Day 285 cont.

The Kingdom of Heaven - 


I could not get that phrase out of my mind...and the original post seemed to be getting longer and longer!


Kingdom:  G932 - From G935; properly royalty, that is, (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively).  
     G935 - Probably from G939 (through the notion of a foundation of power); a sovereign (abstractly, relatively or figuratively).
          G939 - From βαίνω bainō (to walk); a pace (“base”), that is, (by implication) the foot.


Heaven: G3772 - Perhaps from the same as G3735 (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension heaven (as the abode of God); by implication happiness, power, eternity; specifically the Gospel (Christianity).
     G3735 - Probably a from an obsolete word ὄρω orō (to rise or “rear”; perhaps akin to G142; compare G3733); a mountain (as lifting itself above the plain).


E-sword search on phrase:  Amazingly the phrase 'kingdom of heaven' is only found in Matthew and is used 32 times.


The kingdom of heaven is like:

• a grain of mustard seed;
• leaven;
• treasure hid;
• merchant man;
• a net;
• a householder bringing out treasure;
• a householder hiring helpers; and
• a king making a marriage for his son.

There are 8 usages of the phrase if you count the householder as two separate items - which would be new beginnings.  Seven if you combine the 2 householders - completeness.


I have only just a small glimmer of the depth of what is contained in that list...
*A grain of mustard seed - which grows and produces a tree that provides greatly. Jesus is the root of Jesse - as Christians we are grafted into the root...HE is the root.


Rom 15:12  And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.


*Leaven worked in and producing a result - Jesus working on the inside of us and producing fruit that is outwardly manifested.
*Treasure hid - do we rejoice at the treasure, willing to give all to obtain?
*Merchant man - are we that wise merchant man?
*Net - Jesus said He wanted to make us fishers of men.  Are we?
*Householder - makes me think of God and how HE brought out the treasure of Jesus and HIS sacrificial death.  How HE makes us disciples by the shed blood of the Lamb, helpers.  Some arrive early, some mid-way, some 'late,' but all are rewarded as HE deems appropriate.
*Marriage for the Son - He is calling, equipping and preparing us for the marriage supper of the Lamb.  Are we willing students, servants, and stewards?