You are not far from the kingdom of God

http://www.flickr.com/photos/willhumes

I am continuing with post #53 of a series on the secrets of the kingdom, (click link for a summary of passages considered so far).  Taking a look today at:

Mark 12:28-34 (NET)

"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”  “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all 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.” And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions."

Most religions have a tenancy to come up with many different rules to live by.  Some of the rules may help guide people towards loving God and people better. Other rules may not.  The parallel passage in Matthew 22:37-40 goes as far as saying all laws should be able to be summarized by these two statements.

This passage paints a picture for me of a man on a journey who is approaching a kingdom. The kingdom isn't a typical earthly kingdom, but a domain ruled by the authority of God. This verse is one of a few that imply we can enter this kingdom now. 

The expert in the law in this passage seems to understand the rules or parameters of the kingdom of God, however we are not told if he accepts and enters in.  I suspect understanding the correct answer to this question isn't quite enough. 

Some may be concerned about which comes first, the chicken or the egg. In this case does loving God and people get you into the kingdom of God? Or does living a life of love towards God and all others flow naturally when we are living under the reign of God?  The later sounds safer theologically.

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

What must I do?

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom, taking a look today at Mark 10:17 - 27:

"As Jesus was resuming his journey, a man came running up to him, and threw himself on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to gain eternal life?”  “Why do you call me good?”answered Jesus. “No one is good but God.  You know the commandments — ‘Do not kill. Do not commit adultery. Do not steal. Do not say what is false about others. Do not cheat. Honor your father and your mother.’”  “Teacher,” he replied, “I have observed all these from my childhood.”  Jesus looked at the man, and his heart went out to him, and he said: “There is still one thing wanting in you; go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and you will heave wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.”  But the man’s face clouded at these words, and he went away distressed, for he had great possessions.  Then Jesus looked around, and said to his disciples: “How hard it is for people of wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again: “My children, how hard a thing it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”  “Then who can be saved?” they exclaimed in the greatest astonishment.  Jesus looked at them, and answered: “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for everything is possible with God.”

 I think this is an interesting passage.  The question this man asks Jesus is a very key question.

"What must I do to gain eternal life?"

If someone asked you this question, how would you respond?

I doubt any of us would respond with the answers Jesus gives... follow the Old Testament commandments, and sell everything and give your money to the poor.

Many Christians would explain some information about God and what Jesus did on the cross, and say if we believe and have faith we will be saved.

So how can we reconcile that the answer Jesus gives here seems to emphasize works, where the answer we want to give emphasizes only faith.  I know there are many bible passages that support both sides of the works vs faith issue.

I think a key to understanding the kingdom of God is that it is not about following a set of rules.  If submission to the reign, rule, authority of God was just about following the Old Testament law, Jesus would not have had to come.  The Jews already had the law.

I believe there is a real sense that Jesus wanted to free them from following the law.  He wanted them to discover that they could follow and submit to the King instead.  He showed them that He was the King who loved and cared for them, especially those who were the outcasts and marginalized ones.   Submitting to the reign and authority of a loving God is so much better than following a set of rules.  When Jesus left he promised that He would leave the Holy Spirit to guide His followers personally.

I think the answer Jesus gave isn't one of following the works of the law. I see it as a call to have deep faith in God.

This man had wealth, and he was trusting in his wealth.  Jesus was asking the man to place his faith and trust in Him alone.

I am not at a point where I believe all wealthy people have to sell all they have and give it all to the poor.  I see Jesus asking this man to do this because He knew this man's heart.  If you have wealth, the key question to ask yourself is "If God asked me to give it all up would I?  Do I trust God more than I trust my wealth? Do I trust God's ability to care for my needs more than I trust my own ability?  To what degree am I OK with letting God alone reign in my life?"  These are questions of faith.

 Related Posts:

• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Kingdom For The Poor
• Asset or Liability in the Kingdom 
• Sola fide
• Spirit Of Truth
• Did Jesus Come to Start a New Religion 
• End Of Religion

Children of the Kingdom

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom, taking a look today at  Mark 10:13-16 (NIV)

"People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.  When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them."

Why do you think Jesus would say such things?

Is it that some of us think we are more important than others? In many work environments it may be true.  Some people will be in positions of authority over others. In difference circles of influence it may also be true.

But in the kingdom of God it doesn't seem so. In this world you may be the king or president of a great nation, a CEO of a large company, or the leader of some organization... but we see Jesus saying that anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it. 

