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The Kingdom of Heaven and Righteous Character in Scripture

The Kingdom of Heaven, a central theme in the teachings of Jesus, is inextricably linked with the concept of righteousness, particularly as described in the Gospel of Matthew [1, 3]. Jesus states that "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven" [3]. This declaration highlights a profound connection between one's character and their participation in God's reign.

The term "righteousness" in biblical contexts refers to conformity to God's moral and ethical standards [12]. It is an attribute of God himself, described as "very high," "abundant," "beyond computation," and "everlasting" [2]. God's righteousness is the foundation of his throne and is exhibited in his testimonies, commandments, judgments, and acts [2, 8]. Christ, as King, also possesses a righteous character, being described as holy, just, and sinless [6, 11]. He loves righteousness and is girt with it [12].

The Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, is depicted as God's dwelling place and throne, a holy and everlasting realm [9]. It is a kingdom where a king reigns in righteousness and princes rule in justice [4, 11]. This kingdom is not of this world, yet it is where Christ sits on the throne of David and exercises supreme authority [11]. The concept of the "new heavens and new earth" in Isaiah, 2 Peter, and Revelation further illustrates this future reality, a new community fashioned by God where righteousness dwells [13, 15, 16]. In this new creation, even precious earthly materials become common building blocks, signifying a transformed reality [14].

For individuals, righteousness involves obedience to God's law [12]. The character of saints is described as just, holy, and humble, hungering after righteousness [10]. God judges his servants, condemning the wicked and justifying the righteous, giving them according to their righteousness [5, 7]. This implies a divine assessment of one's character and actions. The heavens themselves are said to declare God's righteousness, and angels acknowledge it [2, 17].

The pursuit of righteousness is therefore not merely an ethical endeavor but a prerequisite for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven [3]. The "crown of righteousness" laid up for the saints in the future state is a reward that comes through the righteousness of Christ, which grants a right to this inheritance [20]. The righteous King rules from heaven, examining everyone and seeing all that happens on earth [19]. This divine oversight underscores the importance of a righteous character in the eyes of God. The elements of a righteous character encompass thought, word, and action [18].

