As we continue to walk through the sermon on the mount, found in Matthew 5 – 7, we can see that the Lord is laying out the constitution of the kingdom of heaven, and giving criteria for those who are eligible to enter the kingdom and commands that exceed Mosaic Law that will be enacted when the kingdom is established at the 2nd Advent. We must always remember that the kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom (Matthew 6:33, John 3:3-8, Luke 17:20-21, Romans 14:17, 1 Corinthians 15:50), and that the kingdom of heaven, the physical kingdom is part of that kingdom. We are not part of the the physical kingdom, but are in the kingdom of God through the body of Christ, which is only found in this dispensation of the grace of God which was kept secret until it was revealed to Paul. In v.17-18, Jesus clearly states that he has come to fulfill the law, and that heaven and earth will pass away before the law is fulfilled. Isaiah 65:17, 2 Peter 3:10-13, and Revelation 21:1-2 all speak of the new heavens and new earth that awaits at the end of the millennial kingdom. In v.19-20, Jesus begins a series of verbal commands that take the Mosaic law a step further, and states that those who are looking to enter the kingdom that will be ruled by Messiah King Jesus must hold themselves to a higher standard of righteousness than that of the religious leaders of the first century – the scribes and Pharisees. This is the minimum standard to enter the physical kingdom. Of course, our righteousness is based upon the finished work of Christ, the gospel of our salvation. We could never expect to have greater personal righteousness than that. In v.21-26, Jesus goes beyond the Law concerning murder and anger, and reveals that it is an issue of the heart more than the outward manifestation of murder and fraudulent practices that will bring swift judgment upon anyone in violation in the kingdom. As we continue on in this revelation of the laws of the kingdom of heaven, we will see how it will be ruled with a rod of iron! Revelation 2:27: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. Revelation 12:5: And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Revelation 19:15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Luke 7:29-30 gives us greater understanding concerning the righteousness of the lawyers and Pharisees when they heard the proclamation of the Lord concerning John the Baptist, seeing all manner of people believing and being baptized with the baptism of John, the baptism of repentance, which is the kingdom gospel. What did they do? The rejected the counsel of God that they should repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins. Luke 7:29-30: And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
