#2 Jesus Says His Kingdom Fulfills Daniel’s Kingdom Promise

Matthew 5:3-12

A. Introduction to the Beatitudes – The Truly Blessed People

1. “Blessed” = Makarios Adjective The root of Makarios is mak which means large. Thus, God enlarges the blessed person. He dilates him in respect to capacity for spiritual life. We derive “makro” from this Greek word.

a. The idea of blessedness is spiritual prosperity, It is capacity to love, give, rejoice, etc. The example is that God blesses a person by making him poor in spirit, etc. Godless pride is the enemy. The humility of becoming a Christian cures pride.

b. The cause of the blessing is the favor of God. Of all women, God blessed Mary. God chose her for the special privilege of mothering Jesus (Luke 1:28).

c. Luke 1:28 says, “The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” “Favored” is the perfect passive participle of the Greek verb charitoo, and it means “having been graced or favored.” We derive the English word charity from charitoo.

d. Luke 1:42 says, “In a loud voice she [Elizabeth] exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women and blessed is the child you will bear!” The word “blessed” is the perfect passive participle of the Greek word eulogeo. It is used of the act of God’s blessing coming down on someone. God cursed the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve sinned against Him. When He blesses us, He turns cursing into blessing. We derive “eulogy” from the word eulogeo.

e. Contrast – All persons are either under God’s curse or His blessing. His curse is His judgment (Matthew 21:19). His blessing is His favor bestowed on His elect.

f. Ephesians 1:3-5 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

g. The Jews believed all descendants of Abraham were the recipients of God’s blessing (cp. Genesis 12:1-3.) But they misinterpreted this blessing. It was for Isaac, not Ishmael. It was for Jacob, not Esau. Physical Israel was only the ceremonially blessed people.

h. God began Israel by saying that He would bless those Abram blessed. Then, He opened the New Testament saying that the ones whom He blesses may be known by spiritual qualities.

i. Jesus shows that those whom God blesses, He blesses by giving them Godly spiritual and moral character traits, as in the Beatitudes.

j. Even in the Old Testament, God’s main objects of blessing were Abram’s spiritual seed rather than his natural seed. God blessed his saved seed [Isaac] rather than his natural descendant, Esau. God blessed Ishmael with a conditional covenant but blessed Isaac with an unconditional covenant (Rom 9:6-13).

k. Even when God did bless Abraham’s natural seed, He made it contingent upon their performance.

l. God blessed Abraham’s justified seed by giving them active obedience without removing their free will. God gave Abraham an unconditional covenant.

m. God blesses the people of Matthew 5:3-11, whom He calls “Blessed,” by His grace. This grace was also upon Abraham’s justified seed. All born again Christians are poor in spirit, mourners, meek, hungry for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

2. Beatitudes that are in the Old Testament:

a. Protection from evil influences is a blessing from God. Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or set foot on the path of sinners, or sit in the seat of mockers.”

b. Refuge from God’s wrath is a blessing from God. Psalm 2:12 says, “Kiss his son, or he will be angry, and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

c. Justification is a blessing from God. Psalm 32:2 says, “Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.”

d. National reverence for God is a blessing from God. Psalm 33:12 says, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.”

e. Refuge in suffering is a blessing from God. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

f. Trust in the Lord is a blessing from God. Psalm 40:4 says, “Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.”

g. Regard for the poor is a blessing from God. Psalm 41:1 says, “Blessed is the one who cares for the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of trouble.”

h. The people in the Old Testament whom God blessed, received their blessing from God just as Abraham did. In Genesis 12:2 God says to Abraham, “and I will bless you….”

3. Here is the construction of Matthew 5:3 which says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

a. What is omitted from Matthew 5:3? Answer:

1) Our Lord Jesus does not tell us how the Kingdom people become pure in heart, etc. The answer is below:

a) Christ knows them (Matthew 7:23; 22:14)

b) They enter by the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13).

c) They change their lives by turning from sin to Christ (Matthew 4:17)

2) Sometimes the object of the attitude is left out. He says, “Blessed are those who mourn.” They mourn for what? Answer: They mourn due to the ravages of sin in their own lives and in the lives of others. And they mourn because sin grieves God and grieves them.

b. Each Beatitude has a result of blessing annexed to it. Isaiah 66:2 says, “Has not My hand made all these things? And so, they came into being," declares the LORD.”

