The Kingdom of God Has Come
Luke 11:20/Matthew 12:28
Kingdom observations:
1. This Kingdom is called the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of Christ. Each Title may reflect a different aspect of the Kingdom, but it is the same Kingdom of our God and His Christ.
Kingdom of Heaven is used almost exclusively in Matthew, perhaps, given the genealogy in chapter 1, He is seeking to turn the minds of his Jewish readers away from the physical throne of David to David’s Descendent ascending a Heavenly Throne!--Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 5:3, 10:7. (Matt. 69-14--In the Lord’s Prayer, He implies that the Kingdom for which we are praying the increase of, is from Heaven and belongs to His Father.)
Kingdom of God–Matt. 6:33, Matt 12:28/Luke 11:20 (Finger of God = Holy Spirit), Matt 19:24; Mark 1:14-15 (Note this is a parallel passage to Matt. 4:17 where Matthew records Jesus saying “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.)
Kingdom of Christ–Eph. 5:5 (After listing un-kingdom like behavior, Paul declares they “have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.”). II Tim 4:1- In speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Judge of the quick (living) and the dead, “at His appearing and His Kingdom.”; II Peter 1:11- Peter encourages us to make our calling and election sure, “for so an entrance will be supplied to you...into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2. The Kingdom has come, is coming, and will come. This is the same Kingdom in different phases or stages in God’s Eternal Plan and Manifestation.
The Kingdom has come: Our lead texts state this: If the Christ casts out demons by the Spirit/Finger of God, “surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Here and now!!! Acts 8:5-7 & 12 shows that this “casting out of demons” continued in the ministry of Philip to show that the Kingdom of God has come. Matt 13 Our Lord’s parabolic descriptions of the Kingdom are in the present tense. More on these parables later.
The Kingdom of God is coming: By that, I mean, that which has come is increasing and expanding. Matt. 13:31-33 The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven speak of an ever expanding Kingdom. Revelation 1:9 John is our brother and companion in tribulation, “and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ. Matt. 6:9-13 Our Lord has taught us to pray for the expansion of His Kingdom in terms of His Will being done on earth. What follows thru vs 15 is a very personal exposition of what He means. It is the increase of His Will ruling in our hearts as Kingdom citizens in the areas of trust, in integrity, and in forgiveness.
The Kingdom will come: This is the foundation for all of the passages on perseverance. Recall II Peter 1:11 where the motivation for making our calling and election sure is that we might find entrance into the “everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Tim. 2:12 “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” Also again II Tim 4:1. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:24 that after the second coming of our Jesus, our Blessed Hope. "Then comes the end, when He (Jesus) shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." This is the fulfillment of the Father's promise in Psalm 110. All warfare has ceased and the Eternal Reign of Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) on a new heavens and a new earth (II Peter 3:13) will be uninterrupted. And as Peter says in II Peter 3:14, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found OF HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless." Truly, such a state of spotlessness has to be to those who are OF HIM, and found IN HIM, those who "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever."
3. This Kingdom is spiritual, not natural. The usual measurements of the strength, growth, success of a physical kingdom have no place here! Luke 17 20-21 Jesus said to the Pharisees, “the Kingdom of God does not come with observation: nor will they say, ‘see here’, ‘or see there’! For the Kingdom of God is within you–in your midst.” Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not in meat or drink, but in peace, righteousness and Joy in the Holy Spirit.” The Kingdom Rule of Christ the King is seen, however, in behavior change, in the Fruit of the Spirit Who works the Will of the King in His subjects. For your see, faith without works is dead!!!
4. Matthew 13:1-30 Mysteriously, the Kingdom of God in its present manifestation, has weeds and counterfeits in it! I know, how can this be??? And yet, our Lord in the parables of the Sower and of the wheat and tares states this. Perhaps His meaning is that the environment in which the Kingdom operates at present is prone to counterfeiting the Kingdom character, and the Kingdom is of such purity that its enemies are legion, seeking to destroy or at least weaken it.
