“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.

From that time Jesus began to preach this message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near!”

Jesus’ Healing Ministry

Jesus went throughout all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!

may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Judgment of Pretenders

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Workers for the Harvest

Then Jesus went throughout all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and sickness.

As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’

“I tell you the truth, among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is!

From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it.

Now when Jesus realized what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and no town or house divided against itself will stand.

So if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you.

He replied, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but they have not.

When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches what was sown in his heart; this is the seed sown along the path.

The Parable of the Weeds

He presented them with another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

He gave them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field.

The Parable of the Yeast

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen.”

The field is the world and the good seed are the people of the kingdom. The poisonous weeds are the people of the evil one,

The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather from his kingdom everything that causes sin as well as all lawbreakers.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears had better listen!

Parables on the Kingdom of Heaven

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure, hidden in a field, that a person found and hid. Then because of joy he went and sold all that he had and bought that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea that caught all kinds of fish.

Then he said to them, “Therefore every expert in the law who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new and old.”

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven.”

I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Questions About the Greatest

At that time the disciples came to Jesus saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

and said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!

Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Slave

“For this reason, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his slaves.

For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven!

Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Workers in the Vineyard

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard.

He said to her, “What do you want?” She replied, “Permit these two sons of mine to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.”

Which of the two did his father’s will?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, tax collectors and prostitutes will go ahead of you into the kingdom of God!

For this reason I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

“The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.

“But woe to you, experts in the law and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You keep locking people out of the kingdom of heaven! For you neither enter nor permit those trying to enter to go in.

For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole inhabited earth as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

I tell you, from now on I will not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”

If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom will not be able to stand.

He said to them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those outside, everything is in parables,

The Parable of the Growing Seed

He also said, “The kingdom of God is like someone who spreads seed on the ground.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

He also asked, “To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to present it?

He swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”

If your eye causes you to sin, tear it out! It is better to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,

But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

The disciples were astonished at these words. But again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

When Jesus saw that he had answered thoughtfully, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Then no one dared any longer to question him.

For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains.

I tell you the truth, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”

Then the devil led him up to a high place and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world.

But Jesus said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that is what I was sent to do.”

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is.”

Jesus’ Ministry and the Help of Women

Some time afterward he went on through towns and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him,

He said, “You have been given the opportunity to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.

and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured those who needed healing.

But I tell you most certainly, there are some standing here who will not experience death before they see the kingdom of God.”

But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Heal the sick in that town and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come upon you!’

‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this: The kingdom of God has come.’

So he said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come.

But Jesus, realizing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and a divided household falls.

So if Satan too is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? I ask you this because you claim that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has already overtaken you.

Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

On the Kingdom of God

Thus Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what should I compare it?

Again he said, “To what should I compare the kingdom of God?

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out.

Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God.

The Parable of the Great Banquet

When one of those at the meal with Jesus heard this, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will feast in the kingdom of God!”

“The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.

The Coming of the Kingdom

Now at one point the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming, so he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed,

nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

But Jesus called for the children, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

I tell you the truth, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

When Jesus noticed this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

Then Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of God’s kingdom

The Parable of the Ten Minas

While the people were listening to these things, Jesus proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

Therefore he said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.

When he returned after receiving the kingdom, he summoned these slaves to whom he had given the money. He wanted to know how much they had earned by trading.

Persecution of Disciples

Then he said to them, “Nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Thus I grant to you a kingdom, just as my Father granted to me,

that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.”

(He had not consented to their plan and action.) He was from the Judean town of Arimathea, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my servants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God.

So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized, both men and women.

They strengthened the souls of the disciples and encouraged them to continue in the faith, saying, “We must enter the kingdom of God through many persecutions.”

Paul Continues to Minister at Ephesus

So Paul entered the synagogue and spoke out fearlessly for three months, addressing and convincing them about the kingdom of God.

“And now I know that none of you among whom I went around proclaiming the kingdom will see me again.

They set a day to meet with him, and they came to him where he was staying in even greater numbers. From morning until evening he explained things to them, testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus from both the law of Moses and the prophets.

proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with complete boldness and without restriction.

For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, passive homosexual partners, practicing homosexuals,

thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power.

Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

For you can be confident of this one thing: that no person who is immoral, impure, or greedy (such a person is an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son he loves,

And Jesus who is called Justus also sends greetings. In terms of Jewish converts, these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me.

exhorting and encouraging you and insisting that you live in a way worthy of God who calls you to his own kingdom and his glory.

Encouragement in Persecution

This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which in fact you are suffering.

Charge to Timothy Repeated

I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:

The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever! Amen.

but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom.

Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions,

So since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us give thanks, and through this let us offer worship pleasing to God in devotion and awe.

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

For thus an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be richly provided for you.

and has appointed us as a kingdom, as priests serving his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power for ever and ever! Amen.

I, John, your brother and the one who shares with you in the persecution, kingdom, and endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus.

You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

The Seventh Trumpet

Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven saying, “The salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the ruling authority of his Christ, have now come, because the accuser of our brothers and sisters, the one who accuses them day and night before our God, has been thrown down.

Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast so that darkness covered his kingdom, and people began to bite their tongues because of their pain.

The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but will receive ruling authority as kings with the beast for one hour.