The Kingdom of God is not an earthly dominion or empire that can be readily observed with what human eyes have an affection for in this life. In this focus text, we witness an exchange between Jesus and a scribe as they both agree and identify the “Great Commandment.” In short, it is a life that loves God with all (i.e. totality), which then informs a person’s attitudes and actions in love for one’s neighbor. The scribe’s response to Jesus’s answer reveals his own deeper understanding of such command. Offering and sacrifices were required to be given under the Old Testament Levitical sacrificial system as an act of worship and giving oneself back to God in some way. The Jews were often rebuked by God for performing such acts in a ritualistic outward expression of obedience only by which their hearts did not participate. They would honor God with their lips, but their hearts were not with him. For example, while continually bringing required offerings to God, they at the same time upheld and promoted a culture in Israel that was filled with injustice. God’s response,
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. (22) Even though you offer me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. (23) Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. (24) But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream (Amos 5:21-24).”
Obedience in love for God and His creation is more important than offering God our self-righteous deeds and proclamations we deem sufficient to satisfy Him. In his exchange with Jesus, the scribe appeared to grasp this important truth. In response, Jesus says to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
What is this Kingdom of God Jesus is referring to?
Again, it is not an earthly kingdom. Jesus tells the Pharisees,
“…The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, (21) nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ Or ‘there!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you. (Lk 17:20-21)”
The Kingdom of God origins is Heaven where His throne is, brought down to earth to be put on display in the birth, life, gospel works, death, and resurrection of Christ. It is good news of salvation available to all races, not just a select nationalistic leaning group. To enter God’s Kingdom, new birth is required. In other words, one must (by faith), believe in Christ unto salvation. If saving faith is granted, one is made a new creation by God (i.e. regeneration). Then His Kingdom comes and lives in and works through such a person by the leading and power of the Holy Spirit. Such person will become a odd and peculiar individual in the societies of man. Jesus warns a Pharisee named Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God (Jn 3:5).” It is only through new birth that we are able to move beyond external pious acts of righteousness. We are made righteous by the blood of Christ and are therefore granted understanding and desires God requires leading to growth in obedience.
Please understand, no Christian obeys the Great Command of our focus text perfectly. Pursuing such submission requires new heart and new mind through new creation (2 Cor 5:17). When we are true citizens of God’s kingdom, our thinking is being progressively transformed to transcend the tribal dysfunction that has ravaged both the world and the church today. God does not desire sacrificial deeds and political pontificating that is not rooted in a self-examining love for Him and His image bearers in light of of his Word.
How Do We Reflect Kingdom Love?
First, we need to fully embrace that the values and socio-economy of the Kingdom of God operates by different rules (Source: The Bible). Here is one example of what it is like: Instead of hating people that we disagree with, its citizens loves its enemies by dealing mercifully and graciously with those who live in error…………..as we all once did in our lives of sin before Christ (Lk 6:27-36). Paul instructs Timothy,
“…the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, (25) correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, (26) and they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will (2 Tim 2:24-26).”
My friends, the message is this: obedience is better than self-righteous sacrifice. To love God and pursue his ways in faith by the power of the Spirit leads to the magnifying of the His Kingdom through us (which is spiritual kingdom – cf. Jn 18:33-36) in the lost world of men who are without hope outside of Christ. Let us pray that God would grant us a joyful heart that declares, “O how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day (Ps 119:97).” Such a person endeavors daily not exalt his earthly thinking and personal beliefs above the knowledge and wisdom of God. Instead, he abandons them and holds fast to faith in Christ. Such person life’s banner is not, “Look at me!”, but instead, “LOOK AT CHRIST!”
It is Christ that is our aim to imitate in our earthly life, so that HIS Kingdom will shine forth like the sun in a world where lostness abounds. Let us not be content with being “not far from the kingdom of God…” But rather let us enter his Kingdom by dying to the old life and its affections; and rising from the dead to new life in Christ. Only then, can we even begin to understand and live a life in pursuit of loving God with all, and our neighbors as ourselves. Amen.
“And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” (29) Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ (31)The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (32) And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. (33) And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” (34) And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.”
(Other suggested scripture reading for further study and reflection: Psalm 51:16-17, John 3:1-8, 1 Cor 6:9-11)
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com