Why would Jesus say this? I think kingdoms work best when there is only one king. If somebody wants to join the kingdom of God, but also want to be in charge somehow... it's just not going to work out well.

I'm sorry, but if you want to be a king in the kingdom of God, it seems like there is no room in the kingdom for you. That position has already been filled.

Children are welcome. There is always more room for children of the King. 

 Related Posts:

• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Leading The Way 
• Church Hierarchical Leadership  
• Kingdom Without Hierarchy 
• The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to... 
• Greatest in the Kingdom

Healing and the Kingdom

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom. As I'm slowly going through the passages related to the kingdom of God I come across Mark 5.  The word 'kingdom' does not appear in the text, so should I skip over it? Does this chapter relate to this topic?  Yes I believe it does.

We should not overlook the connection between healing and the gospel of the kingdom of God that Jesus and His disciples proclaimed from town to town. See Matthew 4:23-25, Matt 9:35,  Luke 9:1-2, Luke 10:9, Mark 16:15-18.

When the kingdom of God is present, people are restored, repaired, given new life and a fresh start.

Jesus was not simply saying believe and things will be better for you in the next life.  It was more like: God's power is available to you here and now. Allow God to rule and reign in your lives now, enter the kingdom of God.    And along with this message came visible and tangible signs where people were being set free from the powers of the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light.

So back to the text at hand. Jesus spoke of the kingdom in Mark 4.  Although Mark 5 does not mention the word 'kingdom', I believe he is giving a demonstration of the kingdom of God at work.

Jesus heals a demon possessed man. A man whose life was in ruins, is restored to "his right mind" by the authority of the King of Kings.

Jesus heals a woman who had been sick for 12 years.  "She was free from her suffering." (vs 29)

And Jesus brings back to life a 12 year old girl who had died.

In this text are some words of comfort and challenge that mean a lot to our family: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (vs 36) Ten years ago our daughter was really sick, in intensive care at the hospital for a week. The doctors said it was an atypical form of Kawasaki disease.  I still can't look at the picture above without being flooded with emotions. We didn't know if she would make it. These words spoke to my wife during those days. And we just hung onto these words as if it was a promise to us.  Don't be afraid. Just believe. We thank God for the healing He brought to our daughter.

Another important part of healing is this:

“Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (vs 19)



Please don't ask me why God doesn't heal everybody. I assume there were some people in Jesus' day that still got sick and died.  The same is true today.  It is part of the human condition. I can't explain why God chose to restore my daughters health.  I am thankful for all that the Lord has done.

Related Posts:

• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary 
• Gospel in the Gospels - Summary - 6 part series
• Kingdom of God
• Healing Kingdom

Viral Kingdom

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom, taking a look today at Mark 4:30-32(NIV).

^"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.”

(Parrallel passage in Matt 13:31-32)

Was Jesus making a contrast to the cedars of Lebanon and/or other large trees that were talked about in Ezek 17:22-24, 31:5-6; Dan 4:10-12; and Ps 104:10-17? These other passages spoke of grand and majestic trees that had large branches to shelter the birds of the air and other honorable animals.

What point is Jesus making when he tells a similar tale but with a mustard seed? The mustard seed was known to spread like a weed. It was against the law to plant it in a garden, because once it started to grow there was no stopping it. It would continue to spread whether you wanted it to or not.

"Pliny the Elder, in his Natural History (published around AD 78) writes that "mustard… is extremely beneficial for the health. It grows entirely wild, though it is improved by being transplanted: but on the other hand when it has once been sown it is scarcely possible to get the place free of it, as the seed when it falls germinates at once." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Mustard_Seed

Consider the type of people that were most likely to enter this kingdom of God. The wealthy and the religious folks seemed to be opposed to Jesus and His message. The good news of the kingdom of God seemed to spread most quickly amongst the poor, the underdogs, the outcasts, and the less fortunate. This less than desirable crowd were part of a growth that spread throughout the region and around the world. Many people haven't welcomed the growth, but many have taken shelter in it.

What do you think?

Did the kingdom of God go viral?  Did it spread like wildfire throughout the world?  Is the kingdom of God still growing? Are people welcoming or opposing the reign of God in our lives and world? 

Divided Kingdom Blasphemy

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom, taking a look today at Mark 3:22-30 (NIV)

And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan?  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.  If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.  And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.  In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.  I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.  But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

(Parallel passages in d Matt 12:25 - 30  and Luke 11:17.)