"This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.”

1) Being humble is connected to being contrite in spirit. Jesus expresses humility as poverty in spirit because the proud are “spirited” against God or rich in themselves against God.

2) The actual reasons annexed are explanatory. ‘Does God bless them because they are humble, or does he give them humility when they humble themselves? The answer is, “both.”

B. The Kingdom of Heaven

1. It is the kingdom of the heavens. It is God’s rule in the spiritual sphere. It is a spiritual movement centering around the King.

2. It was introduced by Daniel (Daniel 2:34-46.) It was the statue made of different metals, which the Stone destroyed.

3. Daniel 2:34 says, “As you watched, a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and crushed them.”

4. Daniel 2:44-45 says, “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end but will itself stand forever. 45And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.”

5. Both John the Baptizer and the Lord Jesus Christ required spiritual repentance to enter the Kingdom (Matthew 3:2; 4:17). And the Lord said that no one could see the Kingdom unless they were born again (John 3:3-15).

6. The interpretation of the parable of the grain of mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). I am explaining the 3 main views of the Prophetic Kingdom here so that the reader may know them while following the text in the Sermon on the Mount.

a. Matthew 13:31-32 says, “He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. 32Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”

b. Three main views about the Kingdom meaning in Matthew 13:31-32.

1) Postmillennialists, or those who believe the millennium is at the end of the Church Age, think this parable of the kingdom prophesies the great, complete, and ultimate success of Christianity in this age. Proponents of this view say God fulfills it in the tremendous size of the Church and in Christianized nations. They see Christianized nations as good and as the birds.

2) Dispensationalists believe the grain foretells the abnormal and unnatural extension of Christendom. They think the adult tree is the tremendous size of the Church, which they think is bad. The birds, they say, represent Satan (Matthew 13:4 19). Refutation: Though this is true in the history of the Church, it is not the point of the parable.

3) The correct view is that the tiny beginning of the Kingdom will climax in impressive results. Evidence for this view:

a) The Kingdom is “like” mustard seed growth. The seed and its growth relate to the kingdom and its growth. Matthew 11:16 says, “To what can I compare this generation? They are “like” children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others:” So, the kingdom of Heaven is “like” mustard seed growth.

b) The Parable is a mystery. Matthew 13:11 says, “He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you [Jesus’ disciples], but not to them.”

c) Emphasis in the Parable of the Mustard Seed is between “least” and “greatest.”

d) The birds of the air are not destructive as in Matthew 13:4, 19. Rather, they are like the birds of Daniel 4:21-22. The point is that the tree becomes a blessing to the birds, which represent men (Ezekiel 31:1-7).

e) Jesus’ little flock has nothing to fear because they will receive the Kingdom, which is of God, and is great and powerful (Luke 12:32).

f) The inconspicuous presence of the kingdom should not be an offense to the disciples. Rather, it is a reason for their confidence. Disciples are often impatient, and this parable cures that (Matthew 20:20-22, 24-27; Acts 1:6-7).

g) Jesus began His Kingdom in humility and pledged that He would finish it. Luke 14:28-32 says, “Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it? 29Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him ,30saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’ Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.”

h) Jesus urged His disciples to trust in Him for the future of His Kingdom.

i) Luke 12:32 says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” His Kingdom was exceedingly small, but He said in the parable that it will become exceptionally large and will secondarily bless all humanity.

j) The mustard seed is like the stone of Daniel 2:35.

k) The field is the world in which the Kingdom (plant) grows (Matt 13:38).

l)Luke 17:20-21 says, “When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs. 21Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

C. In the Beatitudes Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven as:

1. The inheritance of the poor in Spirit: Not only does God bless persons by making them poor in spirit by grace, but also, He blesses them with victory in the Christian life and in Heaven.