5. The Kingdom is Eternal, in the “Heavens”! Psalm 145:1,10-13 “Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your Dominion endures throughout all generations.” Dan 4:34-35
6. Psalm 110:1-4 The Kingdom enters a new dimension in the God/Man King. God brings humanity, His Elect, into a new relationship with His Kingdom by Incarnating His Eternal Son in human flesh!! The Son of Man’s Rule is from the Throne of all Power at the Father’s Right Hand.
Daniel 7:13-14 “One like the Son of Man...came to the Ancient of Days.”
7. Psalm 110:1-2 This period of the Eternal Kingdom is the “warfare stage”. But note, His Rod of Strength proceeds out of Zion, His glorious temple people! John 18:36 His Kingdom is not of this world and the weapons of His warfare are totally unlike the worlds! II Cor. 10:4
8. Psalm 110:4 Unlike any old testament king, this King is also a Priest! Our Warrior King is also our King of Peace (Heb. 6:19-7:4), and He is that Eternally & Continually by the Power of His Endless Life!!! (Heb. 7:15)
9. Matthew 7:29 Our King Jesus was crowned with thorns, His enemies unwittingly testifying that the curse upon this earth (Gen. 3:17-18) could not hinder His ascension to the Throne over all creation.
10. Hebrews 2:14-18 His ultimate victory was through dying the death that was the ultimate curse placed upon man for his disobedience. “And through death, He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is the devil.” And most wonderfully, He has released “those who through fear of death wer all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
11. Matthew 16:15-18 The war is over, He is victorious.(Rev.12:7-12) What remains is a “mop up” operation! Hell is powerless against the onslaught of this King. It is a warfare unlike no other. Through the foolishness of preaching, He calls out His Adopted ones. (I Cor. 1:18-24) And whenever the Gospel of Christ is preached, the binding and loosing occurs. (II Cor. 2:14-16) Remember, our warfare is spiritual, as are our weapons. (Eph. 6:10-18) This does not minimize the violence and incessant fighting of the Evil One. For Revelation 12:12 says that "the devil is come down unto you (those on the earth), having great wrath, because hee knows that he has but a short time."
12. Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul is praying for “Spiritual eyes” (vs 18) that those who believe might know the only source of their power on this earth. It was accomplished toward us (vs 19) when the Father raised our God/Man from the dead and seated Him at His Right Hand of Power in the Heavenly Places of Victory!
13. Hebrews 4:14-16 Remember, our King is a King/Priest!!! And His Throne is unlike any other. It is the Throne of Mercy and Grace!!! II Peter 1:3 Peter says that God has, by His Divine Power, all things that pertain to life and godliness. And it is ours only through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord!! And here is the point!!! Everything we need for life and godliness in this fallen world IS ONLY OURS FROM THE THRONE OF POWER, THE THRONE OF MERCY AND GRACE. This is not a place we occasionally visit when we finally give up and have to ask for help! This is the “location” from which our Great High Priest/KIng provides our DAILY bread, our DAILY meek and forgiving hearts, and our DAILY victory over temptation. We can not live the life of godliness fore one second, apart from the constant mediation of Mercy and Grace from our Victorious, Exalted King/Priest Who Only is able to “save to the uttermost those who come to God THROUGH HIM since He lives forever to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:15)
14. Heb 4:9-13 If we are truly hearing the Word of God, we understand that it’s Goal is to drive us to our knees at this throne of Mercy and Grace. Any “christian” who is not being made continually aware of the his or her total inadequacy to please God, and not being made to depend wholly on the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ, is only reading the Bible, not the Word of God. Get my drift! (I Corinthians 1:25-31)
And that is why the Lord’s Table is a celebration! We are celebrating the death of death through the only Man Who could die, and live to tell about it!!! And what is more, He ascended to the Father’s Right Hand that He might, as our Great High Priest, provide for us, as our Rightful King, everything we need to persevere in this fallen world, until He comes again and makes all things new!
(II Peter 3)
Luke 11:20/Matthew 12:28
Kingdom observations:
1. This Kingdom is called the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of Christ. Each Title may reflect a different aspect of the Kingdom, but it is the same Kingdom of our God and His Christ.