Sources

  1. Matthew “Therefore the Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to reconcile accounts with his servants. -- Matthew 18:23”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ps 7:9; 116:5; 119:137. Described as Very high. -- Ps 71:19. Abundant. -- Ps 48:10. Beyond computation. -- Ps 71:15. Everlasting. -- Ps 119:142. Enduring for ever. -- Ps 111:3. The habitation of his throne. -- Ps 97:2. Christ acknowledged -- Joh 17:25. Christ committed his cause to -- 1Pe 2:23. Angels acknowledge -- Re 16:5. Exhibited in His testimonies. -- Ps 119:138,144. His commandments. -- De 4:8; Ps 119:172. His judgments. -- Ps 19:9; 119:7,62. His word. -- Ps 119:123. His ways. -- Ps 145:17. His acts. -- J”
  3. Matthew “For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. -- Matthew 5:20”
  4. Isaiah “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in justice. -- Isaiah 32:1”
  5. 1 Kings “then hear in heaven, and do, and judge your servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way on his own head, and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness. -- 1 Kings 8:32”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, Character Of — Altogether lovely -- Song 5:16. Holy -- Lu 1:35; Ac 4:27; Re 3:7. Righteous -- Isa 53:11; Heb 1:9. Good -- Mt 19:16. Faithful -- Isa 11:5; 1Th 5:24. True -- Joh 1:14; 7:18; 1Jo 5:20. Just -- Zec 9:9; Joh 5:30; Ac 22:14. Guileless -- Isa 53:9; 1Pe 2:22. Sinless -- Joh 8:46; 2Co 5:21. Spotless -- 1Pe 1:19. Innocent -- Mt 27:4. Harmless -- Heb 7:26. Resisting temptation -- Mt 4:1-10. Obedient to God the Father -- Ps 40:8; Joh 4:34; 15:10. Zealous -- Lu 2:49; Joh 2:17; 8:29. Meek -- Isa 53:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 11:29. Lowly in heart -- Mt 11:29. Merciful ”
  7. I Kings “I Kings 8:32 (LITV) — then You shall hear in Heaven, and shall act, and shall judge Your servants, to declare the wicked to be wicked, to put his way on his head, and to declare the righteous to be righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.”
  8. Psalms “Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. -- Psalms 97:2”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Heaven — Created by God -- Ge 1:1; Re 10:6. Everlasting -- Ps 89:29; 2Co 5:1. Immeasurable -- Jer 31:37. High -- Ps 103:11; Isa 57:15. Holy -- De 26:15; Ps 20:6; Isa 57:15. God's dwelling-place -- 1Ki 8:30; Mt 6:9. God's throne -- Isa 66:1; Ac 7:49. God Is the Lord of. -- Da 5:23; Mt 11:25. Reigns in. -- Ps 11:4; 135:6; Da 4:35. Fills. -- 1Ki 8:27; Jer 23:24. Answers his people from. -- 1Ch 21:26; 2Ch 7:14; Ne 9:27; Ps 20:6. Sends his judgments from. -- Ge 19:24; 1Sa 2:10; Da 4:13,14; Ro 1:18. Christ As Mediator, entered into. -- Ac 3:21; Heb 6:20; 9:12,24. Is all-po”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Character of Saints — Attentive to Christ's voice -- Joh 10:3,4. Blameless and harmless -- Php 2:15. Bold -- Pr 28:1; Ro 13:3. Contrite -- Isa 57:15; 66:2. Devout -- Ac 8:2; 22:12. Faithful -- Re 17:14. Fearing God -- Mt 3:16; Ac 10:2. Following Christ -- Joh 10:4,27. Godly -- Ps 4:3; 2Pe 2:9. Guileless -- Joh 1:47. Holy -- De 7:6; 14:2; Col 3:12. Humble -- Ps 34:2; 1Pe 5:5. Hungering after righteousness -- Mt 5:6. Just -- Ge 6:9; Hab 2:4; Lu 2:25. Led by the Spirit -- Ro 8:14. Liberal -- Isa 32:8; 2Co 9:13. Loving -- Col 1:4; 1Th 4:9. Lowly -- Pr 16:19. Meek -- Isa ”
  11. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the King — Foretold -- Nu 24:17; Ps 2:6; 45:1-17; Isa 9:7; Jer 23:5; Mic 5:2. Glorious -- Ps 24:7-10; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1. Supreme -- Ps 89:27; Re 1:5; 19:16. Sits in the throne of God -- Re 3:21. Sits on the throne of David -- Isa 9:7; Eze 37:24,25; Lu 1:32; Ac 2:30. Is King of Zion -- Ps 2:6; Isa 52:7; Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5; Joh 12:12-15. Has a righteous kingdom -- Ps 45:6; Heb 1:8,9; Isa 32:1; Jer 23:5. Has an everlasting kingdom -- Da 2:44; 7:14; Lu 1:33. Has an universal kingdom -- Ps 2:8; 72:8; Zec 14:9; Re 11:15. His kingdom not of this world -- Joh 18:36. Sai”
  12. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Righteousness — Is obedience to God's law -- De 6:25; Ro 10:5; Lu 1:6; Ps 1:2. God loves -- Ps 11:7. God looks for -- Isa 5:7. Christ Is the Son of. -- Mal 4:2. Loves. -- Ps 45:7; Heb 1:9. Was girt with. -- Isa 11:5. Put on, as breast-plate. -- Isa 59:17. Was sustained by. -- Isa 59:16. Preached. -- Ps 40:9. Fulfilled all. -- Mt 3:15. Is made to his people. -- 1Co 1:30. Is the end of the law for. -- Ro 10:4. Has brought in everlasting. -- Da 9:24. Shall judge with. -- Ps 72:2; Isa 11:4; Ac 17:31; Re 19:11. Shall reign in. -- Ps 45:6; Isa 32:1; Heb 1:8. Shall execute.”
  13. 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:13: 3:13 the new heavens and new earth: See Isa 65:17; 66:22; Rev 21.”
  14. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:21: 21:21 Things that are precious and luxurious on earth are common building materials in heaven.”
  15. Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 21 (introduction): The new heaven and the new earth, Rev 21:1. The new Jerusalem, Rev 21:2. God dwells with men; the happy state of his followers, Rev 21:3-7. The wretched state of the ungodly, Rev 21:8. An angel shows John the holy city, the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:9, Rev 21:10. Her light, wall, gates, and foundations, described, Rev 21:11-21. God and the Lamb are the temple and light of it, Rev 21:22, Rev 21:23. The nations and kings of the earth bring their glory and honor to it; the gates shall never be shut, nor shall any defilement enter into it, Rev 21:24-27.”
  16. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:1: 21:1–22:9 The final scenes of the new heaven and earth are striking pictures of a new community and home for God’s people that is fashioned and given by God. These scenes help to lift the spirits of persecuted Christians. John lays out his basic vision (21:1-8) and follows it with two expansions: (1) In 21:9-27, he presents the new Jerusalem as the site of holy perfection; (2) in 22:1-5, he describes the new Jerusalem as the ultimate Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve could have experienced had they not sinned. 21:1 The vision involves God’s creation of the new ”
  17. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 97:6: The heavens declare his righteousness,.... His justice in punishing his enemies; the lightning and the thunder in the heavens, the tokens of his wrath, and instruments of it; his wrath itself, which is revealed from heaven, Rom 1:18, or the inhabitants of heaven, as Aben Ezra; the angels of heaven; so the Targum, "the angels on high (or of heaven, as in the king's Bible) declare his righteousness"; see Rev 16:5, it is true of the ministers of the Gospel, who are Christ's angels or messengers, men of heavenly gifts and grace, whose work it is to declare the justifying ”
  18. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 37:30: The righteous described as to the elements of character, thought, word, and action.”
  19. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 11:4: 11:4 The righteous King rules from heaven, where his throne is untouched by human corruption (see 2:4). He examines everyone and sees everything that happens on earth (see 14:2-3).”
  20. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 4:8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness,.... The happiness of the future state of the saints is signified by a crown, on account of the glory and excellency of it; and in perfect agreement with the character of the saints, as kings; and who are raised to sit among princes, and to inherit the throne of glory, and have a kingdom prepared for them; and this is called a crown "of righteousness", because it comes through the righteousness of Christ; it is that which gives a right unto it, and without which it cannot be enjoyed; and because it is obtai”
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