This passage is not directly talking about the kingdom of God. It it talking about the other kingdom - the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom where Satan rules.

Jesus was being accused of working for Satan's kingdom.

But Jesus points out it wouldn't make sense for a member of Satan's kingdom to be at work fighting against the kingdom of darkness. Jesus was at work here casting out demons.

It is in the absurdity of this scenario that Jesus uses the strong language of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. How could someone dare attribute God's work to the work of the devil?  Who would do such a thing?

Have you ever heard a Christian judge other Christians to the degree that they are questioning which kingdom they are working for? I think this may be similar to what Jesus was talking about here. If someone is doing work for the kingdom of God, active in battle against the kingdom of darkness, it would be a blasphemy against the Holy Spirit to judge otherwise.

Do you think God's kingdom is divided?

If you find yourself opposing God's working in others... that's a dangerous place to be.

I agree it is often difficult to tell who is a member of one kingdom or the other. But in most cases it is not up to us to judge.  I suspect many of us have been guilty of judging other members of God's kingdom - of this we should repent.

Difficult Passage Mark 9:42-49

 I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom, taking a look today at Mark 9:42-50 (NIV). If you haven't been following this series, I'd suggest following this link for some of the better posts of the series.

⁴² “And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. ⁴⁵ And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. ⁴⁷ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where

“‘their worm does not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’

⁴⁹ Everyone will be salted with fire.

This is a difficult passage. It raises more questions than answers for me.

• Verse 43 - 47. Has my hand, foot, or eyes ever been involved in sin?  Wouldn't everybody be guilty of these? I hope Jesus is not really encouraging us to do physical harm to ourselves.  I sort of get the point. Let's be serious about sin. But really? I find it difficult to understanding a teaching that sounds like self mutilation or self-harm.  I wonder if I am missing something.
• Verses 43 - 47. The term behind 'hell' in these verses is Gehenna, which was a valley outside the walls of Jerusalem that was a burning garbage dump and was a place where some children were sacrificed to other gods by fire.  Was Jesus talking about the Gehenna that they knew, or was he also talking about another type of Gehenna?  There had also been other views on Gehenna related to the underworld, Jesus doesn't really work at defining what he is referring to here.
• Verse 48 is a reference to Isaiah 66:24. Note that the dead bodies do not fit well with the traditional view of hell. "And they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”
• Verse 49. Is this a reference to something like purgatory?  Everyone? I thought only the wicked had to worry about some fire in the afterlife.

So I apologize. As I work through a secrets of the kingdom series, I think I have gained some valuable insights related to the kingdom of God.  But this passage joins with some others that are still a mystery to me.

Feel free to share some light on the matter.

Kingdom Of God Coming With Power

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom, taking a look today at Mark 9:1 (NIV)

"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.”

I wonder if some who were standing there listening to Jesus thought of the song "it's the end of the world as we know it". Did they connect this reference to some final age where they would all go up to heaven to live for eternity? I suspect if Jesus spoke these words today, some would be tweeting similar thoughts.

Mark 9 verse 2 continues with the transfiguration story...

"After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.  His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.  And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus."

So some who had been standing there in verse 1 did see the power of God come with power, they witnessed the King in His kingdom.

 I also think of the power of God coming on the day of Pentecost a few years later.

Can you think of other examples where the kingdom of God was visible and its power evident?  

Have you experienced times in your own life where God's power felt near, and His reign felt close?

What do you think Jesus was talking about here?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Keep It Simple Sir

I'll keep it respectful here. I won't call anyone stupid as the acronym KISS sometimes goes. So here are some suggestions to Keep It Simple Sir  (or Sister).

1) We should keep it simple so the greatest in the kingdom don't get confused.  We are actually commanded to become more like children.

"Then He called a child to Him and had him stand among them. “I assure you,” He said, “unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me." (Matt 18:3-4 HCSB)

If we've made something so complex that children have a hard time understanding or replicating it, maybe we are the ones missing something.

2) Recognize that church is simply people - the body of Christ, the family of God.  With a little church etymology  we see that in Scripture the term 'church' did not refer to buildings, institutions, or Sunday morning programs.  It simply referred to believers and whenever they got together.  Belonging to Christ's church is more like belonging to a tribe or people group than like belonging to a club or organization.