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

a. The word “poor,” ptochoi in Greek, is used for poverty in general. Luke 6:20 says, “Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. His disciples are poor, but they are rich as possessors of the Kingdom of God. One is wealthy if God blesses him with humility.

b. So, the Lord is not saying that there is blessing in poverty. He spoke to materially poor disciples and told them that God had blessed them with spiritual blessings. These are those who are honest about themselves, rather than thinking of themselves in some haughty way.

c. Daniel 7:25 says of Antichrist, “He will speak out against the Highest and oppress the saints of the “Most High,” intending to change the appointed times and laws; and the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times, and half a time.” True Christians, though in captivity, prosper during times of oppression.

d. The Lord preaches the Gospel to the poor. Luke 7:22 says, “So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

e. Luke 14:21 says, “Bring in here the poor…”

f. Luke 16:20 says, “There was a certain beggar.”

g. Matthew 26:11 says, “The you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.”

h. James 2:5 says, “God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith.”

i. A “rich” man is one who trusts in riches.

1) Psalm 62:10 says,” place no trust in extortion, or false hope in stolen goods. If your riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.”

2) 1 Timothy 6:17-18 says, “Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,”

3) A “rich” man is one who trusts in uncertain riches. To possess the Kingdom of God instead of money is to be truly rich. Luke 6:20 says, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

D. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN THE BEATTTUDES

1. Daniel introduces the Kingdom of Heaven. The stone destroying the statue of many metals. The stone was Christ. Daniel 2:44-45 says, “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end but will itself stand forever. 45And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.

2. In the Beatitudes our Lord describes the Kingdom of Heaven as: consisting of people who have good spiritual qualities.

a. Daniel introduces the Kingdom, which is the inheritance of the poor in spirit (Daniel 5:3).

b. The poor in spirit are humble. They are saints (holy ones).

c. Daniel 7:22 says, “until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced judgment in favor of the saints of the “Most High” and the time came for them to possess the kingdom.” Notice that God said that the “saints” will possess the Kingdom, not the unsaved Israelites who have no salvation by birth. Saints are justified and sanctified Jews & Gentiles.

d. So, Daniel, speaking for God, prophesies that the time will come for the saints to possess the Kingdom. That time is when King Jesus begins His public ministry at His baptism. Paul, writing in Romans 1:7 says, “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints.” Saints are both justified and sanctified.

TABULAR VIEW OF GOD BLESSING KINGDOM PEOPLE WITH HEART QUALITIES

Mt God’s blessing is	The reward	Weapons Christians use.
5:3 Poor in spirit (humility)	Theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.	James 2:5 “God chose the poor (in spirit) to be rich in faith.
5:4 Mourning over sin	2 Cor 1:4 says, “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble	Compassion for many who have sinned and have not repented (2 Corinthians 12:21) Matthew 5:4 says, “They will be comforted.”
5:5 Meekness	Theirs is the Kingdom. They become a kingdom of priests (1 Peter 2:9)	Romans 8:37: God causes us to be more than conquerors in unjust suffering.
5:6 Craving righteousness	Filled with righteousness. God imputes and imparts righteousness to His own.	Learning righteousness requires study of the Book of Romans.
5:7 Being merciful	Obtaining mercy in the Kingdom. Christians have mercy to one another.	Mercy toward the saints. Pharisee righteousness lacked mercy (Matthew 9:13).
5:8 Purity in heart	Sees God with spiritual eyes. Christians know & see God by the Spirit.	We must have pure thoughts to see the pure God (Philippians 4:8).
5:9 Peacemakers	Known as sons (imitators) of God (Matthew 5:45)	Jesus is the greatest peacemaker of all time (Ephesians 2:14-16)). We follow Him.
5:10-12 Persecution for righteousness	Inherit God’s Kingdom. Great reward in Heaven (Revelation 6:9-11)	Martyrs are those who give their lives for the love of the truth.

e. The Kingdom of Heaven is the sphere in which God will comfort the mourners. (Matthew 5:4; Isaiah 12:1; Hebrews 2:13).

