Word of the Kingdom

The word that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. "For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”                                Isaiah 2:1-4

In the New Testament, the phrases kingdom of God, kingdom of Christ, kingdom of Christ and of God, kingdom of David, the kingdom, and kingdom of heaven are all synonymous, and signify the divine spiritual kingdom, the glorious reign of the Messiah. The idea of this kingdom has its basis in the prophecies of the Old Testament, where the coming of the Messiah and his triumphs are foretold. In those passages, the reign of the Messiah is figuratively described as a golden age, when the true religion, and with it the Jewish theocracy, should be re-established in more than pristine purity, and universal peace and happiness prevail. All this was doubtless to be understood in a spiritual sense, and the devout Jews of our Savior's time appear to have understood it, as Zacharias, Simeon, Anna, and Joseph. But the Jews at large gave to these prophecies a temporal meaning, and expected a Messiah who should come in the clouds of heaven, and, as king of the Jewish nation, restore the ancient religion and worship, reform the corrupt morals of the people, make expiation for their sins, free them from the yoke of foreign dominion, and at length reign over the whole earth in peace and glory. This Jewish temporal sense appears to have also been held by the apostles before the day of Pentecost.

Body, Soul, Spirit

But a natural man [psuchikos - the part of the immaterial life held in common with the animals, as contrasted with spirit] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one.     1 Corinthians 2:14-15

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men [pneumatikos – a body dominated by the Holy Spirit], but as to men of flesh [sarkikos – body dominated by the soul/flesh], as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly.          1 Corinthians 3:1-3

Jesus introduced the concept of being born again (born from above) as a requirement for entry into the spiritual kingdom (John 3:5). The spirit of man comes alive when the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. The Apostle Paul understood the spiritual dynamics of the three parts of man: body, soul, and spirit, that they have independent lives (Greek: bios, pseuche, and pneuma) in competition with each other for control. When the physical appetites of the body are in charge, there is typically some type of abusive or addictive behavior. When the soul or mind dominates a man's life, the self-life controls his life decisions. The human spirit is in charge when a believer in Christ is being led and guided by the Holy Spirit. 

From the verses above, the natural man is dominated by the body or soul without the presence of the Holy Spirit; he is an unbeliever and cannot discern spiritual matters apart from the Spirit. Since spiritual understanding is only derived from the presence and operation of the Holy Spirit, the role of the human spirit within the believer’s life is essential to comprehending spiritual matters. Learning how to be surrendered to the Holy Spirit is a process of the soul/mind or body relinquishing control of the necessary decisions regarding the details of life. Paul recognized that the truths promoted through the Word of God produce spiritual growth. Like an infant, the believer should progressively be strengthened first by milk (simple biblical truths), then by solid food (deeper truths of the Scriptures). Paul sees the Church at Corinth as spiritually immature since they are not growing in their understanding of spiritual truth.

Jesus's public ministry began at His baptism, followed immediately by His temptation in the wilderness. While still ministering in Galilee, He introduced the principle of kingdom life, proper behavior in the kingdom of heaven. It meant a radical change in the laws given at Sinai, those commandments that focused on the public activities of the believer. The Sermon on the Mount was intended to focus attention on the private, inward life. In the beginning, Jesus centered on the inward convictions that would lead to the blessings of the kingdom. Each of these blessings is associated with a godly, internal condition that focuses on the Father's attitudes. These blessings would be tied to the spiritual kingdom of heaven.

Kingdom Life

"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand [suniemi – assembling individual facts into an organized whole] it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."                    Matthew 13:18-23

Matthew 13 includes eight parables dealing with the kingdom of heaven, beginning with the parable of the seed and the sower. Jesus chose to teach in parables because He could speak to His followers with the word of the kingdom, and they would understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, while those who were not followers from the heart would not: while hearing, they do not hear, nor do they understand. In this first parable, Jesus is emphasizing the condition of the heart when hearing His words. The different types of ground speak about the degree of faith mixed with what is heard; the good ground will bear much fruit.

In Jesus's interpretation of the Parable of the Sower, He compared the four results of sowing to four responses to the kingdom message, the message preached by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the apostles. First, when one hears the message but does not understand it, the evil one snatches away the Word that was sown. This is the situation of an unbeliever, who does not believe the word of the kingdom. Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). The other three responses are referencing believers facing different issues of life in varying degrees.