3) Consider every moment with others a moment to teach.  You don't need to prepare sermons, study books or DVD's to teach one another.  We see mostly interactive teaching in the New Testament. Teaching others may be simpler than you think.

4) Recognize you have a role to play in  disciple making.  I used to think of discipleship as a program or branch of the church that some people got involved with.  But we should consider how each of us can make disciples of Christ. We can watch how Jesus made disciples through living in simple relationships with others.  Discipleship may be simpler than we think.

5) Consider how you can be a pastor or shepherd, one who cares for the needs of others. Are there people in your life that you care for, give guidance, and build up so they mature in their relationship with Christ? This may be the basics of shepherding.


6) Understand that SMALL is sometimes big.  Just consider how rabbits reproduce a lot quicker than elephants.  The same principle may apply to church growth.  Small simple gatherings will be easier to reproduce than larger structures.  Many new small gatherings of believers can be started without multimillion dollar fundraising campaigns. Yes this seems like upside-down thinking, but so was a lot of Jesus' teachings about His kingdom. 

7) Leadership does not always mean decision making. I see two different types of leaders.  There are those that make decisions for others, and claim authority to impose their will on others. However others lead simply by living as an example that others follow. This second type of leading seems to fit better with what Jesus says in passages like Matt 20:25-28, Matt 23:8-12, Luke 22:24-27, Matt 19:30, Matt 20:16, Mark 9:35, and Luke 13:30.  Consider taking some leadership lessons from this dancing guy video.

8) You may want to consider taking a break from serving church programs. Scripture is clear we need to serve and care for people. If you find programs keep you too busy to focus on people, you may want to say no to some activities so you can better serve and love the church (the people).  Could less busy = improved relationships?

9) Simplify your list of essentials. Christians tend to only accept other believers who agree to their list of essentials. Unfortunately many lists of essentials include doctrines that have divided the church over the years. I find by recognizing that love is essential, and unity is essential, I am no longer in a position to judge others over many other disputable matters.

My head is often spinning when I look at church history, and the many church traditions we have today.   But I am finding some clarity when I think of church in simpler terms.

I hope this simple list of how to KISS is helpful to some of you.

Have I missed anything?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Related posts:

• What is Simple Church
• Love Feast 
• Church Etymology 
• Small Is Big 
• Caring For Others Is Essential 
• Interactive Teaching in the New Testament

Kingdom Like Seed Growing

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom.

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.” (Mark 4:26-29 NIV)

This is a timely personal reminder for where we find ourselves. We have a tendency to try to plan and control the service that we feel God leading us into. But we don't need to do all the work.  Sometimes we try to plan and control everything.  Here we see that a farmer has to do some of the work. He needs to plant, and he needs to harvest.  But the complex miraculous growth that occurs is out of the control of the farmer.

We can be reminded of this truth. God's kingdom is well... God's kingdom.  He will ask us to participate in working in His fields, but He won't expect us to do it all.  We can expect God to do the amazing parts.

Year 1 of Kingdom Secrets

For over a year now I have been slowly working through passages related to the secrets of the kingdom and writing short posts on each.  I have written 35 posts in this series, and have only made it through Matthew. I am now finding some overlap as I look at some passages in Mark and will simply edit my summary page in those cases instead of re-posting the same things.

If you haven't studied this topic, I would highly encourage you to do so.  For some reason Jesus chose to speak in parables, and his favorite topic seemed to be that of His kingdom.

I am keeping a summary page with links to each post here: Secrets of the Kingdom Summary 

I welcome comments or feedback on any of the posts.

Luke 8:10 (NIV)

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.’"

Matthew 13:11 and Mark 4:11 have similar records. 

Don't you want in on the secrets?

Related Post:

• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary 

Kingdom Good News

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom and am now moving into the gospel according to Mark.

Early into this good news account by Mark we have this passage that relates the good news to the kingdom of God.

Mark 1:14-15 (NIV)

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.  “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 

Or... Young's Literal Translation 

And after the delivering up of John, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of the reign of God,and saying -- `Fulfilled hath been the time, and the reign of God hath come nigh, reform ye, and believe in the good news.'

I am sure many theologians wish there were more details here. 

What is the gospel that Jesus preached?

Or maybe the good news that Jesus preached was simply that the King was here.  Jesus is Lord. Repent, believe, change your way of thinking, submit to the King and submit to the reign of God.

