“The kingdom of God has come” – Jesus begins his sermon with this sentence. The kingdom of God is the central theme of his parables. Here you will find 19 Bible verses about the kingdom of God.
The kingdom is near
Jesus’ message about the kingdom of God.
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And he said: The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come. Repent and believe in the gospel!
Mark 1:15Repentance
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But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33RighteousnessThe Lord’s Prayer
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But when the Pharisees asked him, “When will the kingdom of God come?” he answered them and said: The kingdom of God does not come with outward signs; nor will anyone say, “Behold, here!” or “Behold, there!” For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Luke 17:20-21
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Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10HeavenThe Lord’s Prayer
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For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17Joy
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Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luke 12:32FearGod as Father
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Jesus answered: My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from there.
John 18:36Palm Sunday
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Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3The BeatitudesHappiness
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But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them: Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for such is the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you: Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.
Mark 10:14-15
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Who has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and has transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son.
Colossians 1:13DelivererConversion
Parables of the kingdom
How Jesus describes the kingdom of God.
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He told them another parable and said: The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and although it is the least of all seeds, when it has grown, it is the largest of tares and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.
Matthew 13:31-32Trees
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He told them another parable: The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until it was thoroughly leavened.
Matthew 13:33
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Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid, and in his joy went and sold all that he had and bought the field.
Matthew 13:44Precious things
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Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls. And when he found one, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46Precious things
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And he said: The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground and sleeps, and whether at night or by day, the seed sprouts and grows, and he does not know how.
Mark 4:26-27
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Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that is cast into the sea and catches every kind of fish.
Matthew 13:47
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And they will come from the east and west, from the north and south, and sit down to supper in the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:29
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For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power.
1 Corinthians 4:20
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And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying: The kingdoms of the world have become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign from age to age.
Revelation 11:15
Bible texts: Luther Bible 1912 (public domain), carefully adapted to modern spelling.
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What Is the Kingdom of God?
The kingdom of God (usually “the kingdom of heaven” in Matthew) is not a place, but God’s reign – where his will is done. Jesus proclaims it as both present and future: It is “within you” (Luke 17:21), and yet Christians still pray “Your kingdom come” to this day (Matthew 6:10). Paul describes what it looks like: “For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
Parables of the Kingdom of God
Jesus almost never describes the kingdom of God directly, but in images from everyday life: It is like a grain of mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, from which a large tree grows (Matthew 13:31-32). Like leaven that permeates the whole batch of dough (Matthew 13:33). Like treasure hidden in a field or a precious pearl for which one gives up everything (Matthew 13:44-46). These images show: The kingdom of God begins small and inconspicuous, but it changes everything. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Learn more about The Beatitudes, Bible verses about true treasures, and The Lord’s Prayer in the Bible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “But seek first the kingdom of God” mean?
In Matthew 6:33, Jesus calls us to put God’s reign and righteousness first – then God will provide for everything else.
What is the difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven?
They are the same. Matthew usually writes “the kingdom of heaven” out of Jewish reverence to avoid using the name of God directly; Mark and Luke say “the kingdom of God.”
