The Subject of Jesus' Ministry

The Kingdom of Heaven

Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
—Matthew 4:17

Rolando Rodriguez

There is no doubt about the continuing theme of the book of Matthew. It is captured in the words “kingdom of heaven,” a phrase that’s used thirty-two times (King James Version). No other book of the Bible uses this expression. The other gospel writers use “kingdom of God.”

Most Bible expositors believe the phrases “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” are synonymous. In parallel gospel accounts the terms are used interchangeably by the writers themselves (see Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:15; Matthew 8:11 and Luke 13:28,29). Matthew himself uses the phrase “kingdom of God” five times (Matthew 6:33; 12:28; 19:24; 21:31; 21:43).

John the Baptist began his preaching work admonishing those around him, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). Our Lord began his ministry with those same words (Matthew 4:17) and he taught his apostles to do the same when he sent them out to preach (Matthew 10:7). Not only was this kingdom the main topic of our Lord’s ministry, for most practical purposes it was his only topic!

In our Lord’s mountaintop sermon in front of the multitudes, “He opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven … For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:2,3,20).

The subject of the “kingdom of heaven” permeates our Lord’s earthly ministry as well as the ministry of the twelve apostles, who were both instructed and commissioned by our Lord.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Some scholars believe “kingdom of heaven” is a reference to heaven itself, and that the message preached by the Lord and his apostles was heaven and how to get into it.

Others say the “kingdom of heaven” is a reference to a spiritual condition in the hearts of men which results in the transforming of lives and eventually even the society in which we live. They say the Lord and his apostles were preaching about the need for repentance and letting God reign in the hearts of men. If all did so, God’s will would be done in earth (Matthew 6:10).

These are but two of the commonly accepted ideas as to the meaning of the phrase “kingdom of heaven.” However, such thoughts are at odds with what the Scriptures declare. A careful search reveals that the “kingdom of heaven” is not a reference to heaven itself, or to some spiritual reigning of God in the hearts of men, but rather to the Messianic kingdom of peace foretold by the prophets and promised by God himself to the nation of Israel (Daniel 2:44,45; Isaiah 2:2-5; Micah 4:1-5).

In Genesis we read of a covenant relationship between Jehovah God and Abraham. Accordingly, the nation of Israel was to be a “great nation” in which “all families of the earth [shall] be blessed” (Genesis 12:1,3). The arrangement was to give land to Abraham where he and his descendants after him would forever dwell as this “great nation” and provide for the blessing of the world and administer God’s dominion over it (Exodus 19:5,6).

In prophesying about this event, Isaiah proclaimed: “It shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people” (Isaiah 2:2-4).

This nation under God would provide the way for the world of mankind to walk in the paths of God. The will of heaven will reign and rule on the earth by way of the kingdom of Israel.

God raised up prominent ones to lead his people. History shows that despite God’s plans, Israel rebelled. In view of her rebellious ways and failures, God raised up king David and made a covenant with him and his descendants: “When thy days be fulfilled and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12,13; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14).

Isaiah rejoiced in this future day and proclaimed to Israel: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6,7).

Daniel in a vision saw the end of Gentile dominion over Israel and the fulfillment of God’s promises to the nation: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44).

Israel’s covenanted kingdom was to be established through her Messiah, the promised seed of David, in accordance with the Davidic covenant. He would redeem his people and set up his kingdom dominion in Zion. This is what God’s covenant with Israel called for and this is what the expression “kingdom of heaven” refers to.

When is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Jesus was born for a purpose. The angel announced to Mary that Jesus’ God-given mission was to fulfill the Davidic promise: “Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:31,33).

Jesus, the only-begotten son of God, left his heavenly home, was born of a woman, and became the promised seed of David, to sit on the throne of David and establish his kingdom on earth. The “kingdom of heaven” was “at hand”!

Not only was the promised Messiah on the scene, he was right on schedule as the prophets had long foretold (see Daniel 9:24-27). The establishing of the kingdom of heaven was nearing completion which prompted our Lord to tell the people as he preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

This was the Divine Plan of the Ages. The long-awaited Messiah, the promised seed of David, the King of Israel, had arrived to announce that the covenanted kingdom of heaven was at hand. The work to be done was to prepare the way. Jesus taught the people the beatitudes in view of this kingdom (Matthew 5:1-12). He taught how to gain an entrance into it (Matthew 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 19:23; 24). He expounded on who would be the “least” and the “greatest” in it (Matthew 5:19; 11:11; 13:32). He even told his closest disciples of their special positions in it (Matthew 19:28). And finally, he warned about the destructive judgments he would execute upon the nations prior to fully establishing the kingdom (Matthew chapters 24 and 25).

The apostles eagerly looked for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). They proclaimed to Israel the arrival of her “last days” (Acts 2:1,36) as spoken of in the prophets, and exhorted the people to respond positively to the offer of the kingdom (Acts 3:12, 26).

It is evident that the “kingdom of heaven” has not yet been established on the earth. None of the prophetic pronouncements concerning its establishment have been completely fulfilled. Yet when our Lord was on earth, the “time” was “fulfilled” and so it was preached as being “at hand.” What happened? Why hasn’t “the God of heaven” fully set up that promised kingdom?

Though many have tried to explain, God’s own explanation concerning what he has done and what he will yet do is what needs to be understood and appreciated.

The apostle Paul tells us why there is a delay in establishing Israel’s kingdom. God has temporarily set aside his plans for Israel and has ushered in a new age. In Romans Paul writes that when Israel “stumbled” at the testimony of Christ, God “blinded” the nation and turned to the Gentiles: “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part has happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in” (Romans 11:25; compare John 12:37-40; 2 Corinthians 3:14).

God “blinded” Israel and put his plans and his special dealings with that nation on hold. God turned his attention to the Gentiles and has provided an age of grace. Paul writes: “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; ... which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel” (Ephesians 3:1-6).

This time of grace is what God is now supervising. God has “not cast away his people,” has not discarded them. Her “fullness” is yet to come. Since her “blindness” is “in part until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” Paul goes on to say: “So all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Romans 11:1,26,27).

Israel’s “fullness” is yet to come, and when it does, “the LORD shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zechariah 14:9).

As Isaiah declares to the redeemed and the delivered of Israel in that day, “Ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ... For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:6,11).

One Kingdom, Two Phases

The literal kingdom will not find Jesus sitting on a literal throne on earth. The kingdom of heaven is a spiritual kingdom, unseen by the human eye, but its influence will be worldwide. When asked about his kingdom, Jesus replied: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation, neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you [NASV: in your midst]” (Luke 17:20,21).

Israel will be the earthly representative of that heavenly kingdom and its ancient patriarchs of old will be its rulers. Jesus and his church will constitute the heavenly phase of that kingdom.

Israel’s promised kingdom is yet to be established. God’s word is sure, for he cannot change or alter his promises (Psalm 89:34). However, God’s plan for Israel is still in abeyance. God is working out “the mystery of Christ” in this “dispensation of grace” and is preparing a “new creation,” the church, the body of Christ, made up of both Jew and Gentile, for his purposes. When that work is complete, “all Israel shall be saved” and their promised kingdom will be fully set up. Through them “all the nations of the earth will be blessed.”