The kingdom of heaven is a central theme running all the way through the Gospel of Matthew. In fact, the phrase “the kingdom of heaven” is used over thirty times in Matthew’s Gospel. However, many Christians are confused about what it means.
Interestingly, Matthew is the only Gospel writer to adopt this terminology. The others opt to use the phrase “the kingdom of God” instead. So, what is “the kingdom of heaven?”
Many believe that Matthew uses “the kingdom of heaven” instead of “the kingdom of God” simply to avoid using the term “God.” It is certainly true that there was a Jewish tendency to avoid writing the divine name in the first century. Many bible scholars conclude that Matthew did not want his Jewish readership to misunderstand the nature of the kingdom.
The Jews were anticipating a physical kingdom, not a spiritual kingdom. In the gospel we find Jesus teaching, “Jesus called a little child to his side and set him on his feet in the middle of them all. “Believe me,” he said, “unless you change your whole outlook and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. It is the one who can be as humble as this little child who is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 18:3
Jesus points to the tiniest child in the crowd and encourages us to be like infants as in that culture, as in many cultures, the child had no influence, status or control over life. The child was completely dependent on the parent and on the community. Jesus is both pointing out something about how we live our lives, and also about accepting the most humble of people into the community.
We are members of Jesus' family, his community, his church, his kingdom by virtue just of who we are, before any achievements. Maybe in prayer we might notice what gives us a buzz or a sense of importance about ourselves and put this beside the picture of children, who know that all they have is the gift of others and of God.
God the Holy Spirit, through the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. Strengthen and deepen our commitment to revealing your kingdom through our lives and by our prayers. Grant us, we pray, wisdom to discern signs of your kingdom in the world around us, wherever grace, mercy and truth are present. Enable us to discover, even in unexpected places, the beauty of holiness revealed in personal acts of compassion and sacrifice. Empower all people of goodwill to work towards establishing social structures and relationships that embody justice and peace. Through the faithful endeavour of us and all your people, may your kingdom come your will be done. Amen.
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