What is the Kingdom of God According to Jesus?
Letâs get one thing clear: Jesus wasnât vague when He talked about the Kingdom of God, though it can sometimes feel vague to us. When Jesus walked the earth, He didnât speak of the Kingdom as some far-off place or a utopia in the clouds. He presented it as both a present reality and a future hope.
He said things like: âThe Kingdom of God is in your midstâ (Luke 17:21). He also told stories - parables - that framed this place in practical, tangible terms. For example, what did Jesus mean by the Kingdom of God in the parable of the mustard seed? He described it as starting small, like a mustard seed planted in the ground, but growing to become something much bigger, influential, and life-altering. It was here, it was growing, and it was changing lives.
So why do we keep thinking about it like some mystical cloud land weâll one day float into?
Because, for most of us, the idea of Godâs reign isnât something we feel in our daily lives. We read the Bible, we pray, we go to Church, and still, we think about the Kingdom as something that happens after we die. But for Jesus, the Kingdom was both a present and future reality. It was growing among His followers, and itâs still growing today. The problem is we often miss it because weâre looking in the wrong places.
So, where do we look? And how do we actually seek it?
The Kingdom of God According to the Bible
Now, letâs take a step back and broaden the lens. Jesus didnât just come out of thin air with the idea of the Kingdom of God; He was revealing what had been there all along in the Hebrew Scriptures. When you look at the Old Testament, especially in books like Isaiah, the Kingdom is tied to the promises of a Messiahâa King who would reign with justice, peace, and righteousness.Â
Sounds like a dream, right? Well, thatâs because it was, but it wasnât some fantasy dream of a distant future. The people of Israel believed that Godâs Kingdom would be established through a coming King who would set things right.
This is where Jesus comes in and steals the spotlight. In the eyes of His apostles, the ones who carried on the Christian tradition, He was The King - the one fulfilling that long-awaited promise. But instead of establishing a physical kingdom like Rome or Babylon, Jesus was establishing a spiritual one - a Kingdom where Godâs will and justice reign supreme in the hearts of those who follow Him.Â
Romans 14:17 puts it this way: âFor the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.â This is where the mystery lies. The Kingdom is here but not fully realized. Itâs now, but itâs also ânot yet.â And thatâs where the faithful ones come in - where the very process of seeking comes in.
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7 Ways to Seek First the Kingdom of God
Alright, so what does âseekingâ look like? If the Kingdom of God is both now and not yet, how do we actively pursue it? How to seek first the Kingdom of God, like Matthew 6:33 instructs? And is there any guide on how to get into It?
Hereâs the thing: Seeking the Kingdom is about living intentionally in alignment with Godâs will. Itâs about making big and small decisions that reflect Kingdom values. Letâs unpack seven ways to do that and to get closer to it:
1. Shift Your Priorities
The first step is a mindset shift. Seeking the Kingdom means putting Godâs desires before your own. Not just saying, âGod, youâre in charge,â and then doing your own thingâbut really living like Godâs will is your first priority. It might sound clichĂ©, but take a look at your life. How much of it is built around your goals versus Godâs? This doesnât mean giving up your dreams; it means asking how those dreams fit within Godâs bigger picture.
2. Live for Righteousness
When Jesus says to seek His righteousness in Matthew 6:33, Heâs talking about aligning your life with Godâs characterâacting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly. Itâs about living with integrity, treating people with kindness, and standing up for justice. Itâs less about following rules for the sake of it and more about reflecting who God is in the way you live.
3. Invest in Relationships
Jesus spent a lot of time building relationships with His disciples, teaching them how to live out the Kingdom in the community. Seeking the Kingdom is not a solo mission. Surround yourself with people who also want to seek Godâs Kingdom. Encourage each other, hold each other accountable, and grow together.
4. Practice Radical Generosity
Hereâs a tough one. Jesus said, âIt is more blessed to give than to receive.â The Kingdom of God flips worldly values upside down, and that includes how we view our resources. Seeking the Kingdom means holding what we have loosely - whether itâs money, time, or talents - and being willing to give it away for the sake of others. Generosity isnât about grand gestures; itâs about cultivating a spirit of giving in everyday moments.
