The Kingdom of God
Notes
Transcript
One of the things that has surprised me in our study of the book of Luke is the number of times that the kingdom of God is referenced - over 30 times. Over the course of the last 67 sermons, we have discussed various aspects of the Kingdom of God - what it is, who it entails, how to enter, what Kingdom citizens live like. And yet, in this our final sermon on the book of Luke, I wanted to look back a what Luke records regarding the Kingdom of God. As a result, this sermon will be quite different than other sermons. You’ll notice in your bulletins that there is no outline and there are no blanks to fill in. There is no one passage on which we’ll be focusing. Instead, we’ll look at a lot of passages. Open your Bible’s to the book of Luke (p. 814 in the pew Bibles (large numbers, small numbers). We’ll walk sequentially through Luke’s gospel, discussing the Kingdom of God as we go. Follow along in your copy of God’s Word.
In your bulletins, let me encourage you to write words or phrases that come to your mind as we reflect on these passages. You’ll find some themes repeated and others mentioned only once. Let me also encourage you to write down some questions for discussion in your community groups.
As I’ve wrestled with the concepts and teaching of the Kingdom this week, it crossed my mind that I may be overthinking this a bit. In many ways, we’ll see that the Kingdom of God is really quite simple to understand - it’s the reign of God in the world. It has present realities as Kingdom people live by Kingdom values and spread the kingdom message. At the same time, there seems to be a future realization as there will be a time when the reign and rule of Jesus will be powerfully and visibly manifested. It is both here and hereafter.
There are also a variety of places where the Kingdom of God is discussed throughout scripture, but for our exercise this morning, we’ll focus on Luke’s gospel and how the Holy Spirit inspired him to present the kingdom of God.
Let me also remind us of a couple of things.
Luke’s first audience was a man named Theophilus. All that Luke is writing about is designed to provide confident assurance to what Theophilus had been taught about Jesus. There is a lot of speculation about who Theophilus is, unfortunately, his only mentions are in the beginning of Luke and the beginning of Acts.
Luke is an educated man from a Greek background. The Apostle Paul calls him a physician (Col. 4:14). While he is researching and writing about Jesus, who is Jewish, Luke does not approach his narrative from that Jewish perspective. And yet, the Kingdom of God is a consistent theme. At the crucifixion, Luke notes that Jesus is called the King of the Jews.
So, let’s jump in to what Luke says about the Kingdom.
The first mention of the kingdom is when the angel announced to Mary that she would bear a son...
And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
What does this say about the kingdom?
Jesus is or will be the king.
His reign will have no end - it will be eternal.
But this still leaves us with some questions: Is this a physical kingdom - after all, there is mention of a throne?
Is this limited to the people of Israel (the house of Jacob)?
Let’s keep going. Let’s turn over to chapter 4. Jesus has begun his ministry in the region of Galilee. He has been healing people and cleansing people from demons. some people wanted him to stay in the town where they were…
but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
There is something about the Kingdom that must be preached or proclaimed and the news of the Kingdom if good news! Jesus said this from the town of Capernaum as He was heading out to a desolate place.
In Luke 6, we find Jesus on a mountain in an all night prayer vigil. In response to that time, He calls or appoints twelve apostles and then descends to a plain to give what many have called the sermon on the plain. He begins that sermon by stating:
…“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
“Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!
So here, in the opening lines of this sermon, Jesus notes that those who are poor possess something of the Kingdom of God. Matthew’s gospel notes that it is the poor in Spirit that possess the Kingdom. Whatever the case, this poverty suggests a lack or a need and seems to imply some sort of fulfillment or satisfaction in the kingdom.
In a conversation Jesus had about John the Baptist, he said:
I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
John was a mighty prophet who spoke with great conviction and effectiveness. His job was to prepare the way for Jesus to come. It is interesting that Jesus calls the “least in the kingdom” greater than John. Was John part of the kingdom? Did the kingdom begin after John? Greatness or position in the kingdom is marked by something other than rhetorical skill or influence or title.
In Luke 8:1
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God….
more villages, more good news. We learn in the next few verses, more people with Him - the twelve and several women who had been affected by the ministry of Jesus.
Then, as He is conveying the good news of the Kingdom, Jesus tells the parable of the sower to a crowd. In response, His followers ask for the meaning of the parable, to which Jesus replies:
he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’
It some ways, the parable of the sower is not an overly complicated parable, but Jesus seems to indicate that only certain people are enabled to understand it. Of course, the meaning has been recorded in Scripture for us so that information is now available to us as well. The parable itself really speaks more to a matter of fact that some people are ready and willing to receive the Word of God. Others lack the fertile soil in which to mature. Still others have the word snatched from them. Others have their faith choked out by the cares of the world. The question that we have to ask is what is the condition of the soil of our souls? Have you received the word? Are you maturing in the faith as kingdom people? Or, are the things of the this world choking out that faith?