Kingdom of Heaven is used almost exclusively in Matthew, perhaps, given the genealogy in chapter 1, He is seeking to turn the minds of his Jewish readers away from the physical throne of David to David’s Descendent ascending a Heavenly Throne!--Matt. 3:2, 4:17, 5:3, 10:7. (Matt. 69-14--In the Lord’s Prayer, He implies that the Kingdom for which we are praying the increase of, is from Heaven and belongs to His Father.)
Kingdom of God–Matt. 6:33, Matt 12:28/Luke 11:20 (Finger of God = Holy Spirit), Matt 19:24; Mark 1:14-15 (Note this is a parallel passage to Matt. 4:17 where Matthew records Jesus saying “the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.)
Kingdom of Christ–Eph. 5:5 (After listing un-kingdom like behavior, Paul declares they “have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.”). II Tim 4:1- In speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Judge of the quick (living) and the dead, “at His appearing and His Kingdom.”; II Peter 1:11- Peter encourages us to make our calling and election sure, “for so an entrance will be supplied to you...into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2. The Kingdom has come, is coming, and will come. This is the same Kingdom in different phases or stages in God’s Eternal Plan and Manifestation.
The Kingdom has come: Our lead texts state this: If the Christ casts out demons by the Spirit/Finger of God, “surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you.” Here and now!!! Acts 8:5-7 & 12 shows that this “casting out of demons” continued in the ministry of Philip to show that the Kingdom of God has come. Matt 13 Our Lord’s parabolic descriptions of the Kingdom are in the present tense. More on these parables later.
The Kingdom of God is coming: By that, I mean, that which has come is increasing and expanding. Matt. 13:31-33 The parables of the mustard seed and the leaven speak of an ever expanding Kingdom. Revelation 1:9 John is our brother and companion in tribulation, “and in the Kingdom and Patience of Jesus Christ. Matt. 6:9-13 Our Lord has taught us to pray for the expansion of His Kingdom in terms of His Will being done on earth. What follows thru vs 15 is a very personal exposition of what He means. It is the increase of His Will ruling in our hearts as Kingdom citizens in the areas of trust, in integrity, and in forgiveness.
The Kingdom will come: This is the foundation for all of the passages on perseverance. Recall II Peter 1:11 where the motivation for making our calling and election sure is that we might find entrance into the “everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Tim. 2:12 “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him.” Also again II Tim 4:1. Paul says in I Corinthians 15:24 that after the second coming of our Jesus, our Blessed Hope. "Then comes the end, when He (Jesus) shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down all rule and all authority and power." This is the fulfillment of the Father's promise in Psalm 110. All warfare has ceased and the Eternal Reign of Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17) on a new heavens and a new earth (II Peter 3:13) will be uninterrupted. And as Peter says in II Peter 3:14, "Wherefore, beloved, seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found OF HIM in peace, without spot, and blameless." Truly, such a state of spotlessness has to be to those who are OF HIM, and found IN HIM, those who "grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever."
3. This Kingdom is spiritual, not natural. The usual measurements of the strength, growth, success of a physical kingdom have no place here! Luke 17 20-21 Jesus said to the Pharisees, “the Kingdom of God does not come with observation: nor will they say, ‘see here’, ‘or see there’! For the Kingdom of God is within you–in your midst.” Romans 14:17 “The Kingdom of God is not in meat or drink, but in peace, righteousness and Joy in the Holy Spirit.” The Kingdom Rule of Christ the King is seen, however, in behavior change, in the Fruit of the Spirit Who works the Will of the King in His subjects. For your see, faith without works is dead!!!
4. Matthew 13:1-30 Mysteriously, the Kingdom of God in its present manifestation, has weeds and counterfeits in it! I know, how can this be??? And yet, our Lord in the parables of the Sower and of the wheat and tares states this. Perhaps His meaning is that the environment in which the Kingdom operates at present is prone to counterfeiting the Kingdom character, and the Kingdom is of such purity that its enemies are legion, seeking to destroy or at least weaken it.
