KINGDOM OF GOD = KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

KINGDOM OF GOD = KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

I once heard a speaker that expounded his knowledge and tell us how the Kingdom of God is different from the Kingdom of Heaven, and blah..blah..blah.

I nearly fell into that trap of misinterpretation. Or is it that the speaker was showing of how "superior" in knowledge he is compared to others.

Do not be misled.

The kingdom of "heaven" is used mainly in the book of Matthew. The words "kingdom of heaven" is not used in the other books of Mark, Luke and John.

There is a reason why it is only found in Matthew. Matthew was written to Jewish believers and the Law of Moses tells them not to take the name of the Lord in vain.

So they decided not to use the sacred name "God" for fear of breaking the commandment by accident.

Matthew used such a method to reach out to those Jews for Jesus, instead of offending them straight away.

So the "kingdom of God" is exactly the same as "kingdom of heaven".

The phrase "kingdom of God" appears 68 times in 10 different New Testament books.

The phrase "kingdom of heaven" appears only 32 times and ONLY in the book of Matthew.

For example:

Matthew 11:11
"Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of "heaven" is greater than he."

Luke 7:28
"For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of "God" is greater than he."

And many other examples.

Be Wise. Don't accept everything the speaker idolizes as the absolute Truth.

Steven Wong

Moving away from the Old Covenant

From Harper Study Bible:

Introduction to Hebrews:

"The book of Hebrews does not state to whom it was written. But a reconstruction of the history of the times leads to the conclusion that the Christian church was moving away from the synagogue,."

No more synagogue practices. No more synagogue articles (prayer shawl, blow horn, scented oil, incense). No more Pharisaical habits. The Pharisees were 110% in Jewish custom practices.

Today, when we call someone a Pharisee, we tend to have a bad connotation. But in those days, the people are proud to be called a Pharisee. Because they are trying their very best to keeping the Laws of Moses. In fact, every person aspire to be a Pharisee, because they are seen to be very "holy" people. Almost perfect. BUT perfect in the eyes of man, but are totally unrighteous in the eyes of God.

God says perfection does not come from human effort, but from the free gift of perfection found only in the person of Jesus. And when Jesus became our sanctification, we are made perfect in the eyes of God. It does not come with feelings or any act on our part, but entirely the work of God.

"for by one offering (Jesus as our offering), God has perfected for ALL time those who are made holy."

Introduction to Hebrews

From Harper Study Bible:

Introduction to the book of Hebrews:

"Since persecution was seen as imminent but had not yet come, and since the author wrote as though the temple was still standing, it appears that the letter can probably be dated before the sack of Jerusalem (A.D. 70). That would make it the mid to late 60s."

The persecution was coming, and it happened in A.D. 70, when Jerusalem was destroyed, the temple was destroyed, and all physical links of the Jews to the old Jewish system, the old covenant was physically destroyed.

It surprises me that churches today are calling for a going back to the old Jewish system, the old covenant, the old Feasts, the old practices of the temple !! This is against what the author of Hebrews is telling the Jews.

Jesus Christ came and ushered in the new covenant. The physical destruction of the temple, completely destroyed every trace of the practices of the old covenant.

Do not go back to the old system of the old covenant. Jesus Christ has ushered in a better covenant, the new covenant. It is an insult to God's plan and to the risen Savior, when we go back. It is saying the sacrifice of Jesus is not enough. We need to do more. We need to add more. We need to show more (more self ego).

Repent. Change your mindset. Renew your thinking, and look to Jesus who is the author of our faith in Him.