What is the “Kingdom of God”?

The Kingdom of God is within you...

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "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 within you." Luke 17:20-21

After reading the above scripture about the “Kingdom of God” I thought to myself, “Hmmm… that is interesting! The Kingdom of God is within ME!!?” How cool is that!? But, how does that work?? I have heard this before of course but this time it sparked a new interest. I know there are many scriptures in the Bible about the Kingdom of God (Matthew uses the term Kingdom of “heaven” for the Jews sake) so I decided to pull them all out and see what I could find out about this topic. I wanted to look primarily at what JESUS said because, in my book, HE is the ultimate authority! There are a couple others but I wanted to focus mostly on the words of God, made flesh. So, here is what I found:

The Kingdom of God starts small and grows big…

Then Jesus asked, "What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches." Again he asked, "What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." Luke 13:18-21

“He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Matthew 13:31-32

There is feasting in the Kingdom of God…

People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Luke 13:29

I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 8:11

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." Luke 14:15

And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." Luke 22:15-16

I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God. Mark 14:25

The Kingdom of God is POWER…

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 1 Corinthians 4:20

But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28

“…and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 9:2

“…but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.” Luke 9:11

It is hard for the RICH to enter into the Kingdom…

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Matthew 19:24

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" Mark 10:23

Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

The Kingdom can be taken away…

Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. Matthew 21:43

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability… (Truncated for space) For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. Matthew 25:14-29

The Kingdom of God is Organic…

He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Again he said, "What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade." Mark 4:26-32

The Kingdom is not only in the afterlife…

And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." Mark 9:1

I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God." Luke 9:27

The Kingdom should be received like a little child…

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Mark 10:15

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:16-17

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:3-4

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

The Kingdom of God is the “Good news”…

After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Luke 8:1

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. Luke 16:16

The time has come, he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15

The Kingdom of God is relational…

Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. So the scribe said to Him, Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other besides Him. And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God…" Mark 12:29-34

The Kingdom of God is secret and hidden from some…

He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,” 'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.' Luke 8:10

He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables. Mark 4:11

He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Matthew 13:11

We are in “service” in the Kingdom of God…

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

The kingdom of God is near…

“…and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 3:2

From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." Matthew 4:17

'Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.' Luke 10:11

Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Luke 21:31

The time has come, he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Mark 1:15

Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' Luke 10:9

You must be born again to see the Kingdom of God…

In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” John 3:3

Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. John 3:5

The Kingdom of God is not easily entered…

They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said. Acts 14:21-22

The Kingdom is NOT for “YES” men…

What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. Matthew 21:28-31

Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21

We need to keep watch for the Kingdom…

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise… (Truncated for space) Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:1-13

We will be sorted and sifted in the Kingdom of God…

Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?' ‘An enemy did this,' he replied. The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to go and pull them up?' 'No,' he answered, 'because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.'  Matthew 13:24-30

Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 13:47-50

The Kingdom of God is a “treasure” of great value...

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46

He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old." Matthew 13:52

There are “keys” to the Kingdom of God…

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19

The Kingdom of God is not logical or predictable…

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard… (Truncated for space)  'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Mat 20:1-16

We can be “least” or “Great” in the Kingdom of God…

Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:19-20

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Matthew 11:11

Many are invited into the Kingdom but few are chosen…

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come… (Truncated for space) But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are invited, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:2-14

There is Mercy, justice and forgiveness in the Kingdom…

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants… (Truncated for space) 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart. Matthew 18:23-35

So, to capsulize all of the above headers and scriptures, here is the Kingdom of God in a nutshell: The Kingdom of God is within you...  it starts small and grows… is the Good news…Should be received like a little child… is not only in the afterlife… is Organic… can be taken away… is POWER… There is feasting in the Kingdom… It is relational… It is hard for the RICH to enter… It is secret and hidden from some people… You must be born again to see the Kingdom… it is near… We “serve” in the Kingdom… The Kingdom is NOT for “YES” men… is not easily entered… We need to keep watch for the Kingdom… We will be sorted and sifted… It is a “treasure” of great value…. There are “keys” to the Kingdom… It is not logical or predictable… We can be “least” or “great”… Many are invited but few are chosen… There is Mercy, justice and forgiveness in the Kingdom…

This was an interesting study which has clarified for me what the Kingdom of God is… Yet it is STILL a mystery! :p But going through this exercise has helped me see it a bit clearer than I did before. It has also given me a desire to look at the scriptures regarding “Eternal Life” and “Heaven” for more clarity on those topics as well so stay tuned for those blogs!

Thank you Father that we can’t “figure” You out! Your word and truth can only be revealed to those who truly desire You and want to know You. Holy Spirit, please give me the insight and wisdom to see the Kingdom more and more each day as I press into YOU!