I often express the opinion that we must be living in an upside-down world, because when I read the teachings of Jesus about what the Kingdom of God is like, He seems to have a diametrically opposite view from what we think of as common sense!
But I think as startling as it is for us, his words must have been mind-blowing to those who first heard them! Jesus’ descriptions of the Kingdom of Heaven totally flipped the script on what people in his time expected and hoped and believed.
Back then, most Jews pictured a powerful, earthly kingdom—think military might, a restored Israel, and a Messiah kicking out the Romans. Their hopes were shaped by centuries of oppression and Old Testament promises of a king like David.
But Jesus painted a radically different picture: a spiritual kingdom rooted in humility, mercy, and inner transformation, not swords or thrones. This clashed with prevailing thought because it ignored political hype and focused on the heart. Let me illustrate with examples of Jesus’ teachings. All the references are from the New Living Translation (NLT).
Let’s start with Matthew 5:3: “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.”
Woah! The “poor in spirit” aren’t the elite or the warriors—they are just regular, broken people who know they’re not enough on their own. This was wild to a culture obsessed with status and strength. People wanted and expected the Kingdom to favor the powerful—priests, Pharisees, or rebels like the Zealots. Instead, Jesus said it’s for the humble who lean on God, not the self-reliant. Now, that’s a total reversal of who’s “in.”
Then there’s Matthew 13:31-32: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed… Though it is the smallest of all seeds, it grows to become the largest of garden plants.”
A mustard seed? Give me a break! Tiny, unimpressive. Jews wanted a Kingdom that hit like a tidal wave—immediate, obvious, crushing Rome. But Jesus says it starts small, grows quietly, and spreads naturally. No fanfare, no armies—just steady, stealthy, relentless influence. This didn’t match the blockbuster victory they craved; it was too subtle, too slow for a people itching for revolution.
Another shocker is Luke 17:20-21: “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs… For the Kingdom of God is already among you.”
The intelligensia — think Scribes and Pharisees — wanted a cosmic fireworks show—when’s the big takeover? Jesus says it’s not about flashy signs or a date on the calendar; it’s here, now, inside people’s lives. This had to blow their minds and upset their conventional thinking because everyone was looking outward for a king on a horse, not inward for a change of heart. In Jesus’ description the Kingdom isn’t a place to conquer but a reality to live.
So why such a great disconnect?
Well, there was the timing for a start. People thought and hoped that “now” meant instant liberation, but Jesus has a much longer view, mixing both present and future—here and now in spirit, and more fully later (like Matthew 25:31-34, where the Son of Man judges at the culmination of time).
Secondly, power. They wanted muscle; but Jesus prescribed meekness. In Matthew 20:25-26 he says, “The rulers in this world lord it over their people… But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader must be your servant.” Servanthood over domination? That’s not how kings are supposed to roll—yet it’s Jesus’ Kingdom vibe!
Thirdly, the audience and participants. The religious elite thought they’d run the show, but Jesus welcomed outcasts—tax collectors, sinners, the poor—over the “righteous” (Luke 15:1-2). It was/is hard to get our minds around the equality of each individual in the sight of God when we are convinced that “we” are somehow better than “them”.
Jesus totally flipped prevailing thought because his kingdom wasn’t about flexing earthly control. Rome ruled with iron; Jewish leaders clung to law and tradition. But Jesus ignored both, aiming for souls, not systems. His Kingdom doesn’t need land or legions—it thrives in faith, love, and upside-down values.
The people of his time (and ours) missed it because they wanted a fix for their world, not a remake of their hearts.
Jesus wasn’t anti-Old Testament promises—he is, after all, the fulfillment of all of them as in Isaiah 61—but he does so in a way that is so unexpected, it feels alien. His parables and teachings dared the people of his time as well as us today to ditch pride and power for something so much deeper, quieter, and eternal.
That’s why his teaching hits like a curveball: we/they want a crown; he gives us/them a cross!
What’s your expectation of the Kingdom of Heaven? Might be time for re-think?
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study