Those who have entered the kingdom must live according to its values, anticipating the reign of peace which will come when Jesus Christ returns.
The kingdom of God does not conform to the standards of this world
Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Those who inherit the kingdom of God are to bear its fruit
1 Thessalonians 2:12 See also Matthew 25:34–36; 2 Peter 1:10–11
encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
The kingdom of God is and will be a kingdom of peace
Peace between people
Isaiah 2:2–4 parallel Micah 4:1–4James 3:18 See also Isaiah 9:5, Isaiah 19:24–25; Micah 5:4–5; Matthew 5:9 The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–7:29) is often thought of as a description of life in the kingdom.
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
Peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness.
The peace and prosperity of all creation
Isaiah 11:6–9 See also Isaiah 35:1–2, Isaiah 35:9, Isaiah 41:17–19; Ezekiel 47:9, Ezekiel 47:12; Hosea 2:21–22
The wolf will live with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat; the calf and young lion and fatling will be together, and a little child will lead them. The cow will graze with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play by the cobra’s den, and the toddler will reach into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the sea is full of water.
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of forgiveness
Matthew 6:12 parallel Luke 11:4; Matthew 18:21–35; Luke 17:3–4
Status in the kingdom of God
Matthew 18:1–5 parallels Mark 9:33–37, Luke 9:46–48Matthew 20:25–28 parallels Mark 10:42–45, Luke 22:25–27 See also Matthew 5:19, Matthew 11:11 parallel Luke 7:28; Matthew 19:30 parallel Mark 10:31
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. It shall not be this way among you. Instead, 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 as a ransom for many.”
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.