Jesus' primary purpose was to announce and usher in the good news of the Kingdom of God.

When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan,Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darknesshave seen a great light;on those living in the land of the shadow of deatha light has dawned.”
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Matthew 5:12-17; 23

The Kingdom of God was near because Jesus was near.

The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:7-9

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7

"He brings war to an end; he orders peace; by manifesting himself, he surpasses the hopes of all who were looking for good news"

The Kingdom Jesus was bringing ends up being very different than everyone expected.

The Kingdom of God is now and not yet.

He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
Matthew 13:31-32

The Kingdom of God encompasses ALL of life.

Kingdom values are sometimes very different than our world's values.

The Kingdom of God is worth seeking and selling everything for.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45-46

The Sermon on the Mount is part of how Jesus is filling out what it means to live in the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Bottom Line

Jesus is inviting you to allow God's Kingdom to refocus and reorganize every part of your life.

Action Steps

• REFLECT - What's one area of your life in which you want to see more Kingdom breakthrough?
• PRACTICE
  • 1-3x / day jot down some observations about that area of your life
  • What seems aligned with God's Kingdom?
  • What doesn't seem aligned with God's Kingdom?
  • Where might God be already at work, inviting you to participate?
• PRAY for Kingdom breakthrough in that area of your life