Freedom is Good News Part 196

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:33)  A few weeks ago we began considering what the scriptures call, “The Kingdom of God”.  I would like to pursue that idea today.

What is a kingdom?  Several days ago Queen Elizabeth passed away after serving as the British monarch for 70 years.  She will be succeeded by her son and he is to be crowned King Charles.  So, today, we have right before our eyes the concept of a kingdom.  Most scholars agree that a kingdom consists of 4 things: a king, land, laws and subjects; maybe that seems quite obvious, but let’s look at these four from a biblical perspective. 

In the New Testament we have the word ‘King’ used some 85 times.  It is used to designate Herod the king, Matt. 2:1; King David, Matt. 1:6; Caesar, John 19:15, Pharaoh, Acts 7:10; etc.  But the overwhelming majority of uses are in relation to our Savior Jesus the Messiah, for He is the King of kings.  The first usage of this title is found in Matt. 2:2 where the Magi, looking for the baby born to Mary, asked, “Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?” 

Throughout His life references are made to His kingship and even as He faced death Pilate asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”  He answered Pilate, “It is as you say.” (Matt.27:11).  We are told in the book of John that Pilate had a notice fastened to the cross with the words, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” (John 19:19)

In the Old Testament the word king appears over 2100 times!!  Of course it is used for many kings of Israel and Judah and other foreign nations.  But it is also used of Jesus hundreds of years before His birth – He is not called by that name but we can be sure it is Him.

The concept of a coming King is prevalent in the Psalms; as one example we read in Psalm 145, “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever.”  The Psalms from 93 through 99 are called the Kingly Psalms because of their references to ‘the Lord who reigns.  In Isaiah 43:15 we read, “I am the LORD your Holy One, Israel’s Creator, your King.”  And in the Minor Prophets we see Malachi 1:14 giving a quote from God, “I am a great King, says the Lord of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations.”

In the last book of the bible, Revelation 19, we have a most wonderful description of the coming King.  We see heaven standing open with one who rides upon a white horse whose robe is dipped in blood; His name is ‘the Word of God’ and He rules with an iron scepter and “On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written, ‘King of Kings and Lord of Lords.’” (Rev. 19:11-16)

The first item that defines a kingdom is before us; Jesus Christ is the King and He will rule over the Kingdom of God!!  We shall look at the other items that make up a kingdom in our future articles.