Restoration Series: The Kingdom of God Is Also Like … | March 17, 2023

So many times we read about Jesus’ anger or frustration with the scribes and Pharisees and the teachers of the law. They just couldn’t seem to understand his teachings about the kingdom of God. They certainly weren't living it. Here we see an encouraging interaction. What is a vital element of the kingdom of God?

Mark 12:28-34 ESV

²⁸ And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹ Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ³² And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. ³³ And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴ And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

Reflect: Why is this encouraging? On a separate note, how might the kingdom of God be in conflict with the earthly kingdoms and politics of the day? What about with the rulers and the kingdoms/governments of today?

Is it possible to have allegiance to more than one kingdom?