing to seek is the kingdom of God, which is the theme of the Bible; and it is the first book of the New Testament, which fulfills the Old Testament, and it expresses the hope we have in God’s promise. Jesus and the Bible urge us to denounce the ways and allegiance to the current kingdom we live in under Satan and to join Him in His kingdom.
The Message Of The Heavenly Kingdom
Since Jesus preached extensively about the kingdom of heaven, and it is a central theme of the Bible’s message, we should feel compelled to consider what Jesus had to say about the kingdom of heaven.
Not surprisingly, Matthew 3:2 records John the Baptist’s message, “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” This is the same message Jesus preached. It is noteworthy, in light of this same message, that John served as the transition between the Old and the New Testaments. God chose him to prepare the way of the Lord. And his message demonstrates that the message in the Old is the same as that in the New.
The message is the same because there is only one God who is said to be the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. With one unchangeable God in one kingdom, there is only one message. Just as God is the same past, present, and future, so is His kingdom the same. Events in His kingdom may change, but the essence of His kingdom does not.
God and His kingdom define the context of creation and all of its messages within creation, the world, and the lives of angels and humanity. For this reason, though the Bible records different stories and changing events, the context never changes. It is all about His kingdom. In the Old Testament it was promised. In the New Testament it is fulfilled. And for this reason, the message John, Jesus, the disciples, and churches today all preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
God rules His kingdom from His throne in heaven. It is in His kingdom where His will reigns supremely resulting in life-everlasting, peace, joy, and complete fulfillment. This is the abundant life Jesus refers to in John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” All other kingdoms are kingdoms of self-will, resulting in pain, sorrow, and everlasting death.
Jesus reminded us of this when He taught His disciples how to pray. In Matthew 6:10, He said we should pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” We live in Satan’s kingdom of self-will now, but Jesus promises to change that by replacing the kingdom of Satan on earth with His own. For that time, that kingdom, we pray to come. This is the time David was referring to in Psalm 122:6, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Peace in Jerusalem and living abundantly will happen only when Jesus establishes His kingdom on earth. And we see this alluded to in Ezekiel 38:11–10, “Thus saith the Lord GOD; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.” When will Israel ever dwell with this kind of safety? Only in the kingdom of God when king Jesus reigns on earth.
“Speaking of John the Baptist, Jesus said in, Matthew 11:12, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” As already noted, John the Baptist preached the same message Jesus preached. And this verse highlights the importance of John the Baptist. He represented the transition from the Old Covenant to the New, which was the transition from the Law of sin and death to the promise of God for righteousness and life. The New makes salvation possible because it is based on the promise of God and what He will do.
However, Satan has done everything possible to prevent the message of God’s promise and salvation from reaching listening ears. Remember, this is a world of two clashing kingdoms. The way of Satan’s kingdom is the way of death, which is the way of the Old Covenant of Law. The ushering in of Christ’s kingdom is the way of life promised in the New Testament. Satan’s resistance to this transition on earth and in human lives is the violence being spoken of. Satan took the kingdom in the Garden of Eden like a determined conqueror—or as a conquering king attempting to establish his kingdom. Adam and Eve and generations after them have chosen Satan’s kingdom of self-will over the kingdom of heaven and God’s will.
Parables Of Heaven
Because Jesus came to preach about the kingdom of heaven with an invitation for people to join Him, sometimes He used parables to help people understand its nature and importance. In the book of Matthew, Jesus shared twelve key parables that describe different aspects of the kingdom of heaven. Together, they form a powerful and multi-faceted picture of what the kingdom is like.
The phrase “kingdom of heaven” occurs thirty-two times in the book of Matthew. Twelve of these say, “the kingdom of heaven is like, or as, or is likened to….” Nine of these verses give the conditions required to enter heaven. The others explain who is in the kingdom of heaven. Here’s my description of the twelve verses describing what the kingdom of heaven is like. See if you recognize the parables.
The kingdom of heaven is like a priceless treasure, far more valuable than anything this world can offer. While it may seem small or insignificant at first, like a mustard seed or a spot of leaven hidden in a bowl of dough, it is growing and transforming creation. The kingdom works quietly yet powerfully, spreading its influence and changing lives from the inside out. It is not evident now, but it will become all there is. For those who discover it and recognize its worth, it is so valuable that it is worth sacrificing everything to obtain it like finding hidden treasure or a pearl of great price.
