Chapter

2

Who is in The Kingdom of GOD or Who can enter The Kingdom?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21

Who can enter The Kingdom of Heaven?

Maybe a more important question is who does enter.  Let’s work backwards on this. Let’s work on who does enter because we’re taught that anyone CAN enter IF…….

If what?

That’s where the “who DOES enter” comes into play.

It’s the “DOES” that matters.

Read those sentences carefully, maybe re-read them, maybe even read them aloud. The meaning would come out better in an oral conversation. But let’s dive into this with Yeshua.

Who enters the Kingdom of Heaven?

Yeshua’s announcement that The Kingdom of GOD is at hand was a proclamation that came with the requirement to “repent”.  The Greek word translated repent is metanoeo .  Strong’s concordance and the NASEC (New American Standard Exhaustive Concordance) give the meaning of metanoeo as “to change one’s mind or purpose” (NASEC) and “to think differently or afterwards, as to reconsider (morally to feel compunction)”. Miriam Webster’s definition of compunction is anxiety arising from an awareness of guilt.

To Repent is to Change Our Way of Thinking

So the call to repent is a call to change our way of thinking, how we live. To reconsider what is thought of as morally right; to turn from the worldly value system to GOD’s value system. Metanoeo is a combination of two greek words, meta and noieo (G3539).

Meta being a preposition that the definition is determined by which noun follows it, the context of the combination and the situation it is used in. It is primarily translated as ‘with, after, or among”.

Noieo’s definition is “to exercise the mind (observe), that is, (figuratively) to comprehend, heed: – consider, perceive, think, understand.” 

We are to repent; to think about our way of understanding; to reconsider our understanding of the way to live; to turn to GOD’s value system.

Noieo was the word used often when Yeshua taught.  All of those scriptures that say, “Do you not understand”. Yeshua is giving us what we are to change our way of thinking or understanding to.

Yeshua’s Gospel – what He proclaimed and taught about – according to the “Gospels”, which are the account of the eyewitnesses started with: we are to reconsider our understanding for the Kingdom of God is near (available to enter).

This is the same message that John, the baptizer, preached. John came preparing the way. He preached that we are to produce fruit consistent with repentance. We are to reconsider our value system. Live by GOD’s will, the value system of the Kingdom of GOD. Our fruit is to be consistent with that. Our words and deeds will indicate the heart change. HE stated, “…the axe is already laid at the root of the trees, therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is being cut down and thrown into the fire”. Matt 3:10.

Asking for forgiveness of our sin is part of that heart change. John baptized in water for repentance, to indicate a heart change, a change in the way to live, a new reality for the one being baptized. It was a statement for all that the one being baptized had a cleansed heart and was a preparation for the coming Messiah.

The Pharisees did not seem to be surprised that John was baptizing people. They sent messengers to ask if He was the one to come. He said he was not the one to come so they sent messengers to ask him WHO HE WAS and WHY HE WAS BAPTIZING, IF HE WAS NOT the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet.

John, the baptizer, was the “opening act” for the main event. Yeshua!!

So who will we find in The Kingdom?

Yeshua gave us some requirements and some traits that will be evident:

• In the story of Nicodemus in chapter 3 of John, Yeshua twice refers to being born again. In verse 3, immediately after Nicodemus approached him with his statement/question, Yeshua states “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of GOD.” Then in verse 5 “Except a man be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of GOD.”

Growing up, I was taught that being born again simply meant being “saved’. An event. Forgiveness of sin was the target of being ‘saved’. That’s what Dallas Willard refers to as the gospel of sin management. I propose to you (put forward for your consideration) that being born again is when our spiritual eyes and spiritual ears are opened.

Unless there is a physical defect with a newborn baby, when he is born, his physical eyes and ear are open. He can hear and see (along with many other physical traits). 

It seems to make sense to me that being born again of the spirit is when our spiritual eyes and spiritual ears are open along with other spiritual evidences. Try that on and see if it fits.  Yeshua said that unless we are born again, we cannot see the Kingdom. That sounds like we our spiritual eyes must be opened.

