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While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase 鈥渒ingdom of God鈥� occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while 鈥渒ingdom of heaven鈥� occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. Based on Matthew鈥檚 exclusive use of the phrase and the Jewish nature of his Gospel, some interpreters have concluded that Matthew was writing concerning the millennial kingdom while the other New Testament authors were referring to the universal kingdom. However, a closer study of the use of the phrase reveals that this interpretation is in error.

For example, speaking to the rich young ruler, Christ uses 鈥渒ingdom of heaven鈥� and 鈥渒ingdom of God鈥� interchangeably. 鈥淭hen Jesus said to his disciples, 鈥業 tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven鈥欌�� (Matthew 19:23). In the very next verse, Christ proclaims, 鈥淎gain I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God鈥� (verse 24). Jesus makes no distinction between the two terms but seems to consider them synonymous.

Mark and Luke used 鈥渒ingdom of God鈥� where Matthew used 鈥渒ingdom of heaven鈥� frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable. Compare Matthew 11:11-12 with Luke 7:28; Matthew 13:11with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26; Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18; Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20; Matthew 18:3 with Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16; and Matthew 22:2 with Luke 13:29. In each instance, Matthew used the phrase 鈥渒ingdom of heaven鈥� while Mark and/or Luke used 鈥渒ingdom of God.鈥� Clearly, the two phrases refer to the same thing.