1) The mourners lament the ravages of sin in our lives and in others’ lives. Luke 18:13 says, “But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’”

2) 2 Corinthians 12:21 says, “I am afraid that when I come again, my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of their acts of impurity, sexual immorality, and debauchery.” See also Daniel 9:1-20.

3) Psalm 119:136 says, “My eyes shed streams of tears because Your law is not obeyed.”

4) Isaiah 12:1 says, “Although You were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me.”

5) Isaiah 30:26 says, “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.” The principle is that all sorrow has a built-in comfort for the elect (Romans 8:17). Here are some truths that comfort:

a) Jesus knows how weak we are and how great the trial is. Hebrews 5:2 says, “He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.”

b) We are not our own. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “for you were bought with a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”

c) Nothing can harm us. Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you. “

d) All suffering is submissive to our salvation. Romans 8:37-39 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

f. The Kingdom of Heaven is the inheritance of the meek (Matthew 5:5; Daniel 7:22). All Christians are meek to one degree or another. All true Christians inherit Heaven.

1) The meek are those who suffer wrong with no bitterness or desire for revenge; We are those who wait on the Lord to judge our enemies; those who believe that all acts of God are best.

2) The meek person knows that he is a sinner among sinners.

3) One example of meekness is David’s attitude when Shimei cursed and threw stones at him. 2 Samuel 16:11 says, “Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so.”

4) How the meek inherit the earth.

a) It is a law of Providence that God promotes those who defer their rights to retaliation. See the life of Joseph, David, and Daniel.

b) The meek bless others who reciprocate. Philippians 4:18 says, “I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.”

c) The Lord Jesus meekly went to the cross, but Philippians 2:9-10 says, “Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

d) The Christian reigns in life by grace. Romans 5:17 says, “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive an abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!”

e) All things serve us and are for us (Romans 8:28). 1 Corinthians 3:22 says, “whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours,”

f) Some say slavery is good for the slave and good for the owner, so the meek should remain in slavery. But 1 Corinthians 7:21 says, “Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.”

g) Meekness does not mean that we should not stand for the honor of Christ. Acts 16:37 says, “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out." It is right to stand for the law.

5) The Kingdom of Heaven is the sphere in which God satisfies those who hunger for righteousness (Matthew 5:6; Isaiah 4:1, 2; Acts 16:9). This is not only a desire to participate in righteousness. It is a desire to possess the sum and substance of righteousness.

6) To hunger for righteousness is to crave the Epistle to the Romans. There, righteousness is:

a) Righteousness is what God displays in the Gospel (Romans 1:16-17), while He displays Hs wrath in the world.

b) Righteousness is what God demands, and that of which man falls short (Romans 3:19-23).

c) Righteousness is what God imputes to the sinner’s account through faith (Romans 3:24-4:10).

d) Righteousness is what God imparts through grace (Romans 6:14-20).

e) Righteousness is what the saint must live (Romans Chapters 12-14).

7) Thus, the hunger for righteousness is hunger for God to be glorified in justification, sanctification, and glorification in our lives, and in the lives of others.

8) The description of true righteousness:

a) It must exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees who had no imputed or imparted righteousness (Matthew 5:20).

b) It is the possession of God (Matthew 6:23).

c) It includes righteous attitudes (Matthew 5:5-8).

d) Men persecute you because you have righteousness (Matthew 5:10-12).

e) Pharisees’ righteousness excluded mercy. Matthew 9:13 says, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

f) Matthew 12:7 says, “If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”

g) Matthew 23:23 says, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.”

h) Romans 10:2-4 says, For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not based on knowledge. 3Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law, to bring righteousness to everyone who believes.”

g. The Kingdom of Heaven is the sphere in which the merciful obtain mercy (Matthew 5:7; Isaiah 12:1, 2; Ephesians 1:3). But the world will not always treat Christians mercifully. So, the Kingdom of Heaven is here now. Ephesians 1:3 calls it “in the heavenly realms.”

