Saturday, March 22, 2014

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

This next group of passages has to do with Zacchecus and how one might enter the kingdom of God.

Luke 19:11-27 As they heard these things, He added and spoke a parable, because He was close to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said to them, Occupy till I come. But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded those servants to be called to him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. The first came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained ten pounds. He said to him, Well, done good servant: because you have been faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. The second came, saying, Lord, your pound has gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be over five cities. Another came, saying, Lord, behold, your pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: For I feared you, because you are an austere man: you take up that which you lay not down, and reap that which you did not sow. And he said to him, Out of your own mouth will I judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I was an austere man, taking up what I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gave you not my money to the bank, that at my coming I might have required my own with usury? And he said to them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give to him that has ten pounds. (And they said to him, Lord, he has ten pounds.) For I say to you, That to every one which has shall be given; and from him that has not, even what he has shall be taken away from him. But those who are my enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring here, and slay them before me. (parallel passage Matthew 25:14-30)

It has been awhile since I said anything about the many warnings hidden in the synoptic gospels and this next group of passages has one, which I will cover later on.

Luke 21:29-33, 34-38 He spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh (close) at hand. So likewise, when you see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say to you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled (in Acts 2:1-12). Heaven and earth shall pass away: but My words shall not pass away. (parallel passages Matthew 24:32-35, Mark 13:28-31)

Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, that that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. In the day time He was teaching in the temple; and at night He went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. And all the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple, for to hear Him.

Our last passage is from Luke and comes after Jesus' death and covers His burial.

Luke 23:50-56 Behold, a man named Joseph, a counselor; a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them); he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate, and begged (asked for) the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn (cut) in stone, wherein no man before was laid. That day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how His body was laid. And they returned, with prepared spices and ointments; having rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. (parallel passages Matthew 27:57-61, Mark 15:42-47, John 19:30-42)       

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