So Who Will We Find in The Kingdom?

To start with, those in the kingdom are born again.

• When Yeshua spoke with the woman at the well in Samaria, He stated, “If you knew the gift of GOD, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”…”whoever drinks of the water that I give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”

Living water – a fountain springing up. Living water given to us from Yeshua satisfies the reality and identity questions that a person has. You will not “be thirsty” for anything else to tell you who you are and your purpose. Your teacher becomes Yeshua. That fountain of water springs up to eternal life.

In John 17, Yeshua tells us that the authority to give eternal life has been given to Him AND eternal life is that we may know the Father, the only true GOD, and Yeshua the messiah whom the Father sent. Know as in have an interactive relationship, not just know about them.

So those in the Kingdom have been given eternal life – the blessing and grace to know the Father and the Son.

Eternal life starts when you are born again.

Eternal life is not something that starts when you die a physical death. The Kingdom is available now and with it comes a new life, an eternal life with spiritual Kingdom traits. Now is the time to build your new life on the foundation of Yeshua’s teachings; the words of eternal life as Peter said.

I believe that in Matthew chapter 5, Yeshua makes the point that the Kingdom is available to people that were not necessarily thought of as Kingdom material.  Those often looked down on. I also believe He describes the transition that takes place with heart reformation as they become and develop as citizens of the Kingdom of GOD.

• The poor in spirit
• Those who mourn
• The gentle
• Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
• The merciful
• The pure in heart
• The peacemakers
• Those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness
• Those who are persecuted, had false evil things said against them

I have read different teachings on The Beatitudes and I’ve spent a fair amount of time in them. Nothing I read about their meanings seems to click for me. Then the other day as I was dwelling in them, it seemed that some understanding came. As I looked at them one more time, it fit and I believe it might fit for you. Try it on and see: I believe that The Beatitudes are the layers of the house built on the foundation of Yeshua’s words.  The foundation of our house (as Yeshua referred to in parable format) or the journey into a mature Halakhah¹ or Derech².

It seems to me that when we realize that we are lost living to self; that we need Yeshua, want to have a “with GOD” life, live His way – that we come poor in spirit.  Poor in our spirit implies realization of how much we need GOD, that we don’t have all of the answers to life; He does! We’ve been trying life our way, ruling our own little kingdom but it’s not satisfying us; it’s not filling that hole in our heart. We need to be in submission to GOD’s Spirit, His ways; living in His Kingdom, under His rule. Yeshua came saying, “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” It is available. Give up the proud self-governing, self-ruling, gotta’ have it my way kingdom. Later Yeshua tells His Disciples in chapter 16 of Matthew: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

We come to GOD poor in spirit, seeking Him, seeking forgiveness. His mercy and grace allows us to enter the Kingdom. In Luke 18, verses 9 through 14, Yeshua tells a parable of two men. “Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and praying this in regard to himself: ‘GOD, I thank you that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘GOD, be merciful to me, the sinner!’  I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

• “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Coming to Him poor in spirit and truly repentant brings mourning for our sin. He forgives but when we discover His gospel of the kingdom of GOD and have that heart change, His love brings about regret, remorse, a mourning that we have been living by the world’s standards instead of GOD’s standards. Remorse for past sins is part of repentance. Repentance is turning from a selfish sin way of life to live GOD’s way. There will be mourning that we wasted time given to us living that way.  BUT we have comfort in His forgiveness.  We still have regret that we did not find the path to discipleship in Yeshua sooner.

• Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.

