Reino dos céus: o que é e quem faz parte dele

O que significa o Reino dos céus

O Reino dos céus é o governo soberano de Deus inaugurado na história por meio de Jesus Cristo, já atuante na vida de quem se submete a Ele e consumado na eternidade. A expressão aparece quase exclusivamente no Evangelho de Mateus, que usou o termo "céus" por reverência judaica para evitar o uso direto do nome de Deus — trata-se da mesma realidade que Marcos e Lucas chamam de "Reino de Deus".

João Batista e o próprio Jesus iniciaram seus ministérios proclamando a chegada desse governo, convocando as pessoas ao arrependimento e ensinando os discípulos a orar por essa manifestação na terra.

1 And in those days John the Immerser comes, proclaiming in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, "Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near,"(Matthew 3:1,2)

17 From that time Jesus began to proclaim and to say, "Convert, for the kingdom of the heavens has come near."(Matthew 4:17)

7 And going on, proclaim, saying that the kingdom of the heavens has come near;(Matthew 10:7)

9 therefore pray thus: Our Father who [is] in the heavens, hallowed be Your Name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will come to pass, as in Heaven also on the earth.(Matthew 6:9,10)

O valor incomparável e o crescimento do Reino

O governo de Deus não avança por meio de coerção ou estruturas militares humanas. Nas parábolas do grão de mostarda e do fermento, Jesus mostrou que o Reino começa pequeno, quase imperceptível, mas tem poder para permear e transformar toda a realidade.

Por ser o bem supremo da existência humana, quem compreende a natureza desse Reino reconhece que vale a pena abrir mão de qualquer outra prioridade para fazer parte dele.

31 Another allegory He set before them, saying, "The kingdom of the heavens is like to a grain of mustard, which a man having taken, sowed in his field, 32 which less, indeed, is than all the seeds, but when it may be grown, is greatest of the herbs, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and rest in its branches."(Matthew 13:31,32)

33 Another allegory He spoke to them: "The kingdom of the heavens is like to leaven, which a woman having taken, hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened."(Matthew 13:33)

44 Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like to treasure hid in the field, which a man having found, hid, and from his joy goes, and all, as much as he has, he sells, and buys that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like to a man, a merchant, seeking good pearls, 46 who having found one pearl of great price, having gone away, has sold all, as much as he had, and bought it.(Matthew 13:44-46)

O joio, o trigo e a separação no fim dos tempos

No tempo presente, o Reino convive com a maldade no mundo. Nas parábolas do joio e da rede lançada ao mar, Jesus explicou que a separação final entre os que pertencem a Deus e os que praticam a injustiça não cabe aos seres humanos no presente, mas ao julgamento divino na consumação dos séculos.

24 Another allegory He set before them, saying, "The kingdom of the heavens was likened to a man sowing good seed in his field, 25 and while men are sleeping, his enemy came and sowed darnel in the midst of the wheat, and went away, 26 and when the herb sprang up, and yielded fruit, then appeared also the darnel. 27 And the servants of the householder, having come near, said to him, Lord, did you not sow good seed in your field? From where then does it have the darnel? 28 And he says to them, A man, an enemy, did this; and the servants said to him, Will you, then, [that] having gone away we may gather it up? 29 And he said, No, lest—gathering up the darnel—you root up with it the wheat; 30 permit both to grow together until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather up first the darnel, and bind it in bundles, to burn it, and the wheat gather up into my storehouse."(Matthew 13:24-30)

36 Then having let away the multitudes, Jesus came into the house, and His disciples came near to Him, saying, "Explain to us the allegory of the darnel of the field." 37 And He answering said to them, "He who is sowing the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 and the field is the world, and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom, and the darnel are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil, and the harvest is [the] full end of the age, and the reapers are messengers. 40 As, then, the darnel is gathered up, and is burned with fire, so will it be in the full end of this age; 41 the Son of Man will send forth His messengers, and they will gather up out of His kingdom all the stumbling-blocks, and those doing the lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of the fire; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth. 43 Then will the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who is having ears to hear—let him hear.(Matthew 13:36-43)

47 Again, the kingdom of the heavens is like to a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered together of every kind, 48 which, when it was filled, having drawn up again on the beach, and having sat down, they gathered the good into vessels, and the bad they cast out, 49 so will it be in the full end of the age, the messengers will come forth and separate the evil out of the midst of the righteous, 50 and will cast them into the furnace of the fire; there will be the weeping and the gnashing of the teeth."(Matthew 13:47-50)

Quem participa do Reino

Jesus inverteu as expectativas sociais de quem teria direito às bênçãos de Deus. Em vez dos autossuficientes, dos poderosos ou dos mestres da lei que confiavam na própria religiosidade, os herdeiros do Reino são os humildes, os quebrantados e aqueles que dependem de Deus com a simplicidade de uma criança.

