What is the Kingdom of God According to Jesus?
Let’s get one thing clear: Jesus wasn’t vague when He talked about the Kingdom of God, though it can sometimes feel vague to us. When Jesus walked the earth, He didn’t 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: “The Kingdom of God is in your midst” (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 we’ll one day float into?
Because, for most of us, the idea of God’s reign isn’t 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 it’s still growing today. The problem is we often miss it because we’re 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, let’s take a step back and broaden the lens. Jesus didn’t 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 Messiah—a King who would reign with justice, peace, and righteousness.
Sounds like a dream, right? Well, that’s because it was, but it wasn’t some fantasy dream of a distant future. The people of Israel believed that God’s 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 God’s will and justice reign supreme in the hearts of those who follow Him.
Romans 14:17 puts it this way: “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” This is where the mystery lies. The Kingdom is here but not fully realized. It’s now, but it’s also “not yet.” And that’s where the faithful ones come in - where the very process of seeking comes in.
7 Ways to Seek First the Kingdom of God
Alright, so what does “seeking” 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?
Here’s the thing: Seeking the Kingdom is about living intentionally in alignment with God’s will. It’s about making big and small decisions that reflect Kingdom values. Let’s 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 God’s desires before your own. Not just saying, “God, you’re in charge,” and then doing your own thing—but really living like God’s will is your first priority. It might sound cliché, but take a look at your life. How much of it is built around your goals versus God’s? This doesn’t mean giving up your dreams; it means asking how those dreams fit within God’s bigger picture.
2. Live for Righteousness
When Jesus says to seek His righteousness in Matthew 6:33, He’s talking about aligning your life with God’s character—acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly. It’s about living with integrity, treating people with kindness, and standing up for justice. It’s 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 God’s Kingdom. Encourage each other, hold each other accountable, and grow together.
4. Practice Radical Generosity
Here’s a tough one. Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 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 it’s money, time, or talents - and being willing to give it away for the sake of others. Generosity isn’t about grand gestures; it’s 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 we’re trying to hold onto things that aren’t ours to control. Jesus invites us to trust God’s provision—“all these things will be added unto you.” It’s not blind faith; it’s 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 it’s not just about reading Scripture—it’s 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 doesn’t mean standing on street corners with a megaphone. It’s 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?
Let’s circle back to Matthew 6:33: “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What does this verse mean?
In the words of Myles Munroe, “...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.”
Jesus had just finished talking about worry—about people’s obsession with material needs like food, clothing, and security. Sound familiar? Our culture is no different today. We’re 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, “Stop. Stop chasing the stuff. Seek God first. Then the rest will fall into place.”
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. It’s about trusting that God’s 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: “Am I living for something bigger than myself? Do my daily decisions reflect God’s will and values? Am I trusting God to provide, or am I trying to control things out of fear?”
It’s a bold, countercultural way to live. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it. Seeking the Kingdom of God is more than a call to action; it’s an invitation to a life of purpose, peace, and divine partnership. And the best part? It’s not about doing more. It’s about aligning yourself with what God is already doing in the world—and in you. Now, that’s a pursuit worth chasing.
Frequently Asked Questions
We replied to the most popular questions regarding the Kingdom of God:
What is the Kingdom of God according to Matthew?
Matthew’s idea of the Kingdom of God isn’t about waiting for some distant paradise. It’s here and now. But it’s also something that’s still coming. Confusing? That’s the tension Matthew plays with—a Kingdom that’s both present and future.
In Matthew 4:17, Jesus starts His ministry by saying, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven has come near.” This isn’t some vague, faraway dream. Jesus is telling people that God’s reign is breaking into their world right then and there. But here’s the kicker - it’s not about worldly power or thrones. It’s about living out God’s justice, mercy, and love, starting with how we treat others. Think of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5. The meek, the poor in spirit - they’re already living in the Kingdom.
The catch? It’s 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 “where” and more about how we live in alignment with God’s will—today and always.
How do we put God first when seeking His Kingdom?
This might seem like a challenge, but it’s really about reordering what already exists in your life.
Start by looking at your daily decisions. Does your time reflect God’s priorities? Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.” 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 that’s taking God’s 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.
It’s 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 place—even the chaos.