As we turn the page into chapter 9, Jesus transitions a bit from proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom to sending his disciples to do that. It is also in this chapter that we see one of the highest concentrations of Kingdom references.
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
A few verses later we read:
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.
In both of these cases, notice that the proclamation of the Kingdom was associated with healing. It’s as though there is a tangible or medicinal accompaniment to this proclamation.
From there, Jesus proceeds to feed the five thousand and then retreats from the crowd for a more intimate time of conversation with His disciples. In this time together, they confess that He is the Christ, the Messiah. It is in this conversation that Jesus tells them that He will suffer and be killed and then will rise from the dead. Jesus then applies His model to His followers:
… “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus as the king of this Kingdom models a sacrificial life for his followers and urges them to live lives of sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom. This sacrificial living will result in gaining life. There is a sense in which kingdom people should willingly and boldly identify with the Son of Man, with Jesus.
We need to remember that this cross-taking would have been offensive to Jesus’ first listeners because of the cruelty and shame of the cross. And yet Jesus calls us to this kind of denial, sacrifice.
So, while this passage gives us some insight into how kingdom people should live, there is also something future, something different about the kingdom of God. There will be something of a manifestation of that kingdom. Just a few days after Jesus said these things, He climbed yet another mountain and was transfigured in front of Peter, John, and James. In this transfiguration, Jesus’ appearance changed temporarily. His face was altered and his clothes became dazzling white. While this transfiguration is likely not the full embodiment of the kingdom, it does indicate something of the fact that while Jesus is in this world, He is beyond this world.
Jesus continues to have conversations about how his followers should live and what it takes to follow him. He talks for the second time about his death (9:44) and begins to navigate toward Jerusalem. Then, as if wanting to join a bandwagon, three people state that they want to follow Jesus, to which he replies…
… “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
…“No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
There is a singularity of devotion that Jesus expects of Kingdom people. Do we prioritize Jesus above family? Would we willingly abandon everyone and everything for the sake of the Kingdom?
In Luke 10, Jesus sends out 72 followers. As He did when he sent out the 12 in chapter 9, this sending would include healing, and yet there is a distinction.
Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
They were given the authority to heal the sick, but they were also given a message about the nearness of the Kingdom. This proximity of the Kingdom of God - maybe related to Jesus coming to that town, but may also be with the presence of these missionaries.
The Kingdom of God is not a Kingdom that is limited by political boundaries. It’s a Kingdom that spans the globe and every country. It’s a Kingdom whose presence is made known by its citizens. Beloved, I believe that you and I bring the Kingdom near to those who are far from it by how we act, speak, and bring peace. But we have to keep in mind that they may not want it.
Jesus went on to pronounce a series of woes and warnings on various cities that would reject the message of the Kingdom.
The next time we see the Kingdom is in chapter 11 as Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray…
…
“Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation.”
This is a summary version of the prayer that most of us are familiar with from Matthew 6.
We could split hairs over the differences in these prayers, but I think the point that Jesus is getting at is that we should long for the Kingdom of God to come. Whether in power - as in at the end of times, or in influence - as kingdom ethics and values are lived out in our lives and in the lives of those around us, we should long for the kingdom. As Jace said when he preached on this prayer - “let what’s up there, be down here.”
A little while later, Jesus was casting out demons and people accused him of doing so by the power of “Beelzebul.” To which Jesus eventually stated,
But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
The kingdom of God has the power to cast out demons and to overcome spiritual forces of darkness. It’s not magic or seances or tarot cards or ouija boards - it’s the power of God, the kingdom of God.
Then, as Jesus is teaching his disciples not to be anxious about material things, He says…
And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Again, as we saw several chapters ago, there is a singularity or a focus in the kingdom. Our passion, our heart’s desire should be for the things of the kingdom.
Luke 13:18-30 - we read earlier. Jesus’ description of the kingdom seems to be something that grows from small to large, upward and outward. The ethics or values of the kingdom seems to permeate through society like leaven in dough. It will take time, but it makes a visible difference.
In chapter 14, we find Jesus at a banquet, teaching and commenting on the ways that people acted. then one of the guests said:
…. “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
to which Jesus replied
….“A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’ ”
While Jesus doesn’t directly discuss the kingdom here, he does talk about the fact that some are invited and some are not. For those who refuse the invitation, they will be excluded from tasting the sweet fellowship of eternal life.
In Luke 16, we find Jesus telling the parable of the dishonest manager in the hearing of the Pharisees, some of the religious leaders. They ridiculed him in response. To which, Jesus replied…
…“You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.