The hallmarks of the kingdom of heaven are righteousness, life, and peace. Those who enter its gates experience everlasting joy and fulfillment. God’s loving desire and mercy are so great that full salvation and pardon of all sins are offered whenever someone confesses Him as their king, regardless of being young or old.
However, the kingdom of heaven is not without opposition, and it faces constant attack from the kingdom of unrighteousness and self-will, represented by the enemy, we know as Satan, who is sowing weeds of dissention and misinformation among the wheat. God will separate the weeds from the wheat like separating fish after being caught in a drag net.
The kingdom has been entrusted to the care of the King’s servants, who are called to faithfully steward what has been given to them like gardeners in a vineyard. The stewards of king Jesus are responsible for demonstrating the mercy and forgiveness of God. Yet, some of these servants have failed or even betrayed their King. Those who fail misrepresent our king and His kingdom.
Through these parables, Jesus reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is both a present reality in our lives and a future hope for the establishment of His kingdom on earth and in heaven. It continues to grow as the Gospel seed is sown and accepted in hearts, changing lives and spreading its influence, but its fullness will only be realized when Jesus returns to establish it on earth at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet. Until then, we are called to proclaim the message that Christ preached: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
Did you recognize some of the parables referred to in this description?
- The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares told by Jesus in Matthew 13:24 says, there is a spiritual battle between two kingdoms. While God sows good seed (truth and righteousness), the enemy (Satan) sows weeds (evil and deception). God allows both to grow together as do the lost and saved in the world. He will sort them out in the end. —Lost and saved together now will be separated at the end.
- The Parable of the Mustard Seed told by Jesus in Matthew 13:31 says, the kingdom of heaven appears insignificant now, but it will dominate everything in the end. —The kingdom of God will prevail.
- The Parable of the Leaven told by Jesus in Matthew 13:33 says, the kingdom of heaven may not be apparent now, but it will change all that is. — It will change everything.
- The Parable of the Hidden Treasure told by Jesus in Matthew 13:44 says, that the kingdom of heaven is worth giving up everything else to gain it. — It is of invaluable worth.
- The Parable of the Pearl of Great Price told by Jesus in Matthew 13:45 says, the kingdom of heaven is like hidden treasure and worth giving up everything else to gain it. It is Priceless.
- The Parable of the Drag Net told by Jesus in Matthew 13:47 says, the kingdom of heaven gathers everyone, like a net catching fish of every kind; and, in the end, God will separate the righteous from the wicked — Only the “saved” are kept.
- The Parable of the Householder told by Jesus in Matthew 13:52 says, regardless of when people are saved, before 2,000 years ago, 4,000 years ago, or today, young or old, everyone is a precious treasure to God. — Every soul is precious to God.
- The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant told by Jesus in Matthew 18:23 says, that just as God forgives us, we should forgive others. We are responsible for showing the values of the kingdom. — The saved are Kingdom representatives.
- The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard told by Jesus in Matthew 20:1 says, that the kingdom of heaven is marked by God’s grace and generosity. God rewards according to His will, not human will and standards, and all who respond to His call are equally valued. — Salvation will happen whenever one repents.
- The Parable of the Wedding Banquet told by Jesus in Matthew 22:2 says, that the kingdom of heaven is like a wedding feast prepared by a king. God invites everyone to His kingdom, but only those who respond and come prepared (in righteousness) will be allowed to enter. — Anyone who accepts God’s invitation will be welcomed into His kingdom.
- The Parable of the Ten Virgins told by Jesus in Matthew 25:1 says that entrance to the kingdom of heaven requires being ready for His coming. Like the wise virgins who kept their lamps filled with oil, we must be spiritually prepared for Christ’s return at any time during our lives. — The wise are ready for Christ’s return.
- The Parable of the Talents told by Jesus in Matthew 25:14 says, the kingdom of heaven calls for faithful stewardship. God entrusts us with resources, abilities, and opportunities, and we are accountable for how we use them to serve Him and advance His kingdom. — Good stewards of God’s embassies represent His kingdom.
A Message From The Twelve Parables
The message from the twelve parables of the kingdom of heaven is that God’s cherished kingdom is open to all who accept His invitation. It is a kingdom of righteousness filled with blessings, happiness, and abundance. There is no pain, sorrow, miseries, illnesses, famines, natural disasters, or death. The invitation is worth giving up everything else, immediately, in order to accept it.
Despite opposition or appearances, it will prevail. And those who choose to stay in the kingdom of the opposition are making a tragic, eternal mistake. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!