1) The Greek word for mercy in Matthew 5:7 is eleos. It is the word from which we get the English word eleemosynary. Webster’s Dictionary uses it as follows: “his vast fortune for establishing and funding a host of eleemosynary institutions” These were mercy institutions. The Greek word refers to active pity and having pity on someone includes action. Mercy contemplates man in his miserable state and helps him.

2) The Pharisees’ righteousness lacked mercy (Matthew 5:7).

a) Pharisee teaching was that people suffered only due to their personal sin. This was false doctrine.

b) Jesus taught them that mercy is more important than the sacrificial system (Matthew 9:13). God desires mercy and not sacrifice.

c) Jesus taught them that mercy is more important than the tithe (Mt. 23:23).

3) General observations

a) God dictates the time for mercy via Providence. See the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). The time for mercy is when we can help.

b) The great motive for mercy is gratitude for mercy received from God. See the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35.

Matthew 18:35 says, “That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

c) Proverbs 12:10 says, “A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.”

h. The Kingdom of Heaven is the sphere in which the pure in heart see God (Matthew 5:8; Ezekiel 37:27, 28; 2 Corinthians 3:15-17; 4:6)

1) Ezekiel 37:26-28 says, “I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be a perpetual covenant with them. I will establish them, increase their numbers, and place my sanctuary among them forever. 27My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. 28Then, when my sanctuary is among them forever, the nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel.”

2) The pure heart has godly feelings (Romans 9:2), has holy intellect (Romans 10:6), and has an upright will (1 Corinthians 4:5).

3) The Pharisees were concerned with being clean in the ceremonial or outward sense. Jesus said one must be clean on the inside. He said our thoughts, feelings, and desires mattered to God very much.

4) This is a call for honesty of heart, especially with oneself and with God. John 4:24 says, “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

5) It is also a call for a righteous thought life. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.”

6) Deceit is the enemy of a pure heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” When Jesus saves a person, He saves from the inside out, heart first.

7) Another enemy of a pure heart is the sin pollution which results in hypocrisy. Matthew 15:7-11 says, “You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’” 10Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “Listen and understand. 11A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

8) The pure in heart are those who govern their motives by divine viewpoint. What one sees of God is what He reveals to us. How we see God is as follows:

a) God writes His word on our hearts (Hebrews 8:8-11).

b) 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

9) Seeing God, results from being blessed by God. We see God more clearly as we obey Him.

10) Our sins grieve God. Because of our hard hearts, He created national Israel to illustrate spiritual Israel. He gave circumcision to illustrate separation from sin in the new birth. He chose Israel corporately to convey the truth of personal election. He adopted the temporal people to foreshadow the eternal people. He granted finite numbers of people to illustrate uncountable numbers of holy ones. He named a nation “Israel” to point to the “true Israel.” He originated the natural birth of Israelites to declare the new birth of His real people. He gave the land as a temporal inheritance to foreshadow the eternal inheritance. He dwelt among the people to illustrate His real dwelling among His true people. He let the people see Him in a cloud to foreshadow seeing Him in the Spirit, which is the only way anyone ever can see Him.

TABULAR VIEW OF ISRAEL PREFIGURING CHRISTIANS

God created National Israel	To illustrate Spiritual (justified) Israel.
God gave circumcision	To illustrate separation from sin in the new birth.
God chose Israel corporately	To convey the truth of personal election.
God adopted the temporal people	To foreshadow the eternal people.
God granted finite numbers of people	To illustrate uncountable numbers of holy ones.
God originated natural birth of Israel	To declare the new birth of His real people.
God named a nation “Israel”	To point to the true Israel.
God dwelt among the people	To illustrate His real dwelling in the true people.
God let the people see the cloud	To foreshadow seeing Him in the Spirit

11) In Jesus’ earthly ministry He told many parables. The disciples rarely understood what He meant by them (Matthew 16:6). They should have understood because the Old Testament had parables also. Matthew 16:6 says, “Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12) If we had been disciples of Jesus Christ back then, would we have, with the disciples, insisted upon the literal method of interpretation of the word “leaven?” Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” (Matthew 16:11).

