When Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you. What did he mean?

1. 70

   vveaseyposted 9 years ago

   When Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you. What did he mean?

   replyreport
2. 0

   Sri Tposted 9 years ago

   He meant that God and all power is within the being. The problem is, everybody receives their identity from the world. The world then limits their perception of who they are and what they can do. The infinite power is covered with limiting thoughts and feelings. If a person returns to the idea of the kingdom of heaven, they become all powerful like Jesus and they can do anything if they believe it can be done.

   replyreport
3. 0

   Richie Alburoposted 9 years ago

   What Jesus mean is the kingdom of heaven,the house of God,the Church is within us.It is inside our heart.That is why Jesus must live within our hearts.

   replyreport
4. 80

   amer786posted 9 years ago

   It probably means that devils and demons is the reality of our own sinful nature. We have to pursue to cast these out by following  scripture and heavenly guides. And then we can attain a state of purity and bliss full of peace, love, and justice towards the Creator and the Creation. This state is what may be referred to as "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you".

   replyreport
5. 67

   glynch1posted 9 years ago

   Jesus spoke these words to the Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21, and we should realize from examining their character that God's kingdom was certainly not within them. Therefore, it is better to translate the text as "the kingdom of God is in your midst" rather than "the kingdom of God is within you." One writer said that all the elements of the kingdom were present--namely, King Jesus was on the Earth among the people of Israel-- and needed only to be recognized. The people were in the middle of the kingdom; the kingdom was not in their souls.

   replyreport
   1. 71

      lone77starposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      What a difference an interpretation makes. Some have not yet grasped God's unlimited, unconditional love.

      replyreport
   2. 67

      glynch1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I am not sure of your point in response to my comment. Yes, God is a God of unconditional love, but He is also a God of justice and wrath. He will by no means clear the guilty who do not repent and turn to Christ for salvation.

      replyreport
6. 55

   celafoeposted 9 years ago

   Jesus was talking about the Kingdom of God which He brought to us by fulfilling ALL of the law and dying and arising from, thus defeating death and fulfilling (THEREBY DOING AWAY WITH) the law and setting us free.
   He was not saying the Kingdom was in the pharisees, they were not part of the kingdom, they were scoundrels and a part of the law which was to be done away with at his resurrection when the new covenant, the covenant of Abraham was finally instituted.    HE said, that you cannot see it or go to find it because it is WITHin you , once you enter it , which can only be done by being born again, repenting and following Jesus.    It was not yet available because He had not yet paid the price.   So He definitely was not saying it was in the pharisees.    He was telling where it would be found by those searching for it.
   Of course once He died and the temple veil was rent, God came out of the box (most Holy Place  in the temple) He lived in during the realm of the Law, where men had to go to meet Him and moved into His people, where He lives now.    No longer is God in a building made with hands but now He lives within His people and is wherever they are.     No clergy, no building just God and His people, that is the Kingdom of Heaven. 
   Kingdom of God is the same as Kingdom of heaven.

   replyreport
   1. 67

      glynch1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      God's glory progressively left Solomon's temple during Ezekiel's time (cf. 9:3;10:4,18; 11:23). He was not dwelling in Herod's temple during Jesus' time. In addition, God did not "come out the box" if by the "box" you mean the ark of the covenant.

      replyreport
   2. 55

      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      glynch- are you saying there is no significance to the veil of the most Holy Place being rent?  God dwelt in the MHP until the veil was rent as I said above. If He was not  there then why was the veil removed?  Where did they go to meet Him?

      replyreport
   3. 67

      glynch1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Nowhere in the OT does it say that God returned to Solomon's temple. The Babylonians destroyed this structure. God did not come and dwell in the Second Temple after the Jews returned from the Captivity. He will dwell in a millennial temple (Ezek. 43)

      replyreport
7. 45

   Ericdierkerposted 9 years ago

   That by our creation the power and wonderment of Love had already been placed within us. That it was within our decision (yes free will) to chose that love and to live in that love now and forever. In essence he was suggesting to the pharisees that they could right now join him and walk in that which if not heaven is in fact the road to heaven. Just one may in fact have followed him at that time, perhaps more we do not know. I would have.

   replyreport
   1. 55

      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      that door had not yet been opened for anyone, this was under the OT not the new and to enter requires repentance  and being born again and then following Christ.   available only AFTER his resurrection.  NO other way to enter

      replyreport
   2. 45

      Ericdierkerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      celafoe, I will make sure to make God know that you put these rules on Him. I am sure He will follow them. "To enter" requires only that God have you enter. He is the boss and not you.

      replyreport
   3. 55

      celafoeposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      eric-   thanksI am sure  He will appreciate your concern.    but I only recite HIS rules, I do not make them so I know He will follow them no matter what men think or do.  HIS people are to know and follow HIS rules and example.

      replyreport
8. 71

   lone77starposted 9 years ago

   My own current understanding is that the kingdom is not something out there, physically.
   
   God is not physical. This means that He is not made of space-time or energy-mass. He has no form. So too, the kingdom is spiritual, not physical.
   
   And, because God created us in His image and likeness, we too are also spiritual, non-physical sources of creation. The True self is in heaven already, but the false self -- what Christ described as the "desire to be first," is not in heaven and can never be. Ego (desire to be first) is physical and vulnerable.
   
   So long as someone clings to Ego, they are holding onto excess baggage that will never fit through the non-physical gate to heaven, where we (the true selves) already are.
   
   Ego is blindness to this fact. Humility (the desire to be last; loving your neighbor as yourself) is the antidote to that blindness.

   replyreport
   1. 67

      glynch1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      True believers are  "in Christ." So, positionally speaking, they are already in "heaven."  However, only they (not every human being regardless of their relationship to Christ) are there.

      replyreport
9. 52

   Norine Williamsposted 9 years ago

   I know that most are going to say "What is wrong with her?" but it is "ALL" Scripture!  Religion has taught us that "No one is perfect" based on Scriptures in Ecc 7:20, Rms 3:10 & Rms 3:23 which basically say "For all "have" sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  What is your definition of "have?"  To me, it means "once or "used to!"  But thank God for His Grace & Mercy, He forgives, for even our thoughts are sinful! 
   
   There is also Scripture that says "Be ye, therefore, perfect, as your Father, who is in heaven, is perfect."  Do you think your "earthly father" would ask you to do something "physically" that you could not do and punish you for it when undone?  How much greater is our Spiritual Father?  It is our position to "strive" to be perfect which can be done, if filled with the Holy Spirit!  This is the Kingdom of Heaven in you, being filled with the Holy Spirit, "striving" to be perfect or Christ-like! 
   
   Now, in response to your question.  Ephesians 2:5-10 "..."by Grace ye are saved (v6) And hath raised us up together "in heavenly places" in Christ Jesus (in this world) (v8) For by Grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the GIFT of God--..." That is where we are today IF "in Christ Jesus!"  The kingdom of heaven is within you, in this world!   I John 4: 17 says "...because as he is, SO ARE WE, "in this world."
   
   Therefore, if we are filled with the Holy Spirit, "striving" to be Christ-like, allowing Him to "guide us" (John 16:13), the kingdom of heaven is within you," "in this world!"

   replyreport
10. 60

    spiritualpoetposted 3 years ago

    Jesus " When thy eye be single thy body will be full of light."
    When one meditates he or she has the experience of this divine light and its an inner journey.
    
    God is both within and without.

    replyreport