Day 76: I trust you, Lord. Exceeding their righteousness to access the Kingdom. Matthew 5:20
The Kingdom of God (or the Kingdom of Heaven) is not a pretend place that doesn’t exist. It is the place where God is. But how you access it? How do you enter it? Truly, it wasn’t possible until Christ came.
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:1-2 KJV
If you stop reading the Bible in chapter form and go back to find out what "those days" referenced, you will find that Jesus was born and had settled in Nazareth. These were the days Matthew wrote about. In other words, during the time of Jesus’ birth and the time following it, John the Baptist was in the wilderness preaching. John wasn’t referring to himself because he later told the wicked preachers of the day:
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. Matthew 3:11-12 KJV
Who is he referring to? Was he referring to himself?
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. John 1:19–23 KJV
No John was there to prepare the way for the Messiah’s coming.
The Jews were so desperate to have a Messiah who would lift their nation to something the world has never seen. They were looking for something from the Messiah, not the Messiah himself. They didn’t want the salvation he offered. They wanted the salvation that others could see (they were proud to be a Jew and called others ‘the dogs’ (Matthew 15:26-28)).
Jesus later said some very similar to John in Matthew 3:2.
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Matthew 4:17 KJV
Where exactly is the Kingdom then? Skip over to Luke 17 (recalling that Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John all record similar testaments of Jesus).
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. Luke 17:20-21 KJV
He told the priests that “the Kingdom of God is within you”. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words translates the word “within” as entos in Greek. It can also be translated as “among you”. Considering Jesus spent a significant amount of time teaching not to be like the priests of the temples (Matthew 23), He most definitely was not saying that the Kingdom was in them. So Jesus was most likely saying the Kingdom was “among them”. He is the Kingdom of God.
Jesus is said no one can go to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). Think of it like this. The Father is in the Kingdom. He sits on the throne (Psalm 11:4, 1 Kings 22:19, Matthew 5:34, and so one) with His Son (Christ Jesus) on the right side. To get to God, we must enter the Kingdom, or, more specifically, be in the Kingdom. How do we gain access to the Kingdom?
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20
There must be a righteousness beyond religion to gain access to the Kingdom. Simple as that. Previous it was debunked via the Word that the saying that “there is none righteous” is not true. You can be righteous but only if you are in Christ Jesus, or within the Kingdom.
By accepting Christ and remaining righteous, you have access to everything you need and even what you don’t need. That’s what King’s give their inhabitants. That’s what Fathers give their children. So many are walking around with their hand out for no reason. Simply live right but Christ’s standards and have everything you need and want. People pleasers will not have access to the Kingdom. Only God pleasers will, now (Matthew 6:10), in this life and the one to come.
God pleasers only,
Keiyia JOYet George
Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!