The Kingdom and the King: What is the Kingdom of God Like?

1. “Kingdom” and “king” are in the Gospel of Matthew.

First words – “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (1:1)

Visit of the Wise Men – “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?” (2:2a).

Jesus’ first preaching – “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people” (4:23).

First words of Sermon on the Mount – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (5:3).

Triumphal entry into Jerusalem – “Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden” (21:8b).

Jesus on trial before Pilate – “and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’” (27:11a).

The soldiers mocking Jesus – “And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” (27:28-29)

The placard on the cross – “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews” (27:36b).

2. Jesus’ shows us that he is a different kind of king, and Jesus’ tells us what the kingdom is like.

“The kingdom of heaven is like . . .

• “a grain of mustard seed” (13:31-32)
• “leaven” (13:33)
• “treasure hidden in a field” (13:44)
• “a merchant in search of fine pearls” (13:45-46)
• “a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind” (13:47-50)

22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, ³ and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. ⁴ Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.” ’ ⁵ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶ while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. ⁷ The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. ⁸ Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹ Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ ¹⁰ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹² And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.” (22:1-14)

1. To participate in God’s kingdom is like going to a party – characterized by love, joy, and abundance, with singing and dancing.

2. To refuse the invitation to come to the wedding party is to the king.

3. Now, is invited to come to the party.

4. When you come to the party, you must come clothed in the garment of provided by the king.

5. Our response to the king’s invitation has consequences.

Revelation 19

⁶ Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.

⁷    Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
⁸    it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.

⁹ And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. (ESV)