Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘ The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ While Matthew, who addresses himself to the Jews, speaks for the most part of the “kingdom of God,” which has the same meaning as the “kingdom of heaven,” but was more intelligible to non-Jews. The kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God is the central theme of Jesus’ preaching, according to the Synoptic Gospels. It means to draw near to something. Matthew 10:7 As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Matthew is clear that this kingdom is not fully realized on earth as we know it, but will reach completion when we see “the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory” (Matthew 24:30). But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24 NKJV). If you like reading the Theology of Work Bible Commentary free online, you might enjoy it in print! And then recently an answer came to me. Unless otherwise noted, the Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. 2. Bible Commentary So when Jesus came preaching, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near" (Matthew 4:… Jesus explains that his kingdom is in us and we are born again as citizens of God’s kingdom … The kingdom of heaven “has come near.” It has come here to this world. Others say that this Kingdom is in heaven. By means of His death on the cross and victorious resurrection he would provide the ultimate means of healing, redemption and restoration for those wishing to become a part of the Kingdom of Heaven. Counting parallels to these passages, the expression occurs over eighty-five times. Jesus concluded His message on trusting God for the necessities of life with this sentence, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you”(Matthew 6:33 ESV). While Matthew, who addresses himself to the Jews, speaks for the most part of the “kingdom of God,” which has the same meaning as the “kingdom of heaven,” but was more intelligible to non-Jews. As previously indicated, the expression kingdom of heaven is confined to Matthew’s Gospel. Every resource on our site was made possible through the financial support of people like you. This one-of-a-kind Bible resource answers that very question. / It is not up in heaven, so that… Others have suggested that it is the Church. 3 For this is the one spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, … Why Does Matthew Use “Kingdom of Heaven” Instead of “Kingdom of God”? To be sure, the expression heavenly kingdom is found in 2 Timothy 4:18, but there is no contextual evidence that this is an identical expression. The lessons in each chapter are great for small group or individual study. Years ago, I used to think that Jesus’ announcement of the kingdom being near meant something like, “You can go to heaven after you die.” Now I realize that I had mistaken Jesus’ primary message. Though his Good News does relate to what happens after death, it also has everything to do with this life. Adopted by the Theology of Work Project Board July 6, 2011. The workplace consequences of living in God’s kingdom are profound. N early 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ and Satan the devil fought the fiercest battle ever. At the beginning of his earthly ministry, Jesus announces that “the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17). In the Sermon on the Mount, he inducts his followers into the values, ethics, and practices of this new kingdom. Thursday, February 7, 2019 Hey Fletch … Thank you for all you are doing in the will of God. Jesus’ teachings, as recorded by Matthew, speak directly to our life at work. The Bible promises, when the follower of Jesus lives in this manner, God will supply all our needs…from … Although some Bible students in earlier generations expended a great deal of time and energy seeking to establish a difference between these two terms, most authorities today believe that when all of the evidence is examined the two expressions are used in a completely interchangeable way. This is claimed to be the case in Talmud. Mt 10:7: And as ye go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ The kingdom of heaven is at hand – It is not yet here. In any case, no distinction in sense is to be assumed between the two expressions (ct., e.g., Matthew 5:3 with Luke 6:20) (p. 656). Luke 10:10 But if you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into the streets and declare, Luke 10:11 Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. , the two are not the same meaning and life that acknowledges his kingship and his. 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