Kingdom of Heaven in the Beatitudes

What's exciting about the references to the Kingdom of Heaven in chapter 5 of Matthew is that Jesus is ushering in the Kingdom.  He isn't just explaining what it is like - he is telling us that it has come.  The Kingdom of Heaven is being announced here.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

You are not supposed to be poor in spirit.  This isn't a law that Jesus is handing out.  He isn't issuing a rule. He is making an observation followed by a promise.  You aren't supposed to make sure that you are poor in spirit.  Jesus is telling them (and us) that we are blessed because the Kingdom of Heaven is ours.  It is right now.

We learn from this that the Kingdom of Heaven is different than what we think of as "Heaven."  The Kingdom of Heaven is something that is happening here on earth as a result of Jesus coming to earth.  The moment that Jesus crossed over from Heaven to earth the Kingdom had arrived.  For example:  The Kingdom of Greece spread when they overtook the world.  That is not to say that the rest of the world became Greece.  Greece still stayed one country, but now had it's army, it's influence, and it's control of the rest of the world.  The world was becoming Greek, but Greece remained a country.  Yes, that is confusing, but if it was easy to understand perhaps Jesus wouldn't have had to teach us so much, hmm?

The Kingdom of Heaven is here on earth.  Jesus assures us of that.  We find out here that it is, specifically, there for those who are poor in spirit and those who are persecuted because of righteousness (v 10).  The Kingdom of Heaven should not be confused with Heaven.  Heaven is a very real place.  Earth is a very real place.  The Kingdom of Heaven is spreading on the earth.

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