5. Embrace Uncertainty with Trust
Seeking the Kingdom means letting go of control. This is why Jesus warns against worry in Matthew 6. Worry is often a sign that weâre trying to hold onto things that arenât ours to control. Jesus invites us to trust Godâs provisionââall these things will be added unto you.â Itâs not blind faith; itâs trusting that God knows what we need even better than we do.
6. Engage the Word
If you want to seek the Kingdom, you need to know what it looks like. The Bible is full of examples, teachings, and stories that illustrate what Kingdom living is all about. But itâs not just about reading Scriptureâitâs about letting it shape you. Read with the intent to be transformed, not just informed. And put the Word into practice by constantly praying.
7. Tell Others About the Kingdom
The last point might be the most outward-facing: tell others. Jesus commanded His followers to spread the news of the Kingdom far and wide. But this doesnât mean standing on street corners with a megaphone. Itâs about sharing the Kingdom with your life, your actions, your love, and your words when the moment is right.
What is the meaning of Matthew 6:33?
Letâs circle back to Matthew 6:33: âBut seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.â What does this verse mean?Â
In the words of Myles Munroe, â...there must be something about the Kingdom that all of mankind has missed and misunderstood. If everything we pursue and strive for to live and survive is found in the Kingdom, then we have been misguided and perhaps have imposed on ourselves unnecessary hardship, stress, and frustration.â
Jesus had just finished talking about worryâabout peopleâs obsession with material needs like food, clothing, and security. Sound familiar? Our culture is no different today. Weâre bombarded with messages that tell us to chase after what we need to survive and maybe thrive. But Jesus turns that upside down. He says, âStop. Stop chasing the stuff. Seek God first. Then the rest will fall into place.â
This is the promise that sits at the core of this whole idea. If you seek God first, if you orient your life around His Kingdom, the things you truly need will be given to you. Itâs about trusting that Godâs got your back, even when it feels risky.
What Seeking the Kingdom of God Means Today
So, what does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God in your life right now? It means taking a step back from the hustle and chaos of modern life and asking yourself: âAm I living for something bigger than myself? Do my daily decisions reflect Godâs will and values? Am I trusting God to provide, or am I trying to control things out of fear?âÂ
Itâs a bold, countercultural way to live. Itâs not always easy, but itâs always worth it. Seeking the Kingdom of God is more than a call to action; itâs an invitation to a life of purpose, peace, and divine partnership. And the best part? Itâs not about doing more. Itâs about aligning yourself with what God is already doing in the worldâand in you. Now, thatâs a pursuit worth chasing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
We replied to the most popular questions regarding the Kingdom of God:
What is the Kingdom of God according to Matthew?
Matthewâs idea of the Kingdom of God isnât about waiting for some distant paradise. Itâs here and now. But itâs also something thatâs still coming. Confusing? Thatâs the tension Matthew plays withâa Kingdom thatâs both present and future.
In Matthew 4:17, Jesus starts His ministry by saying, âRepent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.â This isnât some vague, faraway dream. Jesus is telling people that Godâs reign is breaking into their world right then and there. But hereâs the kicker - itâs not about worldly power or thrones. Itâs about living out Godâs justice, mercy, and love, starting with how we treat others. Think of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. The meek, the poor in spirit - theyâre already living in the Kingdom.
The catch? Itâs not fully realized yet. Matthew 25 gives us parables about being ready for the day the Kingdom comes in full force when all wrongs are righted. The Kingdom of God, according to Matthew, is less about âwhereâ and more about how we live in alignment with Godâs willâtoday and always.
How do we put God first when seeking His Kingdom?
This might seem like a challenge, but itâs really about reordering what already exists in your life.
Start by looking at your daily decisions. Does your time reflect Godâs priorities? Matthew 6:33 says, âSeek first His kingdom and His righteousness.â That means checking your habits, your calendar, and even your thought life. Are they centered around what God cares about? Loving your neighbor, acting justly, walking humbly (Micah 6:8)?
Then, ask yourself: what are you holding onto thatâs taking Godâs place? Comfort? Success? Security? Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 19:29 that the Kingdom sometimes requires sacrifice. Putting God first means letting go of the need to control outcomes and trusting Him to provide.
Itâs less about squeezing God into your busy schedule and more about letting Him reshape it from the inside out. When your priorities align with His, everything else starts falling into placeâeven the chaos.