Entering or inheriting the kingdom of God is the privilege of those who acknowledge and live by the rule of God and have become part of the new order of salvation and righteousness in Christ.
Entry into the kingdom of God is of vital importance
It is costly
Matthew 13:44; Acts 14:22 See also Matthew 8:19–20 parallel Luke 9:57–58; Matthew 13:45–46; Luke 18:29–30; 2 Thessalonians 1:5; Revelation 1:9
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.
strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
It is a matter of urgency
Luke 9:59–62 parallel Matthew 8:21–22
Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.” Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Conditions of entry into the kingdom of God
Childlike trust
Mark 10:15 parallel Luke 18:17 See also Matthew 18:3
Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
To be born again of God's Spirit
John 3:3 See also John 3:5; 1 Corinthians 15:50
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Obedience to God's will
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Warnings about entry into the kingdom of God
The way is narrow
Luke 13:24–28 See also Matthew 7:13–14, Matthew 23:13
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.
The wicked will not inherit the kingdom
1 Corinthians 6:9–10 See also Matthew 5:20; Mark 9:43–47; Galatians 5:19–21; Ephesians 5:5
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
The need for readiness and watchfulness
Matthew 24:42–44 See also Matthew 24:37–39 parallel Luke 17:26–27; Matthew 25:13; Luke 12:35–40
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
Entry is not based on outward appearances nor granted to all who claim to know the Lord
Matthew 7:21–23 See also Matthew 13:24–30, Matthew 13:47–50; Luke 13:25–27
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of grace
It belongs to those qualified by God
Colossians 1:12–13 See also Luke 12:32, Luke 22:29–30
giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son,
It belongs to the poor and the poor in spirit
Luke 6:20 parallel Matthew 5:3 See also Matthew 11:5 parallel Luke 7:22; Matthew 19:23–24 parallels Mark 10:23–25, Luke 18:24–25 It is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God; James 2:5, James 5:1
Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
It belongs to the childlike
Matthew 19:14 parallels Mark 10:14, Luke 18:16
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
It belongs to sinners
Mark 2:17 parallels Matthew 9:12–13, Luke 5:31–32 See also Matthew 21:31
On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
It belongs to those who are persecuted for Jesus Christ's sake
Matthew 5:10 parallel Luke 6:22–23
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
It belongs to Gentiles as well as to Jews
Matthew 8:11 See also Matthew 21:43, Matthew 22:8–10 those initially uninvited represent the Gentiles; Luke 14:21–24
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
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.