The Kingdom of Heaven

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)

The text is in the present tense…“theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” not “theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.”  What did Jesus mean by “the kingdom of heaven?” In his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote regarding the kingdom of heaven, “It means, in its essence, Christ’s rule or the sphere and realm in which He is reigning…Wherever He was present and exercising authority, the kingdom of heaven was there.” (p. 30) 

Scripture makes it clear that Jesus Christ is eternal.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Rev. 4:8b)

PAST

When Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago, the kingdom of heaven was near. In Matthew 4:17 it says, “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”  In Matthew 9:5-6 He demonstrated His authority on earth by saying, “For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins – then He said to the paralytic – ‘Rise, take up your bed, and go home.’”  Throughout His ministry, He proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom and demonstrated His authority through miracles.

PRESENT

The poor in spirit recognize that they are completely incapable of saving themselves. When they accept Christ as their Savior, they grant Him the authority to rule and reign in their lives. “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” (Col. 1:13)  While we continue to live on earth, “..our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 3:20) We who are poor in spirit dwell in the kingdom of Heaven, and the King of that kingdom dwells in us!

FUTURE

One day soon there will be a new heaven and a new earth. “And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He shall dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be among them.” (Rev. 21:3)  “Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.”  (Daniel 7:27)

Jesus – Emmanuel – God with us…past, present, and future.

The poor in spirit are blessed because His sacrifice covers our sin -- past, present, and future.

The poor in spirit are blessed because He walked among us, dwells within us, and will reign over us from now through eternity.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3)