The essence of Jesus Christ's message centers on the Kingdom of God, a theme that permeates His ministry as He preached repentance and the good news of this Kingdom. This same message was echoed by John the Baptist and the apostles, and it accompanied Paul in his teachings. Grasping God's purpose for humanity begins with comprehending the Kingdom, a concept with various applications in Scripture. One significant usage emerges in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, where Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God will be taken from the audience of chief priests and elders and given to a nation bearing its fruits. This statement refers to a dominion then in existence, serving as a rebuke to the nation for their inability to receive the word of the Kingdom. The parable reflects the experience of John, Jesus, and the apostles, who encountered interest and some willingness to repent among the people, yet found little depth due to hearts far from their King. Only those prepared by God, like the good soil in the Parable of the Sower, could hear and understand the word of the Kingdom, bearing fruit amidst a multitude unable to perceive or respond.

Physical Israel serves as a type of the Kingdom of God, illustrating both the potential and the pitfalls of being part of His divine governance. God offered Israel the opportunity to embody His Kingdom in a physical form, as seen in the preamble to the Ten Commandments, intending them to demonstrate how His rule operates. However, Israel rejected God as their King, desiring a visible, human leader to guide them in battle and represent them, thus throwing away the privilege of being part of His Kingdom. Despite this rejection, God continued to work with them, though their actions often served as a negative example for future generations. Much later, Jesus Christ confirmed this rejection, declaring that the Kingdom would be taken from physical Israel and given to a nation redeemed by Him, identifying this new nation as His chosen people, a holy nation formed from those who were not previously a people. This historical pattern underscores the ongoing plan of God to establish His Kingdom, first through a physical type in Israel, and ultimately in a spiritual and literal form through His redeemed.

Biblically, the phrase Kingdom of Heaven describes God's dominion, often referring to the nation/kingdom founded through Abraham when Jesus spoke to Judah's leaders or multitudes. God's rulership is evident in Abraham and his descendants, yet Jesus prophesied that the kingdom of God would be taken from Judah's leaders and given to a nation bearing its fruits, as seen in the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. The Parable of the Mustard Seed illustrates the Kingdom's humble beginnings with Abraham by faith, growing mightily from one man into a multitude, though it concludes with spiritual uncleanness as birds, symbolizing satan and demons, nest in its branches. In contrast, the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price depicts the Kingdom as a singular, precious gem of supreme value and purity, sought and purchased by a merchant, representing Jesus Christ, who sacrificed all to redeem a spiritual nation defined by the faith of Abraham. This physical nation, descended from Abraham, became corrupted by unbelief and demonic influence, unable to receive the truth of God's dominion. However, God's intervention hid the treasure of faith in a few, making the spiritual nation so valuable that Christ paid an incomprehensible price to purchase it, proving its great worth as an assembly where faith is active.

The concept of Israel as the Kingdom of God reveals a profound connection between the divine and the physical nation. The phrase "kingdom of heaven" carries multiple meanings, one of which applies to the physical Kingdom of Israel, established by God in heaven and governed by Him. When Jesus delivered the parables in Matthew 13 to the multitudes, including the remnant of Judah, His teachings often reflected the condition of this physical kingdom. In the Parable of the Mustard Seed, He illustrates how Israel, though intended to grow through God's increase, fell into idolatry and demonic influences, mirroring the corruption foretold by Moses. Similarly, the Parable of the Leaven depicts the covenantal relationship between God and Abraham's family as having degenerated completely, with Israel adopting pagan beliefs and practices that leavened the entire kingdom. By the time Jesus spoke, the Judaism He encountered was a corrupted blend of Scripture, Babylonian influences, Hellenism, and hardened traditions, showing a kingdom far from its divine purpose. Jesus highlighted this spiritual decay, noting that He came to His own, the descendants of Abraham, and they did not receive Him. Consequently, He declared that God would take the kingdom from its current caretakers and entrust it to a spiritual nation, defined by faith rather than physical lineage. In Luke's account of the Mustard Seed and Leaven parables, the context further emphasizes a testimony against the kingdom's condition and its leadership, revealing their warped beliefs and practices that aligned them more with their spiritual captor than with their Creator.