Episode 203: A Kingdom Ethic

The kingdom of God is referenced often in the gospels and other places in the New Testament. The kingdom of God is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven. For hundreds of years, the Jews have been expecting the decisive intervention of God to restore the glory of Israel and defeat its enemies. When John the Baptist and then Jesus proclaim that the kingdom is at hand, the people expect that a messiah is coming: one who is to be a conquering hero. This is the expectation of the crowd which shouts in Matthew 21:9, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” However, the kingdom of which Jesus speaks is far more than an earthly regime.

Scriptures referenced include Matthew 6:33; Matthew 21:9; Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:3; Romans 13:1; John 18:36; Matthew 4:17; John 3; Corinthians 5:17; Matthew 13; and Matthew 18.