The kingdom of God is God's rule as King, arriving in Jesus and one day filling the earth. Jesus said, "behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21), and told His followers, "seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Luke 12:31). The psalmist praised a reign without end: "Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom" (Psalm 145:13).
The kingdom of God was the main subject of Jesus' preaching. His first message in Mark was "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15), and most of His parables begin with the words "the kingdom of heaven is like". The phrase kingdom of God appears about seventy times in the King James Version, and kingdom of heaven more than thirty times, all in Matthew. They mean the same thing: God reigning as King. In late November many churches celebrate Christ the King Sunday, and Advent follows with its prayer for the King to come. Every time we pray the Lord's Prayer we ask for this kingdom. These twelve verses show the kingdom drawing near in Jesus, what it is like in His parables, and why it will never end. For Christ's kingship, see Bible verses about Jesus as King, and for the prayer itself, see the Lord's Prayer in the KJV.
The kingdom has come near
1. Luke 17:20-21
"And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom would come, expecting dramatic signs. He said it cometh not with observation and added, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The Greek phrase can mean within you or among you, in your midst. Both are true. The King Himself was standing in front of them, and His reign begins quietly in human hearts. You do not have to wait for headlines to find God's kingdom; it is present wherever Jesus is welcomed as King.
2. Luke 10:9
"And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you."
When Jesus sent out seventy followers ahead of Him, He told them to heal the sick and say, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. The message came with mercy that people could see and feel. That is still how the kingdom shows up: a meal for a struggling family, a visit to a hospital, forgiveness offered where there was bitterness. Christians announce the King not only with words but with the kind of care He showed.
3. 1 Corinthians 4:20
"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power."
Some members of the church in Corinth had become proud and full of talk. Paul answered, the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. He did not mean words are unimportant; he meant that God's reign is real and active, not just an idea people argue about. The power of the kingdom changes lives. Paul describes its character elsewhere: "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). Talk is easy; changed lives are the evidence.
4. Luke 12:31
"But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."
Jesus had just told His followers not to worry about food and clothing, because their Father knows what they need (Luke 12:29-30). Instead, seek ye the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew's version, "seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33), is one of the best-known verses in the Bible. Seeking the kingdom means making God's rule and purposes the first thing, and trusting Him with the rest.
What the kingdom is like: Jesus' parables
5. Matthew 13:31-32
"Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof."
A mustard seed is tiny, yet it grows into a large plant where the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches. Jesus compared it to the least of all seeds that farmers in His audience sowed. His point was the contrast: the kingdom started small, with a carpenter from Nazareth and a handful of fishermen, and it would grow far beyond anything anyone expected. If your faith or your church feels small, this parable says small beginnings are how God often works.
6. Luke 13:20-21
"And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened."
Jesus compared the kingdom to leaven, or yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Three measures was a very large batch of dough, enough to feed a crowd. Yeast works silently and from the inside, until the whole lump is changed. God's kingdom works the same way in a person, a family or a community. You may not see it happening day by day, but it is spreading.
7. Matthew 13:45-46
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."
A merchant searching for fine pearls finally found one pearl of great price, so he sold all that he had, and bought it. In the parable just before it, a man finds treasure hidden in a field and sells everything for joy (Matthew 13:44). The kingdom is worth everything. Following Jesus can cost a great deal, but those who find Him do not feel cheated. They feel like the merchant who finally found the pearl.
8. Mark 10:15
"Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."
When parents brought little children to Jesus, the disciples tried to send them away. Jesus was displeased and said, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Then He took the children in His arms and blessed them (Mark 10:16). Children receive gifts with open hands; they do not try to earn them. The kingdom is received the same way, with trust, not with a list of achievements.
A kingdom that will never end
9. Psalms 145:13
"Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations."
Psalm 145 is David's song of praise to God as King: Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Earthly governments rise and fall, and every leader's term ends. God's reign does not. The verses just before this one call God's people to speak of the glory of thy kingdom (Psalm 145:11). Whatever happens in the news, believers can tell the next generation that God is still on His throne.
10. Daniel 2:44
"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon dreamed of a great statue made of gold, silver, brass and iron, struck down by a stone cut out of the mountain without hands (Daniel 2:45). Daniel explained that the metals stood for successive empires, and the stone for a kingdom God would set up which shall never be destroyed. Christians have long seen that kingdom fulfilled in Christ. Empires come and go; His kingdom shall stand for ever.
11. Luke 23:42
"And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."
One of the criminals crucified beside Jesus admitted that he deserved his punishment, then turned to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. It is a remarkable request, made to a dying man wearing a crown of thorns. Jesus answered, "To day shalt thou be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43). It is never too late to ask the King to remember you, and He welcomes those who come to Him with nothing to offer.
12. Luke 13:29
"And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God."
Jesus described a great feast: people shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. The kingdom is not limited to one nation, language or culture. It gathers people from every direction around one table. When believers from different backgrounds worship together, or share a holiday meal, they get a small preview of that coming banquet.
A short prayer
Our Father in heaven, Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Thank You that the kingdom came near in Jesus and is growing like a seed and spreading like yeast. Help me seek Your kingdom first and trust You with everything I need. Give me a childlike heart to receive it. Remember me, King Jesus, and use my words and my hands to show others that Your kingdom is near. For Yours is the kingdom forever. Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Pray Thy kingdom come with our free Lord's Prayer printable · Study the parables of the kingdom with the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Memorize kingdom verses with the Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What is the kingdom of God in simple terms?
It is God's rule as King. It came near when Jesus arrived, preaching and healing. It grows now in the lives of people who follow Him, and it will be complete when He returns. In the Lord's Prayer we pray, "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10). Paul says it is "righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).
Is the kingdom of heaven the same as the kingdom of God?
Yes. Matthew usually says kingdom of heaven, while Mark and Luke say kingdom of God in the same stories. Compare "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17) with "the kingdom of God is at hand" (Mark 1:15). Many scholars think Matthew, writing for Jewish readers, used heaven as a respectful way to refer to God. Both phrases mean God's reign, not only a place we go after death.
Where is the kingdom of God now?
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36), meaning it does not come from human power or politics. He also said it is "within you" (Luke 17:21), present wherever He is King. One day it will fill the earth: "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ" (Revelation 11:15). See Bible verses about heaven.
How do I enter the kingdom of God?
By turning to Jesus and trusting Him. He said the kingdom must be received "as a little child" (Mark 10:15), and He told Nicodemus that a person must be born again (John 3:3). His first sermon put it simply: "repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:15). The criminal on the cross shows that anyone can ask. See Bible verses about salvation.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Jesus as King · The Lord's Prayer (KJV) · Heaven · Putting God first · Eternal life · Advent · Redemption · Holy Spirit
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