Do you think this passage is missing some of the details of the gospel? Or could the secrets of the kingdom be simple enough for a child or simpleton like me to understand. :)

May God's kingdom come, Gods will be done, here on earth as it is in heaven.

That is good news!

Blood Covenant and Kingdom

I am continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom with this passage in Matthew 26:27-29 (NIV):

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

I'm looking at this passage because it was next in my studies of the kingdom. So what do we learn about the kingdom here?  Other passages speak about the kingdom or reign of God as a present reality.  This passage  seems to be of future time and place where God's rules.

And don't tell some conservative Christians, but it seems like wine may be served.  Some Christians I know are uncomfortable going to places where they know wine will be served... this may be an issue for them, so maybe it is best if we don't tell them and just let them be surprised.  :)

And what does Jesus say about His blood?

Another aspect of this passage that I find interesting is what Jesus says, and doesn't say about His blood. I've been taught to view Jesus' blood as a payment for sin.  I now see problems with this legalistic framework and am not a fan of the penal substitutionary attonment theory.  So I now enjoy reading passages like this with a fresh set of eyes.  

Throughout time there have been many cultures that have had some sort of blood covenant ritual.  In our culture we have a handshake covenant that still means something to many.  The roots of the handshake includes a form where the people would cut their hands and shake with bloody hands.

Also we see in Genesis 15 a covenant between God and Abraham where animals were cut in half.



Then in Genesis 17:10 we see the covenant with Abraham and his descendants.

"This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. "

Exodus 24:8 speaks of a covenant where Moses had just met with God and given the people the 10 commandments (plus a few pages more).

"And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Take a moment to think about each of these covenants between God and man.  Imagine Moses throwing blood on the people.  Yes it is hard for us to understand, this goes beyond our cultural norms. What do you think the meaning or significance of the blood was in these covenants?

Do we think the blood was a payment for sin in any of these other examples?

The wording Jesus used sounds similar to what Moses used "blood of the covenant".  He could have said, this blood is payment for your sins, but He didn't.

Jesus is saying He is making a covenant, promise or commitment with His people. The blood used in making this covenant will be His own blood.   When we drink together celebrating the Lords supper, we repeat this sign, and remember this covenant and commitment. This is a covenant or promise for the forgiveness of sins.

Related Posts:

• 10 reasons why I'm not a fan of Penal Subtitutionary Attonment
• Difference between ransom and paying a debt
• Did Jesus pay our debts?
• Kingdom of God 
• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary

Parable of the Ten Virgins

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom with the Parable of the Ten Virgins Matt 25:1 - 13 (NIV)

“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. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.  The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.  The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’  “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.  The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’  “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’  “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’  “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

First I want to note that "At that time" in verse 1 would refer to the previous chapter where Jesus is talking about the destruction of the temple, and answering questions about the end of the age. So this passage is talking about what the kingdom of heaven was like or will be like during those days.

Matt 24:34 confuses me in that it seems this passage may apply to things in the 1st century church. "Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened." (NIV)

So I don't think I understand the timing of the events of chapter 24 enough to make many conclusions about this passage.


I also wonder what the extra oil represents?  It seems to be a another key point in this parable.  It is the only difference between the 5 virgins that went to the wedding banquet and the 5 that were left outside.  Some believe the oil represents the Holy Spirit.  Others believe it is other things that are essential for salvation. 



Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV) also speaks of  a wedding banquet where some people show up but are not allowed in.  In that passage the factor that keeps some out is that they are not wearing proper wedding clothes.  I hope that doesn't mean I need to wear a suit and tie all the time. :)

The point could be made that some 'Christians' are/were waiting for Christ's return, but are/were unfortunately lacking something. Just hanging around  with other Christians, and doing what they do may not be enough.

Sorry, I'm not shedding much light with this one.  It's being labeled with other passages I don't fully understand.

As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Playdough Scripture Matt 24:14

"And this gospel of the kingdom penal substitutionary atonement will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." Matt 24:14 (Playdough Version)

This passage was next in my series on the secrets of the kingdom, but it seemed to fit well as a Playdough Scripture example.

When we think of the gospel being preached and spread throughout the world, what good news message are we thinking about?

Many equate the penal substitutionary atonement theory as the gospel.  This theory was formulated by the reformers in the 16th century.  It is the thought process that Christ died on the cross as a substitute for sinners. That God imputed the guilt of our sins to Christ, and he, in our place, bore the punishment that we deserve. This was a full payment for sins, which satisfied both the wrath and the righteousness of God, so that He could forgive sinners without compromising His own holy standard.

