"What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God?"

by David R. Bickel

What will I eat? How will I pay the bills? How will I have a happy marriage? How will I have a successful career? Everyone seems to be preoccupied with these kinds of concerns, but Jesus calmed his disciples by giving them a higher purpose. He told them not to worry about their needs in this world, but to instead seek God’s kingdom, having the promise that their heavenly Father would then also meet all those needs: “...do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well” (Matt 6:31-33, RSV). The parallel account omits “and his righteousness” and adds an assurance: “...seek his kingdom, and all these things shall be yours as well. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:31-32).

The first step in understanding what it means to seek the kingdom of God is to determine what Jesus meant by “His kingdom.” This is because Jesus used the word translated as kingdom in a way that is very different from the typical usage of kingdom in English as the land or people ruled by a king.

In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the “kingdom of God” is usually God’s active rule over His creation, especially in saving His people from their sins and the consequences of those sins. (Matthew often uses “kingdom of heaven” instead of “kingdom of God,” but the two terms are synonymous (Matt 13:31a = Mark 4:30 = Luke 13:18), so “kingdom of heaven” does not refer to heaven as a place, but to God’s reign as King, reflecting the Jewish avoidance of direct reference to God.)

The kingdom of God is not only God’s rule over his obedient subjects, but includes His victory over their spiritual enemies through Jesus, beginning in the present age (Matt 12:28; Luke 1:68-75; 11:20). The kingdom of God has been concisely defined as God’s “acting in His sovereign power to deliver man from the destructive powers that enthrall him” (Beasley-Murray, 1989).

The central thesis of Ladd (1974) is that the prophets’ hope of the kingdom of God was inaugurated in the person of Jesus in this present age, before its consummation begins the age to come. God asserted His rule in history by defeating Satan and death through the work of Jesus, even though God will not complete His display of authority until Jesus returns in judgment, when He will start the new world order.

Regina's notes: This is powerful word for the spirit! Continue reading, "What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God?" here.

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