O apego às riquezas e o orgulho espiritual surgem como os maiores obstáculos para reconhecer essa soberania.

3 "Blessed the poor in spirit—because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. 4 Blessed the mourning—because they will be comforted. 5 Blessed the meek—because they will inherit the land. 6 Blessed those hungering and thirsting for righteousness—because they will be filled. 7 Blessed the kind—because they will find kindness. 8 Blessed the clean in heart—because they will see God. 9 Blessed the peacemakers—because they will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed those persecuted for righteousness’ sake—because theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. 11 Blessed are you whenever they may reproach you, and may persecute, and may say any evil thing against you falsely for My sake— 12 rejoice and be glad, because your reward [is] great in the heavens, for thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(Matthew 5:3-12)

1 At that hour the disciples came near to Jesus, saying, "Who, now, is greater in the kingdom of the heavens?" 2 And Jesus having called near a child, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Truly I say to you, if you may not be turned and become as the children, you may not enter into the kingdom of the heavens; 4 whoever then may humble himself as this child, he is the greater in the kingdom of the heavens.(Matthew 18:1-4)

14 But Jesus said, "Permit the children, and do not forbid them to come to Me, for of such is the kingdom of the heavens";(Matthew 19:14)

23 and Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you that hardly will a rich man enter into the kingdom of the heavens; 24 and again I say to 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." 25 And His disciples having heard, were exceedingly amazed, saying, "Who, then, is able to be saved?" 26 And Jesus having earnestly beheld, said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."(Matthew 19:23-26)

5 Listen, my beloved brothers, did God not choose the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom that He promised to those loving Him?(James 2:5)

11 and I say to you that many from east and west will come and recline with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of the heavens,(Matthew 8:11)

11 Truly I say to you, there has not risen, among those born of women, [one] greater than John the Immerser, but he who is least in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Immerser until now, the kingdom of the heavens suffers violence, and violent men seize it by force,(Matthew 11:11,12)

A prática da justiça e a vontade do Pai

Pertencer ao Reino exige mais do que discurso religioso ou profissão de fé meramente verbal. Jesus advertiu com clareza que o critério de entrada não é clamar "Senhor, Senhor", mas viver em obediência concreta à vontade de Deus, praticando uma justiça interior que supera o formalismo religioso.

21 Not everyone who is saying to Me, Lord, Lord, will come into the kingdom of the heavens, but he who is doing the will of My Father who is in the heavens.(Matthew 7:21)

19 Therefore whoever may loose one of these commands—the least—and may teach men so, he will be called least in the kingdom of the heavens, but whoever may do and may teach [them], he will be called great in the kingdom of the heavens. 20 For I say to you that if your righteousness may not abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, you may not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.(Matthew 5:19,20)

5 for you know this, that every whoremonger, or unclean, or covetous person, who is an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of the Christ and God.(Ephesians 5:5)

Um Reino eterno e inabalável

Enquanto impérios e poderes humanos caem com o tempo, as Escrituras apontam para o Reino de Deus como uma realidade indestrutível, profetizada no Antigo Testamento e garantida a todos os que perseveram na fé em Cristo.

18 and the saints of the Most High receive the kingdom, and they strengthen the kingdom for all time, even for all time and all ages.(Daniel 7:18)

11 They tell of the glory of Your kingdom, || And they speak of Your might, 12 To make His mighty acts known to sons of men, || The glory of the majesty of His kingdom. 13 Your kingdom [is] a kingdom of all ages, || And Your dominion [is] in all generations. [[YHWH [is] faithful in all His words, || And kind in all His works.]](Psalms 145:11-13)

32 Do not fear, little flock, because your Father delighted to give you the kingdom;(Luke 12:32)

28 for this reason, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, may we have grace, through which we may serve God well-pleasingly, with reverence and fear, 29 for our God [is] also a consuming fire.(Hebrews 12:28,29)

10 therefore, rather, brothers, be diligent to make steadfast your calling and [divine] selection, for doing these things you may never stumble; 11 in this way the entrance into the continuous kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplemented to you.(2 Peter 1:10,11)

18 and the LORD will free me from every evil work, and will save [me]—to His heavenly kingdom; to whom [is] the glory through the ages of the ages! Amen.(2 Timothy 4:18)