13) The grievous part of it for God is that people took the training aids and pretended that they were the real promises, which they ignored.

14) Seeing God requires a clean heart because God is a clean Spirit, and we only see Him spiritually.

15) God delivers men over to a blind heart (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).

16) The natural man cannot see God. Born again people see God in the Spirit.

i. The Kingdom of Heaven is the sphere in which peacemakers will be called “sons of God.” (Matthew 5:9: Ephesians 2:15, 16).

1) The world needs peacemakers because it is full of alienation, taking sides, and strife.

2) The greatest peacemaker of all is the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:14-16 says, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace 16and reconciling both to God in one body through the cross, by which He extinguished their hostility.”

3) Those who bring others to Christ are God’s tools of reconciliation. Ephesians 6:15 says, “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”

4) The Christian influence in the world has a great peace-making effect.

5) In one sense Jesus came to bring a sword. Matthew 10:34-36 says, “Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.”

6) When one member of a family becomes holy and the others do not, there is no peace in the family.

7) But the blame for persecution falls upon those who persecute the followers of Christ.

8) It is the nature and character of God’s sons to desire and work for legitimate peace.

j. The Kingdom of Heaven is the sphere in which the persecuted ones shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10-12).

1) The word translated “persecuted” is dediogmenoi which is the perfect passive participle of dioko, which means pursued or “persecuted.” It means, “having been persecuted.” The point is that unbelievers relentlessly pursued them because of Christ. They were reviled and defamed with character assassination or worse.

2) They have been pursued with malicious lying imputations of the grossest kind. Some have invented lies about them.

3) 1 Peter 3:16 says, “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.”

4) 1 Peter 4:4 says, “Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.”

5) If they catch you in a fault, they amplify it and proclaim it with gusto.

6) They will not allow anyone to judge them according to their lifestyle. But they judge a Christian for one act, pretending it is his whole life.

7) They make Christians’ personal failings to be the disgrace of God.

8) Matthew 26:59 says, “Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death.”

9) Matthew 26:60-63 says, “But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward 61and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” 62So the high priest stood up and asked Him, “Have You no answer? What are these men testifying against You?” 63But Jesus remained silent.”

10) There is joy in Heaven for heroes who endure evil treatment on earth.

11) The persecuted Christians are in the company of the prophets.

12) The Christian looks on the sovereign will of God and sweetly complies with the evil.

13) Isaiah 39:8 says, “But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.”

14) 2 Samuel 15:26 says, “But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then ‘here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.’”

15) 1 Peter 3:17 says, “For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”

E. Additional Facts About God’s Kingdom

1. His Kingdom is an historical movement centering around Christ the King (Matthew 11:11).

2. God planned Christ’s Kingdom to come in stages.

a. Stage #1 of the Kingdom is: Jesus and His repentant band of disciples. Matthew 11:12 says, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it.”

b. Stage #2 of the Kingdom is Jesus ruling from glory now, during the Church Age.

1) 1 Corinthians 4:19-20 says, “But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only what these arrogant people are saying, but what power they have. 20For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?”

2) Romans 14:16-17 says, “Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” The Jews and Gentiles of the early Church could have eaten non-kosher foods but abstained. The kingdom of God is spiritual.

3) Colossians 1:13-14 says, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” The kingdom of God is spiritual.

4) Acts 28:30-31 says, “Paul stayed there two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. 31Boldly and freely he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” The point is that Paul taught the Lordship and Kingship of Christ.

5) Acts 2:31-36 says, “Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.” 33Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand 35until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”” Even if the 1000 years is literal, it does not prove that we are not in the Kingdom predicted in the Old Testament. Acts 2:31-36 is a message to all Israel. Jesus is both Master and Messiah (Anointed King of Israel).

c. Stage #3 of the Kingdom is: The return of Christ or death if it comes first.

1) 2 Timothy 4:18 says, “And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom.” Paul speaks of death and going to God’s heavenly kingdom.