The next two results - represented by seed on rocky places that had no root, and by seed among the thorns (worries and wealth) that choke it out - speak of hearers' initial interest, but they cannot trust its provisions yet. They have not believed it to be true. The seed on rocky soil speaks of a person who hears the word, but falls away (scandalized) when he faces trouble for having expressed interest in the word. Only the seed that fell on good soil had an abiding result and the production of a crop that increased 100, 60, or 30 times what had been sown. The one who believes Jesus's word (the man who hears the Word and understands it) will then receive and understand even more. "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him” (Matthew 13:12).

Demonstration of the Spirit 

and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.                       1 Corinthians 2:4-8

For all that Saul of Tarsus accomplished as a Pharisee, it took the difficulties of being the Apostle to the Gentiles to teach him that the power of God was the solution to every challenge he faced. It resided not in the religious man, but the Holy Spirit. He learned how to rely on wisdom from above. For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men (Romans 14:17-18).

My son, if you will receive my words and treasure [sapan -hide, conceal something of great value] my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding; for if you cry for discernment, lift your voice for understanding; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.         Proverbs 2:1-6

When the words of the kingdom are treasured as representing great value, they can accomplish much. The same Hebrew word appears in Ps 119:11: Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You. The spiritual believer endeavors to understand its meaning; he has pleasure in reflecting on it. It is not a subject which he puts away from him or is indifferent toward, but he keeps it before his mind, and has satisfaction in doing it. It is the natural conclusion of his faith in the words of the kingdom as true. He becomes passionate to understand more, to experience the deeper life found in Christ, in the kingdom. In Ephesians 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us [aorist active participle – eulogeo – to distinguish with favor] with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, The Father is looking for every opportunity to distinguish each believer with favor (blessings).

Meditation

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord [the Word of God], and in His law, he meditates [hagah – ponders] day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers.                  Psalm 1:1-3                

“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”                     Joshua 1:8

O, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.                     Psalm 119:97-99

My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will be understanding. Psalm 49:3

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.                        Colossians 3:2-3

Meditation is a private devotional act, consisting of deliberate reflection upon some spiritual truth or mystery. It is the effort of calling to mind some supposition, pondering upon it, and correlating it to one's own life. Meditation is the repetitive going over of a matter in one's mind because it is the chief concern of life. The constant recollection of God's past deeds by the hearing of Scripture and repetition of thoughts produces confidence in God. According to Charles Spurgeon:

“Those who would be in health do not sit still in their houses to breathe such air as may come to them, but they walk abroad and seek out rural and elevated spots that they may inhale the invigorating breezes; and thus those godly souls who would be in a spiritual state, do not merely think upon such holy doctrines as may come into their minds in the ordinary course of thought, but they give time to meditation, they walk abroad in the fields of truth, and endeavor to climb the heights of gospel promises. ‘

Joshua 1:8 declares that meditation on the book of the law, that is, the Word of God, day and night, with consistency, creates an organic desire to obey it, thus producing a prosperous way and success. As Paul writes in Colossians 3:2-3, the setting of the mind (phroneo) is a purposing of thinking that involves the will, affections, and conscience. It concentrates on the eternal rather than the temporary, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).

Understand & Know God

Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.                          Jeremiah 9:23-24

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.                       1 John 5:20

The people were not to boast in their human wisdom or strength or riches, for these would not last. Instead, a person should boast only to the extent that he understands and knows God. The Hebrew word "know" (yada) pictures an intimate knowledge of God. God wants the people to be intimately acquainted with His kindness, justice, and righteousness. "Kindness" (hesed) refers to God's loyal love. God stands by His commitment to His people. "Justice" (mišpot) is a broad term that points to governing justly. God vindicates the innocent and punishes the guilty. "Righteousness" (sedaqâh) conveys the idea of conforming to a standard or norm. God's standards of conduct are supposed to be Israel's norm.

The coming of the Son of God has granted to believers an understanding that makes possible a knowledge of God. To abide in God is also to abide in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is an active, living faith in Christ through His Spirit that gives the believer clarity in understanding in all matters. Trust [batah – trust, feeling of safety and security when one relies on another] in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding [biynah – comprehension, discernment]. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Sound Doctrine

If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound [hugiaino – healthy, firm in the faith] words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.       1 Timothy 6:3-6

Sound doctrine gives health to the believer, promoting godliness. If it does not instruct in the fear and worship of God, if it does not edify faith, if it does not train to patience, humility, and all the duties of love which the believer owes to others (Romans 13:8), it can be destructive to a vital faith in the living God. Sound doctrine refers to the set of teachings and beliefs that are biblically accurate and consistent with the core tenets of the Christian faith. In the context of Christian theology, sound doctrine is essential for the spiritual health and growth of believers and the church as a whole. It serves as a foundation for faith and practice, ensuring that believers are rooted in truth and protected from false teachings.