Jesus' exchange with the teacher of the law ends with Jesus affirming the man's wise response and telling him that he is not far from the Kingdom of God.
Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God is present and accessible to God's people. He proclaimed a message of hope and transformation, declaring that the Kingdom of God was not a distant future reality but a
present possibility. He invited his followers to participate in this kingdom, a realm of righteousness, peace, and joy.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlined the principles of this kingdom (Matthew 5-7). He taught his disciples to seek God's Kingdom and righteousness first, promising that all their needs would be provided for. He encouraged them to love their enemies, to forgive those who wronged them, and to pray for their persecutors. These teachings
challenged the conventional wisdom of the time, emphasising inner transformation rather than outward conformity, as most religious leaders stressed. The teacher of the law in this story would most likely have fallen into this category.
Jesus' actions also demonstrated how accessible the kingdom is. He reached out to the marginalised, the sick, and the sinners, showing God's love and compassion for all. He healed the lepers, raised the dead, and cast out demons,
revealing the kingdom's power to overcome suffering and evil.
Jesus’ followers are called to live as citizens of this kingdom. This means embracing God's love, seeking to live righteously, and sharing the good news with others. By doing so, we participate in God's ongoing work to redeem and restore creation.
After this interaction, Jesus felt that the teacher of the law (who comes from a group that Jesus had butted heads with on
many occasions) was close to understanding these profound truths about God and God's Kingdom.
We are not told whether the teacher of the law took Jesus' words to heart and responded to Jesus' invitation into God's Kingdom. However, we are told that Jesus was not questioned again. Perhaps Jesus' words had transformed his heart.
Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are not far from the Kingdom of God? In light of the two
greatest commandments that Jesus gave in this passage, what is your understanding of living faithfully as a member of God's Kingdom?
Reflections by Rev Joe Taylor