2) Isaiah 65:17-25 says, “For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. 19I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. 20No longer will a nursing infant live but a few days, or an old man fail to live out his years. For the youth will die at a hundred years, and he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed. 21They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 22No longer will they build houses for others to inhabit, nor plant for others to eat. For as is the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, and My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands. 23They will not labor in vain or bear children doomed to disaster; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD—they and their descendants with them. 24Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

25The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the food of the serpent will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,”

d. It is more accurate to say that the kingdom comes in stages than to say that God postponed it. As with the word “salvation,” the word “kingdom” refers to the part or to the whole. God’s kingdom is like a train, in which the engine is the first coming of Christ, the tender is the Church Age, and the caboose is the kingdom of Christ to come. Each part of the train is separate, but each is the train.

e. The Kingdom is the same one that God predicted in the Old Testament.

1) The signs of the Kingdom point to both ultimate fulfillment and to inceptive presence. That is, the Kingdom is already here and not yet here.

2) Isaiah 35:4-6 says, “Say to those with anxious hearts: ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.’ 5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy.’”

3) Luke 7:20-23 says, “When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One [King] who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’ 21At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind. 22So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 23Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.” Jesus healed the people to give an illustration to John the Baptist that He is the King whom the prophets predicted.

4) Daniel 2:44-45 says, “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end but will itself stand forever. 45And just as you saw a stone being cut out of the mountain without human hands, and it shattered the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold, so the great God has told the king what will happen in the future.”

5) Daniel 7:13-14 says, “In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and into His presence. 14And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

6) In Daniel 7:13-14 the Son of Man is the Lord Jesus Christ. His coming is not to the world but to God. It is His ascension after His resurrection.

He ascends into Heaven and God rewards Him by giving Him the second stage of His Kingdom.

7) Acts 2:33-36 says, “Exalted, then, to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand 35until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 36Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!””

f. Only God can place us in the Kingdom. 1 Thessalonians 2:12 says, “encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

1) Luke 12:32 says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” This is still true.

2) Colossians 1:13 says, “He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,” This is still true.

3) Luke 22:29 says, “And I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father has bestowed one on Me.”

g. The kingdom demands repentance and faith. Matthew 3:2 says, “Repent, for the kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.” This is still true.

1) Matthew 4:17 says, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” He continues this today through the Church.

2) Matthew 5:20 says, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is still true. This is a classic warning. The Kingdom is here, so repent.

3) Matthew 18:1-4 says, “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. 3“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” This is still true. The presupposition is that they are in the kingdom. But Jesus warns them that, if they are not in the kingdom, they need to turn from sin to God. Little children are much better at the faculty of trust than adults. The least in the kingdom is the Lord Jesus, and He is the greatest of all.

4) John 3:3-5 says, “Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.” This is still true. One cannot enter unless he is born of the Spirit.

h. The Kingdom demands total commitment.

1) Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” This is still true.

2) Luke 14:33 says, “In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has, cannot be My disciple.”

i. The Kingdom of Heaven does not change in Matthew 13 from what it was previously. Matthew 13 only explains what it is like. Even in the Old Testament there was an earthly king and a Heavenly King. All the following parables are still true:

1) Matthew 13:24 says, “Jesus put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.”

2) Matthew 13:31 says, “He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field.”

3) Matthew 13:33 says, ““The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

4) Matthew 13:44-46 says, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.”

5) Matthew 13:48-50 says, “47Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the men pulled it ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers but threw the bad away. 49So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, 50and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

F. Evidence that the Kingdom of Christ was Spiritual from the very first:

1. “Spiritual” means the things that are part of salvation.

2. All the blessings of the Beatitudes are spiritual qualities.

3. Blessings, humility, mourning for sin, meekness, mercifulness, righteousness, purity, peacemaking, repentance, and comfort are all in the Beatitudes.

4. The rest of the New Testament expounds the spiritual qualities above.

5. Mary was spiritually blessed, not just physically, by being the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ. She was a born-again woman (Luke 1:46-50; 1:28).

6. Concerning the same kingdom, the Holy Spirit says, “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit are spiritual matters, and they are part of salvation. It is a spiritual kingdom.