The Kingdom of Heaven is Near

---REPOST FROM XANGA MAY 2010---

In Matthew, Jesus commands us to preach 'the kingdom of heaven is near.'
Matthew 10:7-8 - As you go, preach this message: 'the kingdom of heaven is near.' heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.'

Jesus quotes himself in Luke 10 and tells them to enter the house and eat all that is before you. do not move from house to house. v9 - 'heal the sick who are there and tell them, the kingdom of God is near you'. he goes on to teach that when a town is not welcoming, say 'even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: the kingdom of God is near you'.

I used to always think of this in terms of time - the kingdom of heaven is coming soon. however, I believe we are to take this geographically, understanding that the kingdom of heaven is being brought on the shoulders of these 72 in Luke, as it was brought on the shoulders of Christ and the apostles. They were, in essence, saying: 'we are representing the kingdom of heaven. here we are. receive or do not receive, but know that the kingdom of heaven has come near to you.'

plus! the point of the 72 going out two-by-two before Jesus went to those towns was to work the fields before the Lord of the Harvest came.