However when I read the 'gospels' I don't see Jesus or His disciples preaching the good news of penal subsitutionary atonement.  But I do see them frequently proclaiming the gospel.


Related Posts:

• Gospel in the Gospels - Summary - 6 part series
• What is the Gospel? - lists verses related to gospel in 'the gospels'
• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Which Tent Post Is The Cross? 

Woe To You

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom.

Matt 23:13 (NIV)

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to." 

Jesus gets pretty harsh here with the Pharisees.  This is only 1 of 7 "woe to you" points as Jesus goes on a little rant towards the religious leaders of His day.   Read Matt 23 for the full rant.

As I am looking at passages related to the kingdom, I wonder how the Pharisees shut the door on the kingdom of heaven.

Was it that they held the keys to getting right with God in their society.  That many people followed these religious leaders because they claimed they knew the way to being at peace with God.  There is no doubt religious leaders can hold quite a bit of power over others.

Jesus and His disciples came on the scene with the invitation to enter the kingdom of God.  The Pharisees don't buy in for whatever reason.   So instead of joining Jesus and proclaim God's reign and rule, they find themselves in opposition to Jesus.  Since the masses blindly follow the religious leaders, their rejection of Jesus also keeps others from accepting Jesus and His message.

Does any of this sound familiar today?

One thing that bothers me is this. I have sat through about 40 years of sermons. I only recall two sermons teaching about the kingdom of God.  One was done by a guest speaker somewhere who acknowledge his message would likely upset some people. The other by a woman in Mexico.  However, I do think most Christians believe Jesus is Lord and King. I just don't see the message of the kingdom that Jesus proclaimed getting much airtime.  I'm not sure why.

Or maybe it's that my memory is bad. Just because I've sat through thousands of sermons doesn't mean I remember much more than two. :)


And it's not just about proclaiming the kingdom of God.  It's also about living it the way Jesus and His followers did.

Are many religious leaders of today resisting the message of the kingdom that Jesus taught?


I hope not.  If so, does this woe still apply?



Are there other ways people can shut the door on the kingdom for others?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.



Related Posts:

• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Gospel in the Gospels - Summary - 6 part series
• Kingdom of God 
• Pharisees 
• End Of Religion

Invitation To Kingdom Banquet

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom. We've all been invited to a banquet with the King. Unfortunately many don't care. Maybe some think the banquet isn't real, or it isn't important, or they think they can ignore the invitation and sneak in later. Others even mistreat the ones who proclaim the message of the King.


Matthew 22:1-14 (NIV)

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:  “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.  Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business.  The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.  The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.  “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.  So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’  So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.  “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.  He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend ?’ 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.” 

 A few other thoughts:

• The banquet is for the King's son.
• The King enlists some servants to send out the message of this banquet 
• It seems everyone is invited.  There were some who were first on the invitation list, but similar to the previous parable in Matt 21:33-46 we see the offer of the Kingdom is taken away and given to others.
• Similar to the previous parable, the kingdom banquet is now given to second class people.  Even bad people!  This reminds me of the sinners and average folks Jesus was known to hang around with.  These are not the people one would expect to be at a banquet with the King.
• Another example of the upside down nature of the kingdom of God.

 Does anything else stand out to you?

Kingdom Taken Away

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom.

Matthew 21:33-46  (HCSB)

“Listen to another parable: There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it to tenant farmers and went away. When the grape harvest drew near, he sent his slaves to the farmers to collect his fruit.  But the farmers took his slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.  Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first group, and they did the same to them.  Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.  “But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance!’  So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”  “He will completely destroy those terrible men,” they told Him, “and lease his vineyard to other farmers who will give him his produce at the harvest.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This came from the Lord and is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit.  Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whoever it falls, it will grind him to powder!” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they knew He was speaking about them.  Although they were looking for a way to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, because they regarded Him as a prophet.

Here is another parable where Jesus speaks of the kingdom of God. 


the kingdom of God will be taken away from you...

I welcome your feedback.  Does Jesus take away the kingdom, or is this simply a natural result of how the story goes?  I can't say I fully understand this part.

