Is the Church is the Kingdom of Heaven?

Answer 1

Jesus who claimed to be a king said "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." The Church is the kingdom of heaven because that is where you confess all you sins. That is where you are blessed. So in the eyes of God the church is the kingdom of heaven.

Many times during His preaching Christ speaks of the coming of "the Kingdom of heaven". The term has two meanings, one refers to God's heavenly kingdom, and one refers to the New Law and His Church upon Earth - sometimes the term refers to both. In regards to the latter meaning, the reference is immediate, and exegetes throughout the centuries have always understood the following passages as referring to the Church (here taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew only for the sake of length):

3:1 "And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. (2) And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Exegete remark: As the Israelites had to purify themselves before the inauguration of the Old Law, so to must they do so before the New.

4:17. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Exegete remark: see above.

5:19. "He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do an teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Exegete remark: both sinners and saints will be in the Church, cockle among the wheat, and shall be recognized as such.

10:7. "And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand."

11:11. "Amen I say to you, there hath not risen among them that are born of women a greater than John the Baptist: yet he that is the lesser in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Exegete remark: Same as 5:19 save here Christ asserts the superiority of the New Law over the Old.

13:11. "Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given."

Exegete remark: said after a parable, Christ here exclusively instructs the apostles as the leaders of His Church to be, who must first understand the nature of grace before they can preach it and before they can use their faculties to bind and loose.

13:24. "Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seed in his field."

Exegete remark: Here is the famous parable of the sower which illustrates that both good and evil people shall be within the Church. Ultimately, though evil be spared for a time, they will be separated and judged at the time of judgment. This reference is exclusive to the Church as certainly there will be no evil in heaven.

13:31. "Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of Mustard Seed, which a man took and sowed in his field."

Exegete remark: Here the growth of the Church is compared to the growth of mustard seed. This is often used to explain the organic growth of the Church in its practices, devotions and disciplines, as the plant is "different" from the seed.

13:47. "Again the kingdom of heaven is like to a net cast into the sea, and gathering together of all kinds of fishes."

Exegete remark: Again, both good and evil people shall be within the Church but shall ultimately be sifted by God.

13:52. "He said unto them: Therefore every scribe instructed in the kingdom of heaven, is like to a man that is a householder, who bringeth forth out of his treasure new things and old."

Exegete remark: Again, used to illustrate the organic growth of the Church, whose treasures as given by Christ are based on Tradition and the organic growth of Church practice and devotion.

16:19. "And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

Exegete remark: probably one of the most contentious quotes in post-Reformation times, here Christ gives Peter leadership of His Church upon earth in both authority and jurisdiction.

18:3. "And said: amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

Exegete remark: obviously referring to both meanings, nonetheless to enter into the Church requires a humility, a submission, an act of Faith in something, childlike in its obedience and understanding.

18:23. "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants."

Exegete remark: In the parable here introduced the accountability of Church authorities is illustrated: the pope and the bishops of the Church will answer for their stewardship.

19:12. "For there are eunuchs, who were born so from their mothers womb: and there are eunuchs, who were made so by men: and there are eunuchs, who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven. He that can take, let him take it."

Exegete remarks: Here chastity for members of the Church is illustrated.

20:1. "The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard."

Exegete remark: This parable illustrates membership in the Church, whether early or late in life, all receive the same reward of salvation.

22:2. "The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king who made a marriage for his son."

Exegete remark: This parable illustrates the founding of the Church and that He, as King of all Creation, expects all to attend and come to His Church. Answer Paul says in Eph. 5:30-32, that the Church, the Body of Christ, was a mystery that he revealed. If that's the case, then Paul would be a liar if the church was revealed prior to him. The Kingdom of Heaven (phrase borrowed from Daniel) was the promised, literal, physical Kingdom to Israel, in which Jesus Christ rules from the Throne of David in Jerusalem. It is a time of peace and prosperity; the very nature of animals is changed according to Isaiah. Entrance to this kingdom was based on national repentace by Israel (Hos. 2) Hence, when John the Baptist and Jesus Christ show up, the message they preach is "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand." The gospels present Jesus' ministry -- the Kingdom to Israel. No where is anyone being offered salvation on the basis of trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, which is the gospel message of the church (I Cor. 15) In fact, when Jesus reveals He is going to die in Luke 18 or 19, the disciples have no idea what He was talking about, even though they had been preaching the "gospel" for two years. So, to say the Kingdom of Heaven is the same as the church is erroneous.

Answer 2

Roman Catholic AnswerThe Church on earth is referred to as the Church Militant.

The Church in purgatory is referred to as the Church Suffering.

The Church in Heaven is referred to as the Church Triumphant.