5. The Kingdom is Eternal, in the “Heavens”! Psalm 145:1,10-13 “Your Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your Dominion endures throughout all generations.” Dan 4:34-35
6. Psalm 110:1-4 The Kingdom enters a new dimension in the God/Man King. God brings humanity, His Elect, into a new relationship with His Kingdom by Incarnating His Eternal Son in human flesh!! The Son of Man’s Rule is from the Throne of all Power at the Father’s Right Hand.
Daniel 7:13-14 “One like the Son of Man...came to the Ancient of Days.”
7. Psalm 110:1-2 This period of the Eternal Kingdom is the “warfare stage”. But note, His Rod of Strength proceeds out of Zion, His glorious temple people! John 18:36 His Kingdom is not of this world and the weapons of His warfare are totally unlike the worlds! II Cor. 10:4
8. Psalm 110:4 Unlike any old testament king, this King is also a Priest! Our Warrior King is also our King of Peace (Heb. 6:19-7:4), and He is that Eternally & Continually by the Power of His Endless Life!!! (Heb. 7:15)
9. Matthew 7:29 Our King Jesus was crowned with thorns, His enemies unwittingly testifying that the curse upon this earth (Gen. 3:17-18) could not hinder His ascension to the Throne over all creation.
10. Hebrews 2:14-18 His ultimate victory was through dying the death that was the ultimate curse placed upon man for his disobedience. “And through death, He destroyed him who had the power of death, that is the devil.” And most wonderfully, He has released “those who through fear of death wer all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
11. Matthew 16:15-18 The war is over, He is victorious.(Rev.12:7-12) What remains is a “mop up” operation! Hell is powerless against the onslaught of this King. It is a warfare unlike no other. Through the foolishness of preaching, He calls out His Adopted ones. (I Cor. 1:18-24) And whenever the Gospel of Christ is preached, the binding and loosing occurs. (II Cor. 2:14-16) Remember, our warfare is spiritual, as are our weapons. (Eph. 6:10-18) This does not minimize the violence and incessant fighting of the Evil One. For Revelation 12:12 says that "the devil is come down unto you (those on the earth), having great wrath, because hee knows that he has but a short time."
12. Ephesians 1:15-23 Paul is praying for “Spiritual eyes” (vs 18) that those who believe might know the only source of their power on this earth. It was accomplished toward us (vs 19) when the Father raised our God/Man from the dead and seated Him at His Right Hand of Power in the Heavenly Places of Victory!
13. Hebrews 4:14-16 Remember, our King is a King/Priest!!! And His Throne is unlike any other. It is the Throne of Mercy and Grace!!! II Peter 1:3 Peter says that God has, by His Divine Power, all things that pertain to life and godliness. And it is ours only through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord!! And here is the point!!! Everything we need for life and godliness in this fallen world IS ONLY OURS FROM THE THRONE OF POWER, THE THRONE OF MERCY AND GRACE. This is not a place we occasionally visit when we finally give up and have to ask for help! This is the “location” from which our Great High Priest/KIng provides our DAILY bread, our DAILY meek and forgiving hearts, and our DAILY victory over temptation. We can not live the life of godliness fore one second, apart from the constant mediation of Mercy and Grace from our Victorious, Exalted King/Priest Who Only is able to “save to the uttermost those who come to God THROUGH HIM since He lives forever to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:15)
14. Heb 4:9-13 If we are truly hearing the Word of God, we understand that it’s Goal is to drive us to our knees at this throne of Mercy and Grace. Any “christian” who is not being made continually aware of the his or her total inadequacy to please God, and not being made to depend wholly on the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ, is only reading the Bible, not the Word of God. Get my drift! (I Corinthians 1:25-31)
And that is why the Lord’s Table is a celebration! We are celebrating the death of death through the only Man Who could die, and live to tell about it!!! And what is more, He ascended to the Father’s Right Hand that He might, as our Great High Priest, provide for us, as our Rightful King, everything we need to persevere in this fallen world, until He comes again and makes all things new!
(II Peter 3)