Not Later Now!

But woe to you, scribes, and Pharisees…Matthew 23:13

Jesus issued a stern warning to the legalists of His day against hypocrisy. For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you all those who are entering to go in, Matthew 23:13. This Jesus said to the religious leaders long after He instructed the common citizen of Israel.For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20. 

This is strange, because Jesus told Nicodemus that a person had to be born again to enter the kingdom of God. John 3:3. Strange because one does not just walk into the kingdom of heaven. Nor is one born into the kingdom. One has to be born again, born of water and the Spirit, John 3:5. It is a time Joseph of Arimathea was waiting for, Luke 23:51. It is a place which has keys, which Jesus gives: And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven, Matthew 16:19.

Apparently, the gospel is about getting into the kingdom of heaven. A kingdom both John and Jesus said required repentance, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It is a kingdom that requires righteousness. It is a kingdom that requires a new birth. It is a kingdom that is real. It is a kingdom so real, certain people want to hinder others from entering. For more information about Jesus’ teachings on the kingdom of heaven refer to His many parables regarding the kingdom. There are over 40 verses about the kingdom of God/heaven.

For further study you can now take another look at the Lord’s prayer, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Now compare this statement to what you know about the will of God as taught by Jesus. Such as what appears in John 6, Verse 39 & 40: This is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Now you know.