Additional Thoughts and Helps on the Kingdom of God

from Neil MacQueen

Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than any other subject. Nearly half of his parables are devoted to describing it. And yet, pinning down a succinct definition of the Kingdom of God has always been challenging. Many have spent their lives studying it and writing about it. Thousands of books later we are no closer to a simple definition. Perhaps that too is God's intention, and why Jesus spoke mostly in parables about it. 

There are several reasons why it is hard to pin down. First, it is a broad subject that has evolved from various Old Testament visions of "kingdom" and how God acts in the world.  Another issue is that the concept is often used (or confused) interchangeably to describe similar ideas in scripture, such as, heaven. Another problem is that the minute you state that the Kingdom of God is among us, you have to explain "where" in the face of a world and history full of ungodliness. Yet another reason it can get convoluted arises from teachers who over-complicate it with theological and "end time" gymnastics. 

We also can't ignore the fact that Jesus used many different metaphors to describe it, not all of which are easy to understand.

From all this history and explanation TWO DEFINITIONS have emerged. In the first, God's Kingdom is an "internal kingdom of the soul" that can't be pointed to, only experienced. That the Kingdom is only seen, experienced, and lived out by those who are-"born from above," as Jesus said in John 3 to Nicodemus. --A Kingdom of spirit and truth. The corollary to this is "God works in mysterious ways."

The second popular definition of the Kingdom of God describes it as in the process of "becoming" visible to all, ...a growing reality that will literally transform the earth to produce a new age. It has overtones of judgement as well. This second definition is similar to the Messianic hope of the Old Testament for a visible kingdom. Some New Testament scriptures and the Early Church hitched Jesus' hidden internal Kingdom to the expectation of the Second Coming, such that one would eventually become the other, "...invisible will become visible."  Many of Jesus' parables of the Kingdom seem to refute this idea of a visible Kingdom, and indeed, he taught that his Kingdom was "not of this world" --which probably means, not "like" this world expects." There are verses which support both concepts, and the way you "lean" in the argument is no doubt guided by your church tradition. Suffice to say, that can be a problem, as Jesus' teachings often challenge what we THOUGHT was true.

Within scripture the words of Jesus must always carry special weight. To be sure, they present a varied description, but here's what we can say for sure:

It can be sought after.  "Seek first the Kingdom..."  Matt 6

It can be found. The treasure and pearl in Matthew 13. 

It belongs to those with child-like qualities. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”  Matthew 19

It can be seen if you are born from above (born again). John 3.

It is within or "among" us. “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is among you.”  Luke 17

It can be missed or hidden from your sight. The Yeast and Treasure in Matthew 13

It is at hand and calls us to action.  "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near" Matthew 3, John the Baptist

It is something that can be sown and grown. The mustard seed in Matthew 13.  It is like a home for birds.

It is not a political or geographic kingdom. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” John 18

We are to pray for it to come. And it is God's will being done.  “Your Kingdom Come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6

It is heaven on earth.  "...on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6

Some have equated the Kingdom of God to the Church, or to the Second Coming, but that's a bit too broad. God's Kingdom is bigger than the Church. The Church is the Kingdom's ambassador. We are to be visible outposts of the Kingdom. The doctrine of the Second Coming envisions an end-time for the old earth, whereas, Jesus spoke of the Kingdom as something we could enter now -- no waiting.

There are other things Jesus is recorded to have said about the Kingdom, ...some of them quite different and perhaps challenging to your theological leaning. For example, Matthew records Jesus saying that the Kingdom is a place some can be thrown out of. But the preponderance of Jesus scripture speak to the Kingdom as a place where seekers find God and joyfully respond with action. The Kingdom's reality can't be measured, only believed and acted upon in faith.

It is this "DO" aspect of the Kingdom which often gets lost in the theological weeds.

Sow it, Knead it, Seek it, Dig it, Do it.

Jesus said (most clearly) that the Kingdom was already among us like a seed, like yeast, like a great pearl, and like a hidden treasure. And in each of those parables, there is something happening that many miss when they only focus on single words like, "seed, yeast, pearl, treasure."  

• The Kingdom is not a seed, but a seed that becomes a tree for birds to find safety in.
• It needs worked into our bread to produce a tasty result.
• It is something we need to look for, like the greatest pearl, and not settle for lesser pearls.
• And it can be a treasure that others have missed, but brings us such joy when we find it, that we are willing to give up everything for it.

Someone once said, "Heaven doesn't begin when you die, it begins when you start living for Jesus."  

In that respect, "heaven" is a good synonym for the Kingdom of God, if you understand "heaven" as a way of living instead of merely a place. Perhaps that is why Matthew used the phrase "Kingdom of Heaven," instead of Kingdom of God. 

"We've got it all wrong.
We don't get in to heaven, heaven gets in to us."

-Neil MacQueen

Neil is a Presbyterian minister and member of the Writing Team.