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 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!"(Matthew 3:1,2)

17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."(Matthew 4:17)

7 As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ (Matthew 10:7)

9 Pray like this:

"‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

10 Let your Kingdom come.

Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (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 He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took, and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is smaller than all seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches."(Matthew 13:31,32)

33 He spoke another parable to them. "The Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until it was all leavened."(Matthew 13:33)

44 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid. In his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

45 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a merchant seeking fine pearls, 46 who having found one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that 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 He set another parable before them, saying, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while people slept, his enemy came and sowed darnel weeds also among the wheat, and went away. 26 But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also. 27 The servants of the householder came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where did these darnel weeds come from?’

28 "He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’

"The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’

29 "But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel weeds, you root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers, "First, gather up the darnel weeds, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn."’"(Matthew 13:24-30)

36 Then Jesus sent the multitudes away, and went into the house. His disciples came to him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the darnel weeds of the field."

37 He answered them, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, 38 the field is the world, the good seeds are the children of the Kingdom, and the darnel weeds are the children of the evil one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 As therefore the darnel weeds are gathered up and burned with fire; so will it be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and those who do iniquity, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.(Matthew 13:36-43)

47 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some fish of every kind, 48 which, when it was filled, fishermen drew up on the beach. They sat down and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away. 49 So it will be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be weeping and gnashing of 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 are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

4 Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted.

5 Blessed are the gentle,

for they shall inherit the earth.

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they shall be filled.

7 Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy.

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they shall see God.

9 Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God.

10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

11 "Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12)

1 In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

2 Jesus called a little child to himself, and set him in the middle of them 3 and said, "Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)

14 But Jesus said, "Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these."(Matthew 19:14)

23 Jesus said to his disciples, "Most certainly I say to you, a rich man will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven with difficulty. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom."

25 When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"

26 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."(Matthew 19:23-26)

5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?(James 2:5)

11 I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven, (Matthew 8:11)

11 Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take 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 says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

19 Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.(Matthew 5:19,20)

5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of 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 But the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.’(Daniel 7:18)

11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom,

and talk about your power,

12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts,

the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

Yahweh is faithful in all his words,

and loving in all his deeds.(Psalms 145:11-13)

32 "Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

28 Therefore, receiving a Kingdom that can’t be shaken, let’s have grace, through which we serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.(Hebrews 12:28,29)

10 Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. 11 For thus you will be richly supplied with the entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.(2 Peter 1:10,11)

18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.(2 Timothy 4:18)