Week 35 Matthew
I found three things Matthew said about the kingdom-of-heaven.
First thing: the kingdom of heaven is at hand. John & Jesus both said it and it’s what Jesus told the disciples to say.
So at that point-in-time – when Jesus was in human form and walking around Israel – the kingdom-of-heaven hadn’t arrived yet.
Second thing: the kingdom-of-heaven was not totally inclusive.
Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven
Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven
Only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees…You shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
So not everybody would be getting into the kingdom.
Third thing: Matthew gave a couple of examples of the kind of people who would get into the kingdom:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven
…the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will get in.
So there were some identifiable qualities & actions in people who would get into the kingdom.
Note: quotes from Matthew 3:2 4:17 10:7 (some versions say has come near) 5:20 7:21 18:3 19:23 23:13 5:3 10 & 7:21 (again) (ESV)