The Kingdom of God has two aspects. One aspect is now in the gospel age and another is in the future eternal state. Luke 17:20-21 says, "Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, 'Here it is, ' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you.'" Whenever someone receives the gospel and believes on Christ, the kingdom of God comes. Matthew Henry in his commentary on Luke refers to these two aspects of the kingdom: "Blessed are they that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God - (1) In the kingdom of grace, in the kingdom of the Messiah, which was expected now shortly to be set up. Christ promised his disciples that they should eat and drink with him in his kingdom. They that partake of the Lord's supper eat bread in the kingdom of God. (2) In the kingdom of glory, at the resurrection. The happiness of heaven is an everlasting feast; blessed are they that shall sit down at that table, whence they shall rise no more." (p. 733) In a sense Jesus was referring to the whole gospel age when he said to his disciples in Luke 22:29-30 - "And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." It would be these apostles who would establish the gospel church and in a sense would rule over it through their teachings throughout the age. Now we come to this parable where Jesus talks about inviting people to come into His Kingdom. There is a present fulfillment and also the ultimate future eternal fulfillment. The application however is primarily to the gospel age in which we now live.
January 24, 2015
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