The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Luke 16:14-17 The Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided Him. He said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached (proclaimed), and every man presses into it. For it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law (of Eternal Life in Christ, the law of Faith and Love) to fail. (parallel passage Matthew 11:12-13; 4:17, Luke 7:29, I must point out that because of the error of many, this lower case “law” has caused mass confusion over the years because of the beam or mote in mans evil eye. When we have become a doer of He word this beam or mote is removed and our perception becomes clear and we then acquire proper understanding of all things spiritual. Without this happening our understanding remains askewed because of Religions effect and wrongful influence in our thinking. We by way of wrongful actions and words remain blind, lame, deft and dumb and without healing. In most cases it is because we wrongfully quote and apply Isaiah 53:5 and 1Peter 2:24.)

Like the last passages this one takes place after Jesus' teaching on compassion for others which also set the Religious leaders on edge and at odds with John the Baptist and  Jesus, not to leave out the Apostle Paul.

Luke 17:20-25 When He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them, The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. He said to the disciples, The days will come, when they shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and they shall not see. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after, nor follow them. For as the lightning, that lights out of the one part under heaven, shines to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in His day. But first must He suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. (parallel passage Matthew 24:23-28, 37-41, Jesus just here is telling us just how He will return and this has been recorded in Acts 2 and there after. And as long as the Religionists, futurists, historians, and Philosophers seek for materialistic signs, wonders and wisdom they will not understand the mysteries of God. To accurately acquire God's wisdom all we need to do is become a doer of His Word, Will and Law. For His wisdom is found in totality of the ascended Lord, Christ Jesus, this is why both He and Paul has told us to be imitators of Me, Paul said, “as I am of Christ”. There are NO short cuts, No easy ways, No church doctrines of mans design or membership that will get us through the gate and door required of all, bar none, God Has Only ONE Way for Us All.)

Again this passage follows another teaching on those who are unworthy of God's kingdom.

Luke 18:15-17 They brought to Him also infants, that He would touch them: but when His disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them and said, Suffer (allow, do not turn away) little children to come to Me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say to you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. (parallel passages Matthew 19:13-15, Mark 10:13-16)

Here again our passages follow another teaching about a young ruler who held his possessions dearly or tightly to himself.

Luke 18:23-30 When he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard said, Who then can be saved? He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed You. And He said to them, Verily I say to you, There is no men that have left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come Life everlasting. (parallel passages Matthew 19:16-30, Mark 10:17-31, Does your fear of loss (the lust for wealth) of riches hold you back? Are the things of the material world restrain you? Do the false teachings propagated by mans Religion keep you from God? Jesus has just said that we are to become as a little child to acquire entry into God's kingdom rule again we are to leave behind the known and familiar things to walk in the darkness of His faith, a faith based in God's own Faithfulness. If all we can muster is a trust like that of Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abram and Isaac and Elijah then we just may find the Way, the ancient path long forgotten.)