Is the Kingdom of GOD different from the Kingdom of Heaven?
The answer is undoubtedly NO!
The Kingdom of Heaven is the very same thing as The Kingdom of GOD.
It just that, since Matthew is writing his Gospel to a Jewish audience, he uses the common Jewish circumlocution of substituting the word 'heaven' for the word 'God'.
Thus, he is the only writer to use the phrase 'kingdom of heaven';
however, it is identical to 'kingdom of GOD'
JUST …
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(Matt 4:12) Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee;
(Matt 4:17) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
WITH
(Mark 1:14-15) Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. - COMPARE
(Matt 5:3) Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
WITH
(Luke 6:20) And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. - COMPARE
(Matt 8:11-12) And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
WITH
(Luke 13:28 ) There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. - COMPARE
(Matt 10:7-11) And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: ... 9 Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, 10 Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: ... 11 And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, …
WITH
(Luke 9:2-4) And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. - COMPARE
(Matt 11:12-13) And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.
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(Luke 16:16) The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. - COMPARE
(Matt 13:11) He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
WITH
(Mark 4:11) And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables
(Luke 8:10) And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God : but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. - COMPARE
(Matt 13:31) Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
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(Mark 4:30-31) And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth …
(Luke 13:18-19) Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? 19 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; … - COMPARE
(Matt 13:33) Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
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(Luke 13:20-21) And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. - COMPARE
(Matt 18:3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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(Mark 10:15) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
(Luke 18:17) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. - COMPARE
(Matt 19:14) But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
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(Mark 10:14) But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
(Luke 18:16) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. - COMPARE
(Matt 19:23-24) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
WITH
(Mark 10:23-24) And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
(Luke 18:24-25) And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Hopefully, by studying these comparisons, you can see that the two
phrases mean the very same thing; it just that 'kingdom of
heaven' is peculiar to Matthew's writing style.
Matthew also sometimes uses
the phrase 'kingdom of God'
[Matt 6:33, 12:28, 19:24, 21:31, 21:43],
even
interchangeably with 'kingdom of heaven'
e.g. Matthew
19:23-24
