“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)
Jesus taught that the kingdom of God must come first in our lives. The Bible speaks about the kingdom of God over and over again. We see it in the words of Jesus, in the work of the apostles, and throughout the New Testament. These many references show us how important the kingdom is to God. When we study these passages we learn what the kingdom is, how it came, and why we must still preach it today.
Jesus began His ministry by preaching the kingdom. The Bible says, “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14-15 NKJV) This was the gospel message. Jesus explained that He was sent from the Father for this very purpose. “But He said to them, ‘I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.’” (Luke 4:43 NKJV) He did not keep this message to Himself. He sent His disciples out to preach the same thing. “Then He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:2 NKJV) Later we read that Jesus received the people and “spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.” (Luke 9:11 NKJV) The preaching of the kingdom was always connected with the power of God.
Jesus promised that the kingdom would come with power while some of those listening were still alive. “And He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.’” (Mark 9:1 NKJV) That promise was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. The apostles received the Holy Spirit and Peter preached the first gospel sermon. Many believed, repented, and were baptized. The Bible tells us exactly what happened next. “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47 NKJV) The kingdom of God had come. It is the church that Jesus built.
The Bible also calls this same kingdom the kingdom of heaven. These names mean the same thing. John the Baptist preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” (Matthew 3:2 NKJV) Jesus preached the same message. “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” (Matthew 4:17 NKJV) He also warned that entrance into the kingdom is for those who do the will of the Father. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21 NKJV) Jesus even said that those who obey would enter before some of the religious leaders of His day. “Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.’” (Matthew 21:31 NKJV)
After Jesus rose from the dead He continued to teach about the kingdom. “To whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3 NKJV) The apostles kept preaching it too. In Samaria Philip preached “the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.” The Bible says, “But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.” (Acts 8:12 NKJV) Later Paul spent three months in the synagogue “reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.” (Acts 19:8 NKJV) Even when Paul was under house arrest in Rome he taught from morning until evening “expounding and testifying to the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets.” (Acts 28:23 NKJV)
The New Testament letters show us that this kingdom is the body of Christ and the church. The apostle Paul wrote, “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18 NKJV) He is also the Savior of the body. “For the husband is the head of the wife, as also Christ is the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” (Ephesians 5:23 NKJV) There is only one body. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.” (Ephesians 4:4 NKJV) Paul also tells us how we enter this kingdom. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” (Colossians 1:13 NKJV) This one body is the church, and it is the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God is here now. It is not a future earthly kingdom that people can see with their eyes. Jesus said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation.” (Luke 17:20 NKJV) He also told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36 NKJV) This is why the kingdom came with power on Pentecost and why the Lord added people to the church that same day. Later in Acts 19 some people had been baptized by John but did not yet know about Jesus or the kingdom. Paul taught them the full gospel. They were then baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus so they could receive the Holy Spirit and be added to the kingdom. This shows how important it is to have the full understanding of the gospel, including the kingdom, to obey it correctly.
Friends, nothing is more important than seeking first the kingdom of God. Jesus still calls us today through His word. Let us study the Scriptures, understand the gospel of the kingdom, believe in Jesus as the Son of God, repent of our sins, confess His name, and be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins. Then the Lord will add us to His church, His kingdom, just as He did in the New Testament. Will you seek the kingdom first today? I would love to study the Bible with you or answer any questions.
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