The farmers repeatedly rejected the landowner. At some point it makes sense that the land is given to someone else who will submit to the will of the owner. In the same way the priests and religious leaders repeatedly rejected Jesus, so it makes sense the offer of the kingdom would go to those who would submit to the rule of the kingdom.



... and given to a nation producing its fruit.

Some translation say "and given to a people producing the fruit of it".

So what type of people would "get" the kingdom of God?  I can't help but think of Gal 5:22 - 23, a familiar verse about what the  "fruit" of the Spirit is.  I'll make the connection then that those who produce the fruit of the Spirit are also those who are part of the kingdom or reign of God. Those with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

Here are some other verses that speak to who 'gets' the kingdom:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:3 NIV)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 5:10 NIV)

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

And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3-4 NIV)

"Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" James 2:5 (NIV)

This parable speaks of people who were  given responsibility, and the task to produce fruit for the master.  If the Priests and religious leaders were somehow the keepers of the kingdom of God in the days before Jesus, it sounds like things were going to change.  God had entrusted these men to care for His kingdom, but it seems they wanted to claim the kingdom for themselves.

So when Jesus comes things change.  A different type of people are given the responsibility of caring for the kingdom and producing fruit for the master.   He doesn't just replace the old religious leaders with a new set of religious leaders. It seems this time he entrusts His kingdom to the least, the poor, and the lowly ones.

Entering the Kingdom of God

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom. I used to think the kingdom of God or the kingdom of Heaven was a reference to Heaven, some place we could go to in the future after we die. This is one passage that changed my way of thinking about the kingdom Jesus kept talking about.

The Parable of the Two Sons (Matt 21:28 - 32 HCSB)

“But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the vineyard today.’
“He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and went. Then the man went to the other and said the same thing.

“‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go.

“Which of the two did his father’s will?”

“The first,” they said.

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you! For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t even change your minds then and believe him.

I'll make three observations from this passage:

1) I find the present tense of this passage interesting. Similar to Luke 16:16 it seems people were already entering this kingdom starting in those days. Living under the reign and rule of God is something that can take place in the present as well.

2) What does this passage say on the Faith vs Works issue? This passage does not lend a lot of support to the salvation by faith alone camp. It seems sometimes actions speak louder than words.

3) This is also another example of the upside-down nature of this kingdom. In this passage Jesus was talking to the religious leaders and elders of the community. People would have assumed these people were closer to God's will than prostitutes and tax collectors. The types of people that Jesus says are entering are not the ones we would expect. You would think Jesus could have found some people who were more respectable, educated, honorable, and put together to be part of His kingdom.

Does anything else stand out to you from this passage?

Related Posts:

• The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to...
• That Is Not Fair!
• Kingdom Without Hierarchy
• Secrets of the Kingdom Summary
• Kingdom Confusion John and Forceful Men
• Sola Fide

Kingdom Without Hierarchy

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom. Hierarchy is common in earthly kingdoms or realms of influence. Most governments, workplaces, sports teams, and even families operate with different people holding different levels of authority. It seems to be a natural way to organize ourselves.

But when Jesus talks about His kingdom, somehow he expects things to be different.

Matthew 20:20 - 28 (HCSB)

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached Him with her sons. She knelt down to ask Him for something. “What do you want?” He asked her.
“Promise,” she said to Him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right and the other on Your left, in Your kingdom.”
But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”
“We are able,” they said to Him.
He told them, “You will indeed drink My cup. But to sit at My right and left is not Mine to give; instead, it belongs to those for whom it has been prepared by My Father.” When the 10 disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. But Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and the men of high position exercise power over them. It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many.”

So we have the mother of James and John making a pretty big request. She wants her two sons to be second in command in this new kingdom Jesus keeps talking about.

She doesn't realize this kingdom doesn't work that way. It is not about climbing the ladder to gain positions of authority over others. In fact in this upside-down kingdom it is the opposite.

Jesus rules by serving, and by giving His life to free us from sin.

If you want to be great in this kingdom, you must simply start serving and caring for others.

What about the 10 disciples that got indignant when they heard others were trying to climb the ladder of hierarchy to gain authority over the rest? Yes, we too can get indignant when we see our brothers and sisters claim to be higher up the ladder than we are. But I'm trying to understand Jesus' advice here to me. I need not worry - that's really not how the kingdom works. Let others do their thing, but my task is to serve others.

Related Posts:

• The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to...
• Jesus on Leadership
• Summary on Elders Overseers Shepherds - 9 post series