FATHER AND KINGDOM

I am continually amazed at the Father’s great desire for us to know Him. It is equally certain, as Jesus taught, that once we know the Father, we would be confronted next with the demands and joys of the kingdom of the Father. Jesus taught on basically two subjects: the Father, and the kingdom of God. Both are the greatest subjects we can ever know. Jesus came to show us both. “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” And, “Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”

On these two statements are all major understandings. Matthew’s gospel gives seven parables about what the “kingdom of heaven is like,” and then gives various ideas and definitions about how we can perceive and understand the kingdom. Jesus always used an image or figure when talking about the Kingdom. For example, Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.” The first thing we see is that the kingdom is of great value and that a single individual may discover it. Once we have found this treasure, we recognize it to be so valuable that we will give up everything else we have in order to obtain it.

“The Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went out and sold all he had, and bought it.” Jesus