Following is an excerpt from the first volume of my study on the letter to the Hebrews.
RECEIVING THE KINGDOM
I think it is quite difficult for believers in Jesus to wrap their minds around the absolute necessity of having a true knowledge of the eternal purpose of God as realized through Jesus Christ. In my 40+ years of walking with Jesus (20+ of which have been outside the camp of the Christian Religion) I have observed that most believers have, at best, a distorted picture of the eternal purpose of God.
Many seem to not understand that God is actively advancing His purpose and Kingdom in earth. Nor do they realize that they are integral to the His purpose. It cannot be overstated – God does nothing in earth without the partnership of humanity. Even His Word became flesh (human) and dwelt among us.
Let’s consider this statement in the light of Hebrews 12:28 which says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us be thankful.”
Receiving
The word translated as “receiving” is critical to our understanding of this verse. It is the Greek word παραλαμβανω (paralambano), which by etymological definition means to receive as an act of taking to oneself from someone walking alongside you. The root word λαμβανω (lambano) is a common word that means “to take.” It can be applied to the simple act of taking something that is being handed to you, or as complicated as receiving something from someone with an exchange of ownership. The prefix παρα is also quite straightforward and means to “be beside”[1]. Of course, we know it is not as simple as putting these two words together to derive meaning. So, let’s consider the usage of παραλαμβανω inside the biblical text.
According to Strong’s Concordance, this word is used 50 times in the New Testament. Here are a few of those uses written in bold below.
- So he (Joseph) got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and escaped to Egypt.
- Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain…
- For I received from the Lord what I also pass on to you…
- For I did not receive it (the Gospel) from a human source…
- And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received…
As can easily be seen, there are several applications of this word inside the biblical text. Despite their nuances, the essential idea is that of taking something to oneself which was given by someone who has come alongside. In other words, there is a giver and a taker. This is not something given in secret or without request. This is an intentional taking (sometimes with an aggressive attitude) of what is being offered, or what one has come into possession of while walking alongside another. The word usage clearly suggests intent on the part of the giver and the receiver.
One other important point is the grammar of this word in our text. It is identified as being in the present tense and the active voice. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Greek language, here is a brief explanation of the importance of this grammatical construct.
Most languages alter spelling, inflection, or word order to denote changes in Tense and/or Voice. The tense identifies the timeframe of the word: whether it is referring to the past, present, or future. The voice determines who the actor is, such as the phrase, “Bob returned the stapler.” In this example, Bob is the one who returns the stapler. In English we would modify the sentence based on tense and voice. If Bob completed the action of returning the stapler in the past we would say, “Bob returned the stapler.” If we wanted to specify when Bob returned the stapler we would add more specifics such as “yesterday” or “before class.” We could also modify the voice by stating, “I saw Bob return the stapler.” Now the subject of the sentence is the observer.
The word in question, παραλαμβανω is in the Present Tense and Active Voice. This means it is an ongoing, present action. Using our previous example of Bob and the stapler, we would say in English, “Bob is returning the stapler.” This would indicate Bob as the subject and that the return of the stapler was happening right now. Let’s return to the passage in Hebrews to see how all of this informs our reading.
“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom…”
Hopefully, you can see, we (the people of God) are (presently and actively) receiving (taking to ourselves from someone walking alongside) a Kingdom. The grammatical structure of the sentence reveals this action (receiving a kingdom) is ongoing – it is not a past or future event. The implication is staggering: We are actively taking to ourselves something that has been given to us and we must come alongside the giver to receive it.
What then does it mean to “receive” the kingdom? To answer this question let’s consider Jesus’ response to his disciples when they asked Him, “Teach us how to pray.” His response begins with this incredible statement,
Our Father, who is in heaven
Holy is Your Name
Your Kingdom come
Your will be done
On Earth as it is in Heaven.
The Kingdom of God is the domain over which our King Jesus has full reign. We know that ultimately He reigns over all, but during this age of grace, we see His sovereignty being manifest uniquely through those who believe in Him. Jesus exhorts His disciples to pray that His Kingdom would come on Earth as in Heaven. How can this be? It must be received by His people. Remember, our word paralambano requires there be a walking alongside, a co-laboring. With respect to receiving a Kingdom, this is accomplished through faith and patience, by which we walk in our inheritance.
The transfer of governance in a kingdom is either through a bloodline or by being conquered. Clearly, the Kingdom of God will never be conquered, therefore it must be established through those who have the right to be called Children of God. Those who are of the bloodline of Abraham’s Seed – which is Christ.
The prophet Daniel speaks to this centuries before Hebrews was written stating,
But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come. (Daniel 7:18)
We should instantly recognize our place in these verses. The Kingdom is to be received, and only His Holy Ones have the authority to receive it.
To “receive the kingdom” is to create an environment of faith wherein the Kingdom and Will of God in heaven can be accomplished on Earth. Every miracle, every healing, every deliverance, is an occasion of receiving the Kingdom. Every act of forgiveness, every calming of the seas, every manifestation of peace in the midst of chaos is an act of receiving the Kingdom. Anytime our reality is altered from outside of this realm, the Kingdom has been received.
When Jesus walked on water, multiplied the loaves and the fish, and raised people from the dead, the laws of the universe had to change and conform to His will – without upsetting our current reality. When Jesus cast out demons and healed the sick, He was superimposing the reality of the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of darkness. He was effectually receiving the Kingdom.
The evidence that receiving the Kingdom is the Macro-Narrative becomes quite obvious from 12:25 which states, “See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks.” This is a reference to the beginning of the letter which informs us that God now speaks through the Son. Many who have contributed their insight regarding this letter consider this chapter a warning, which it certainly is. However, I see something deeper that stems from verses 1-24 which speak of fixing our eyes on Jesus the “author and finisher of our faith” and the “mediator of a new covenant,” embedded within the context of discipline.
Chapter 12 begins by referencing those mentioned in chapter 11, along with a countless number of others, as a “great cloud of witnesses.” These individuals were considered faithful because they ran their race and finished their course. We who inhabit “these last days” also have a race to finish; and for us that finish is receiving the Kingdom. Therefore, we embrace the discipline of the Lord, knowing it is for our good and for His purpose.
The statement, “see to it that you do not reject the one who speaks” reveals that the Son is speaking about the finish – about receiving the Kingdom. We see this from verse 2 of chapter 12 which speaks of Jesus as the “originator and finisher of our faith.” There is a completion of our faith that coincides with God’s intent on finishing this age. Therefore, everything that has come before in this letter, drives us to this point.
It is in the context of receiving the Kingdom that we exercise boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus. It is in the context of receiving the Kingdom that we reflect on the types and shadows of the Old Testament in order to see a better covenant based on better promises. It is in the context of receiving the Kingdom that we celebrate Jesus our High Priest and step into our role as a Kingdom of priests. It is in the context of receiving the Kingdom that we are warned not to “drift,” “fall away” or “wager our birthright.” It is in the context of receiving the Kingdom that “through faith and patience we receive the promises of God” and “enter His rest.” For, it is in the context of receiving the kingdom that God now speaks in the Person of His Son, who is the image of the invisible God and who still speaks today.
[1] We are familiar with this prefix from English words such as para-educator, parallel, and paramilitary.