As we move along our path to discipleship, we should be growing in meekness. “Meekness is strength under control or power harnessed for a higher purpose rather than passive weakness or timidity. It involves choosing gentleness, humility, and patience, acting with restrained strength to serve others and honor God.”³   Meekness resists urges to dominate and retaliate. It is a sign that we are growing in our relationship with Yeshua, The Father, and The Holy Spirit. The world’s way of being in control implies domination – one person over another – one country over another, strength is ruling by force. GOD’s way, The Kingdom of Heaven way is the opposite. The Greek translated as gentle or meek is praus, an adjective meaning meek, gentle, or humble. This is not weakness, but controlled strength. The person that it describes has a spirit of self-control. He/she relies on GOD, and accepts His will, doings, and providence without resistance. This scripture seems to speak to trusting GOD for the outcomes of our obedience. All of us should have the controlled strength that this Greek word implies. I am uncertain how or when the inheritance of the earth happens but growth in Kingdom ways while on earth does happen as we are obedient to Yeshua and trusting Him for the outcome of that obedience. Things seem to happen in the Kingdom of GOD (GOD’s value system) in reverse way or opposite way that they happen in the world’s value system such as the first being last etc. Aggressive men take over companies, corporations, etc and aggressive countries take over other countries in the world that we physically live in. Kingdom rules run in the opposite direction. Obey Yeshua and trust Him for the outcome.

• Blessed are the meek (sometimes translated as gentle), for they will inherit the earth.

Growth in our walk with GOD, studying the words of Yeshua, brings a hunger for more understanding; a hunger to be closer; more in tune with GOD. We seek to hear and recognize His voice. We seek to know The Father and the one He sent, Yeshua the Messiah. Knowing Them, having that relationship with Them is eternal life; see John 17.

The Father wants that relationship also. In John 3:16, “For GOD so loved (agape) the world that He gave His only son, so that everyone who believes (entrusts one’s spiritual well being) in Him will not perish (be utterly destroyed), but have eternal life (see Strong’s numbers G25 –aionios for the English translation “eternal” and G2222 – zoe for “life”). This is the same Greek for eternal life, as in John 17. Living in the Kingdom of GOD, being a disciple of Yeshua, seeking Him will satisfy.  We don’t stop seeking when we become His disciple and enter His Kingdom. Hunger and thirst imply a deep longing, a need of food for spiritual life; a great desire to live according to GOD’s will, obedience to Him, a relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Eternal life right now, right here.

• Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled or satisfied.

As our heart changes we become more like Yeshua

We grow in our understanding and become better disciples, we will be merciful to others just as The Father and Yeshua are merciful to us and to others. When Yeshua taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6, the prayer included “…Forgive us our debts, transgressions, or sins (in different translations), as we forgive or have forgiven our debtors (those that have sinned against us)”  He went on to say “…For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Between those two passages is “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. The LORD’s prayer deals with mercy from GOD for forgiveness of our sins, mercy from us to others that do us wrong, AND asking GOD’s grace for avoidance of sinful situations. As we grow in discipleship, we should want everyone to seek GOD’s forgiveness and in our heart we will be forgiving toward others just as GOD is.

• Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

The layers of discipleship and growth to be more like Yeshua will show up as we seek Him and His teachings. We’re not looking for “cheap grace”. It’s not about just believing that Yeshua died for our sins; just believing that He did something. It’s about believing that He is the Son of GOD; He has been given authority over all mankind. It’s believing that somehow His death and resurrection took the sin of those who trust Him to the cross with Him. It’s believing and trusting Him for the right way to live; He has the words of eternal life. It’s seeking a pure heart; a heart like Yeshua.  Discipleship includes praying for, seeking, developing a pure heart. When David was to be king, part of what Samuel said to Saul refers to David being a man after GOD’s heart. I Sam 13:14 – But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”  Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see GOD.

The Greek word translated as pure is katharos. The definition given in Strong’s Concordance is clean (literally or figuratively). It has been transliterated as clean, clear, or pure. Katharos is the word used in Matthew 23:26, where Yeshua told the Pharisee to first clean (katharizo – verb form of katharos) the inside of the dish so that the outside of it may also become clean (katharos). Other scriptures where you will find katharos include John 13 where Yeshua was washing the disciples’ feet. He told Peter, “He who has bathed (louo -washed the whole person) needs only to wash (nipto – to cleanse, especially the hands, feet, or face) his feet; otherwise he is completely clean (katharos). And you are clean (katharos) but not all.”  Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see GOD. The Greek word translated as heart is kardia (figuratively – the thoughts or feelings (mind)).

• Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see GOD.

There is worldly peace and there is the peace of Yeshua. Then there is the word “peace” that was chosen to be used in The Bible as a translation for “shalom” and “eirene”. When “peace” or any other singular word was chosen by translators for shalom or eirene, the depth of meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words did not come through. We just do not have a singular English word to accomplish that.  Let’s unpack the beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” The word for “peacemakers” is “eirēnopoios”. This is the only time it occurs as a word in The Bible. It is a combination of eirene and poieo.

Poieo means “to make” or “to do”. It implies creating, constructing, or bringing something into existence. It often refers to fulfilling, practicing, or performing actions. It suggests active engagement, sometimes translated as “practicing” or “doing” a certain way of life.⁴

Eirene occurs 92 times in the New Testament. Eirene was translated as peace 91 times and as secure once. Eirene is the Greek translation of Shalom. The two words are synonyms in different languages. Shalom is found in the Old Testament 242 times. Shalom and Eirene carry much more depth of meaning than our English word “peace” carries.

Both shalom and eirene represent blessedness, soundness, completeness, connection to GOD, wholeness, well-being, prosperity, and safety. The words carry the implication that all is well, nothing is broken, all is complete and nothing is missing or in lack. Shalom implies harmony between GOD and man, and among people. When doubled, it refers to “perfect peace” or the best possible state of peace.

If we do not do some inductive studying on our own, we are trusting our understanding of the Word to be whatever word was chosen as a translation. Not only can that leave us with a misunderstanding sometimes but the usually GOD’s Word gets into us better if we dig around in it. 

Within those 242 times that shalom is found in the Old Testament, it was translated as:

In John 14:27, Yeshua said to His disciples: “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.”

• “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.”

Yeshua then talks about the disciple being persecuted. When you are a disciple of Yeshua, following his teachings, living in the kingdom, you are at odds with the world. You are seeking the righteousness of living GOD’s way to the point that you hunger and thirst for it. You are probably going to be persecuted in some way. Persecution comes in all kinds of ways, some much more harmful than others. Persecution in Matthew 5:10-12 is a translation of the Greek word “dioko”. Interestingly, Dioko is found in the New Testament 48 times and in three of the gospels 13 times. Mark does not have dioko. According to Strong, the word means to flee, to pursue, and by implication to persecute. It is used positively or negatively to describe the pursuing of something you want or to harass and cause harm to someone. When Yeshua sent the 12 apostles out 2 x 2, part of His instructions were, “But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.” And then in John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also.”

We should not think it strange that some people will be uncomfortable around you if you are a disciple of Yeshua. Some will avoid you if possible. Many of us have no idea what real persecution is, the kind that Yeshua endured or the apostles and early disciples. There are those in some areas that now are being persecuted even to death. We should pray for those that are being persecuted in the world AND those that are persecuting them. 

Further down in the sermon that Yeshua gave in this chapter of Matthew, we find related verses:

Matthew 5:43- 48:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on evil and good, and sends rain on righteous and unrighteous.” 

“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? And if you greet only your brothers what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

If those that are being persecuted are to pray for their persecutors, surely we can pray for them and with them.

Growth as a disciple of Yeshua will more than likely produce persecution of one nature or another. Remember what He said “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they followed My word, they will follow yours also.”

• “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in this same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

We started this chapter with the requirement of new birth for entrance into the Kingdom. We cannot enter unless we are born again. Then we got sidetracked into growth in Kingdom character.

What are some other ways that are described as requirements for entering, besides the description of being born again? Yeshua stated more than once that if something does not occur, you will not enter. Similar statements are:

• Matthew 5:20 –“For I say to you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Three verses in particular deal with becoming like children:

• Matthew 19:14 – But Jesus said, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them to come to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
• Matthew 18:3 – “Truly I say to you, unless you change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
• Luke 18:17 – “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”

We pray this second chapter of the book: GOD’s Kingdom is a blessing to you. In chapter 3, we will explore what Yeshua said might prevent us from entering.