It’s as though Jesus is implying that the law and the prophets were pointing forward to the Kingdom of God. John was considered to be one of the last prophets of that era. Frankly, he was the first prophet in 400 years. And yet, Jesus seems to imply that as the good news of the Kingdom is preached, people are eager to get in.
In the next chapter, we find Jesus teaching and his disciples asking for more faith. Then in verse 20, the kingdom is addressed…
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
While much of Jesus’ ministry seemed to be about the good news of a present kingdom, there is also a sense in which the kingdom is yet to come. There will be something more, something future, some sort of judgment. He seems to be calling for a readiness, for anticipation, for expectation.
In the next chapter…
Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Jesus values a child-like faith. He wants us to have faith in Him. He doesn’t leave us as children (as we saw in the parable of the sower), but he wants us to come like children - eager, believing, trusting, hopeful.
A few verses later, we find Jesus talking to a rich ruler. In response to the lack of faith found in this man, Jesus said…
…“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”
There is a reward for sacrifice, for faith, for devotion.
In Luke 21, we find Jesus in the city of Jerusalem teaching and debating. He also talks quite a bit about the coming destruction of the city, future wars, celestial signs signifying the return of the son of man. He then says,
“Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Now, theologians differ on what Jesus was referring to here. Some think he was referring to his current generation, others think he was referring to the generation in which these signs will be fully realized. I think part of what Jesus is getting at here is that He could return at any time, and so His people should be ready.
The next instance that we see Jesus discussing the kingdom of God is on the night before he was crucified. During the Lord’s supper, we read in…
And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
We know at this point that he was arrested later that night and killed the next day. He was resurrected a few days later. Could it be that the Kingdom of God was inaugurated fully at His death and resurrection? He would not celebrate another passover on earth as he would ascend back to heaven a little over a month after he spoke these words.
A bit later that evening, the disciples were arguing about who is the greatest in the ministry, to which Jesus replied…
…“The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.
“You are those who have stayed with me in my trials, and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Service, humility, fellowship.
The next day, the thief on the cross said:
…“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It’s clear that even though Jesus was there on the cross, both the thief and Jesus anticipated a future beyond death in the kingdom of God.
Finally, after Jesus had died, Luke notes this…
Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
Joseph would go on to ask for the body of Jesus and then buried Him in his own tomb. But notice, that he still was looking for or expecting the kingdom of God. I don’t think he had all the pieces of the Kingdom puzzle together, but he knew that Jesus was part of it.
Closing thoughts
Closing thoughts
I know that this was not an ordinary sermon. As I said, I wrestled with how to present this throughout the week, I felt like in the very least, it would be best to let Scripture speak.
So what should we do with this information?
Christians
Christians
are we living like Kingdom people?
People who
take up crosses and
live sacrificially,
serve others
proclaim the good news of the kingdom
Is our allegiance with the Kingdom of God or the kingdoms, the materialism, the matters of this world?
Do we live with a persisten hope that Jesus will return and that His kingdom will come in power?
Non-Christians
Non-Christians
If you’re still checking all of this out, what did you glean from this very brief and limited tour of the kingdom of God?
Do you see that Jesus wants to bring you healing from your sins and wants to make a difference in your life?
Do you see that the kingdom of God is both here, now, inaugurated with his life on earth and yet still to come - which means there will be a judgment?
Oh, I pray that you might become a citizen of the kingdom. That you would come to the open arms of Jesus. Repent of your sin, turn and trust in him, allow his word, His life, His teaching, His spirit to transform you.
There is a sense in which everything in the Bible touches the kingdom, but here in these verses, the Holy Spirit inspired Luke to mention some things specifically. May we see, hear, understand and respond.
Let’s pray.
Benediction
May God be merciful and bless us.
May his face smile with favor on us.
Interlude
May your ways be known throughout the earth,
your saving power among people everywhere.
May the nations praise you, O God.
Yes, may all the nations praise you.
Questions for reflection and discussion
Questions for reflection and discussion
Consider reading any of the passages that stood out to you on Sunday.
Sources:
Anyabwile, Thabiti. Exalting Jesus in Luke. Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary. Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2018.
Bock, Darrell L. Luke 9:51-24:53. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1999.
Caragounis, C. C. “Kingdom of God/Kingdom of Heaven.” In Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels, edited by Joel B. Green and Scot McKnight. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1992.
Liefeld, Walter L. “Luke.” In The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1984.
Marshall, I. Howard. The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text. New International Greek Testament Commentary. Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978.
Martin, John A. “Luke.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
McKinley, Mike. Luke 12-24 for You. Edited by Carl Laferton. God’s Word for You. The Good Book Company, 2016.
Stein, Robert H. Luke. Vol. 24. The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1992.
The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible. Biblical Studies Press, 2005. Print.
Wilcock, Michael. The Savior of the World: The Message of Luke’s Gospel. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1979.
