Bible Lens—September 24–30, 2018
Subject: Reality
First appeared as a Web Original on September 6, 2018
O Lord, how manifold are thy works! … the earth is full of thy riches.
Exploring Bible Verses
An exploration of Bible citations from the Christian Science Quarterly® Bible Lessons
“. . . a lesson on which the prosperity of Christian Science largely depends."—Mary Baker Eddy
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from the Golden Text
The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
In the New Testament, the phrase “kingdom of heaven” is used exclusively in the book of Matthew—more than thirty times—while the other Gospel writers use “kingdom of God.” Most Bible scholars view the two phrases as equivalent.
from the Responsive Reading
Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, ... for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.
God’s name represents His nature, character, and existence. Noting that words such as angel, face, and glory can portray God’s manifestation, one source adds that His name “implies the most complete divine self-disclosure.”
from Section 1
Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
This well-loved doxology is embedded in King David’s farewell to the Hebrew people at the end of his reign. After explaining that his heart’s desire—to build a temple to the Lord—will instead be his son Solomon’s privilege to accomplish, David humbly praises God and asks His blessing on His people and on Solomon (see 28:2–6, 29:12–19).
6 | Hebrews 11:3
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
According to one commentary, many people in ancient times thought the world had been formed from preexisting matter. Jewish doctrine, however, taught that God created the world by His Word. The Psalmist writes, for example, “He spake, and it was done” (Psalms 33:9, citation 3).
In this statement from Hebrews, observes another scholar, “Not only is the eternity of matter denied, but from the beginning a warning has been given against a materialistic philosophy. The first page of Scripture is designed to teach the constant presence and work of the Creator.” Faith enables us to see beyond matter to the invisible divine creation.
from Section 3
13 | Job 40:10
Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency; and array thyself with glory and beauty.
Using descriptions of Deity similar to some in the psalms (see, for instance, Psalms 93:1 and 104:1), God challenges Job’s pride with multiple questions about his ability to equal God’s power—a chain of reasoning that leads to Job’s admission, “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee” (Job 42:2, citation 14).
from Section 4
17 | Luke 17:20, 21
When he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Christ Jesus often speaks about God’s kingdom—in Luke alone, the Greek word for kingdom (basileia) appears over forty times. Since apocalyptic or “end time” writings were popular at this period, this divine realm was a topic of great interest to his hearers.
Here the Master is answering a question from the Pharisees about this coming time, expected to be a glorious revival of Jewish power. Jesus’ response redefines the kingdom as found within—sometimes translated among or in the midst—through Christly knowledge of God. One researcher writes, “The reign of God is ‘in the heart.’ ”
from Section 5
21 | Luke 5:4, 6
When he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.... And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
The Gospels of Matthew and Mark describe Christ Jesus’ calls to his first disciples as a simple invitation to leave their work and follow him (see Matthew 4:18–22 and Mark 1:16–20). In Luke’s account, these disciples follow Jesus in response to the miraculous catch of fish. Although it isn’t possible to explain the difference, the common element is the fishermen’s immediate and unquestioning commitment to the Master.
from Section 6
22 | Ezekiel 12:21–23
The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, what is that proverb that ye have in the land of Israel, saying, The days are prolonged, and every vision faileth? Tell them therefore, Thus saith the Lord God; I will make this proverb to cease.
At this time, opponents of the prophet Ezekiel had predicted so many conflicting events that the people began to doubt even legitimate prophecy. God promises to expose the false forecast of delay by fulfilling the words of Ezekiel, His genuine messenger.
Ezekiel’s contemporary, Jeremiah, faced similar challenges with deceitful prophets—and received similar divine support: “I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, … and cause my people to err” (Jeremiah 23:32).
Resources quoted in this issue
RR: Buttrick, George Arthur, et al., eds. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. Vol. 3. Nashville: Abingdon, 1962.
Cit. 6: Keener, Craig S., John H. Walton, eds. NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016; Ellicott, Charles John, ed. A Bible Commentary for English Readers by Various Writers. London: Cassell, 1897–1905. Also available at biblehub.com/commentaries.
Cit. 17: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Whole Bible. New York, 1834–85. Also available at biblehub.com/commentaries.
Related Healing Ideas
Citizenship in God’s kingdom
By Leslie Cavill Haslam
From the July 2012 issue of The Christian Science Journal
What does it mean to be a citizen of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven?
This question came to my thought not long ago, when I found myself captivated by the following idea: “Imagine a kingdom with no borders, no crossing points, where each citizen has an inalienable right to access all the good that a loving Father bestows! Citizenship in God’s kingdom enables each of us to use spiritual, God-bestowed talents that fulfil our deepest aspirations” (Ann Kenrick, “Christ’s invitation,” The Christian Science Journal, April 2011, p. 53).
I then thought about how Mary Baker Eddy defines Kingdom of Heaven as, “The reign of harmony in divine Science; the realm of unerring, eternal, and omnipotent Mind; the atmosphere of Spirit, where Soul is supreme” (Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 590).
As I considered the ramifications of citizenship in the kingdom of heaven, it enlightened the way I thought about myself and everyone worldwide.
As a citizen of God’s kingdom, I am governed always and only by divine Principle, Love, God, and by nothing else. I am subject only to the laws of divine Love. I am not subject to mortality, limitation, or any belief in material power.
As a citizen of God’s kingdom, I am always free! Free from all beliefs about life in matter. In God’s kingdom all express divine Principle, Love, Soul, Mind. There is only Love—no loneliness, abuse, or rejection; only Soul—no anxiety, discord, or depression; only Mind—no forgetfulness, confusion, or lack of wisdom and intelligence; only the law of Principle—no unjust law or government at any level. In God’s kingdom, there is no oppression, war, or hatred.
No citizen of the kingdom of God is subject to drought, flood, geographical borders, inequality, danger, injustice, or any separation from good. Right now, we citizens of the kingdom of heaven are guided by, provided for, and governed by the unchanging and unlimited Father-Mother God.
All of us are citizens of God’s kingdom. We all live, move, and breathe in pure, untainted Spirit. We are subject to supreme Love as our government—the ever-present, all-powerful justice of divine Principle. I am a citizen of the kingdom of God. You are a citizen of the kingdom of God. All our family members are citizens of the kingdom of God. All our neighbors are citizens of the kingdom of God. All world leaders, protesters, civilians, troops, Republicans and Democrats, are citizens of the kingdom of God.
This idea, that everyone I encounter is a citizen of the kingdom of God, has strengthened my ability to withhold judgment and criticism of others—to see everyone as God’s child. This has helped improve relationships with family, neighbors, students, and coworkers. I now use this idea almost daily. As I encounter people with challenging attitudes and appearances, this idea helps me avoid getting sucked into negativity; it calms me. All of us are always citizens of the kingdom of God! There is one divine Principle, Love, that always governs us all, and treats us all with equality.
© 2018 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
