1. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21)

2. The Kingdom of God Last week, we showed how the kingdom of God was part of God’s overall plan from before the foundation of the world. It began with a promise to Abraham, and continued with a promise to David. God remained faithful to His promise in spite of Israel’s rebellion and disobedience.

3. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God God continued to remind – through His spokesmen – the Israelites of the coming kingdom and provided some additional information that would allow them to identify the kingdom. Some 1000 years after the promise to David, the angel Gabriel announced the coming king through the birth of a son to Mary. John then came preaching that the kingdom was close. Jesus then began His ministry with the same message – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

4. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God The Kingdom according to the King Church of Christ at Medina April 2014

5. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Expectation of the Jews The Jews expected a kingdom free politically and nationally. – The Jews had not experienced true political freedom since the time of Nebuchadnezzar. The Jews expected the kingdom to be established in an apocalyptic fashion. – They expected supernatural manifestations.

6. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Expectation of the Jews “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” (Matthew 12:38-42 ESV)

7. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Expectation of the Jews “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So he left them and departed.” (Matthew 16:1-4 ESV)

8. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Expectation of the Jews The Jews expected social and economic prosperity. – They remembered what God had promised to their forefathers before they entered the land of Canaan. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14) – When Jesus was able to feed the 5,000 with such a small amount, they assumed the prosperity could be supplied by Him. (John 6:15)

9. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Explained by the King Jesus never taught that His kingdom would be like the expectations the Jews had. Rather, His life and teaching showed quite the opposite. “So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:33-37 ESV)

10. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Explained by the King “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5:17-20 ESV)

11. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Explained by the King “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21 ESV)

12. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Exemplified by the King Jesus came to do the will of God. (John 5:30, 6:38) Jesus came to serve others (John 13:1-20) Jesus came to suffer for others (Isaiah 53, Luke 17:25, John 1:29) Jesus was a humble king. – In His birth (Luke 2:7) – In His occupation (Mark 6:1-6) – In His palace (Luke 9:58) – In His steed (Matthew 21:5) – In His army, His robe and His crown. – In His true glory (John 12:23-33)

13. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: Explained by the King Jesus knew that the kingdom of heaven would not be received by everyone. His use of parables proved this. The parable of the Sower taught this.

14. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) The Kingdom of God: The Kingdom according to the King Conclusion Jesus came to establish His kingdom, but the Jews did not understand its true nature. Jesus taught that the kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom. Are you willing to be a part of it today?

15. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) Resources The Nature of the Kingdom – Notes on a Lesson by Sewell Hall in 1973 @ Florida College The Gospel of the Kingdom by Marc Copeland Multiple other lessons, articles, etc.

16. “…for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:21) Image Resources – Google Images