earthly kingdom purposes. The long awaited kingdom of the Old Testament was now near with the presence of the

King in their midst. Christ said:

`But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons (and He did), then the kingdom of God has come upon

you' (Luke 11:20 R.S.V.).

`... Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you' (Luke 17:21).

The latter verse is a favourite one with spiritualizers who stress that it exists in the mind of the believer only. But

the context is definitely against this view. Dean Alford, in his New Testament for English Readers, writes:

`The misunderstanding which rendered these words "within you" meaning this in a spiritual sense, "in your

hearts", should have been prevented by reflecting that they are addressed to the Pharisees in whose heart it (the

kingdom) certainly was not'.

M.R. Vincent quotes Trench saying `the whole passage of the kingdom of heaven being within men, rather than men

being within the kingdom, is modern' (Word Studies in the New Testament Vol. 1. p. 401).

In the Person and presence of the divinely appointed King, the kingdom was already `in the midst of' men (see

A.V. margin) regardless of their attitude, whether for or against Him. It was therefore `at hand' or near, and this was

stressed both by John the Baptist and the Lord in their proclamation of the good news (gospel) of the kingdom.

Because of this fact, one thing must of necessity follow, Israel must come to a definite decision as to their reception

or rejection of their Messiah and King.

This was the most vital and crucial point in their history, but from the beginning the leaders had made their

attitude clear. It was one of complete antagonism. They were openly displeased with His cleansing of the Temple

and His healing of the impotent man on the sabbath day. They hated His denunciation of them. He called them

`hypocrites', `a wicked and adulterous generation' (Matt. 16:3,4) the `publicans and harlots' would go into the

kingdom before them (Matt. 21:31). They are `children of hell', `blind guides' who `strain at gnats and swallow

camels', `full of extortion and excess', `whited sepulchres filled with dead men's bones', a `generation of vipers'

(Matt. 23:15,24,25,27,33). They were `of their father, the devil' (John 8:39-44).

All this only increased their hatred and determination to get rid of Him. What about the general public? At first

the Lord's ministry produced tremendous interest, for the disciples reported to Him `all men seek for Thee' (Mark

1:37). But it was superficial. They were only interested in the external effect of His miracles. We read, `many

believed in His name, when they saw the miracles that He did, but Jesus did not commit Himself unto them, because

He knew all men' (John 2:23-25). The excitement became so intense that they attempted to take Him by force to

make Him a king (John 6:15). On the surface, this looked as though the people were now ready to accept His regal

claims, but later on in the chapter the Lord unmasks the empty enthusiasm. He said:

`Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek Me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the

loaves, and were filled' (6:26) .

The same falseness was evident at Nazareth. In the synagogue `all bear Him witness and wondered at the gracious

words which proceeded out of His mouth' (Luke 4:22). But a few moments later, when the Lord mentions blessing

for a Gentile they were `filled with wrath and rose up and thrust Him out of the city and led Him to the brow of the

hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong' (verses 28, 29).

Near the end of the Lord's ministry we have the record of the crowds crying `Hosanna' and within a few days the

same people were shouting `Crucify Him, we have no king but Caesar'. Even His family and friends, who were

nearest to Him, misunderstood His actions and words. `They went out to lay hold on Him, for they said, He is

beside Himself' (Mark 3:21).

It is evident in the eleventh and twelfth chapters of Matthew's Gospel, that events were working to a crisis. We

`Then began He to upbraid the cities wherein most of His mighty works were done, because they repented not'

(Matt. 11:20).