nickpecoraro

Thirty One times in the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus uses the phrase "The Kingdom of Heaven"

Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 3:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 3 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 4:17
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:16-18 (in Context) Matthew 4 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 5:3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:2-4 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 5:10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:9-11 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:18-20 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 5:20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19-21 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 7 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 8:11
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 8:10-12 (in Context) Matthew 8 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 10:7
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 10:6-8 (in Context) Matthew 10 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 11:11
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Matthew 11:10-12 (in Context) Matthew 11 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
Matthew 11:11-13 (in Context) Matthew 11 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:11
He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Matthew 13:10-12 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:24
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
Matthew 13:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:31
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
Matthew 13:30-32 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:33
Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.
Matthew 13:32-34 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:44
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
Matthew 13:43-45 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:45
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
Matthew 13:44-46 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:47
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
Matthew 13:46-48 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 13:52
Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Matthew 13:51-53 (in Context) Matthew 13 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 16:19
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Matthew 16:18-20 (in Context) Matthew 16 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 18:1
At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
Matthew 18:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:2-4 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 18:4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 18:3-5 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 18:23
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
Matthew 18:22-24 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 19:23
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:22-24 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 20:1
For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.
Matthew 20:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 20 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 22:2
The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Matthew 22:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 22 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23:12-14 (in Context) Matthew 23 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 25:1
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
Matthew 25:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 25 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 25:14
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
Matthew 25:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 25 (Whole Chapter)

Interestingly, this phrase is not found in any other book of the Bible. It's only in Matthew.

But what I find more interesting is that five times Matthew uses the phrase "kingdom of God"

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:32-34 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Matthew 12:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 12 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 19:24
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 19:23-25 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 21:31
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Matthew 21:30-32 (in Context) Matthew 21 (Whole Chapter)
Matthew 21:43
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Matthew 21:42-44 (in Context) Matthew 21 (Whole Chapter)


Many believe that Matthew wrote his Gospel for Jews and didn't want to offend their belief concerning writing "God" in a text so he wrote "Heaven"

So why does the text use "Kingdom of Heaven" 31 times and "Kingdom of God" 5 times?

I think that this shows that Matthew's Gospel was edited.

What do you think?

aa5874

I don't know if gMatthew was edited, but I did a word search on the writings of Justin Martyr to see if he used "kingdom of heaven" and/or "kingdom of God."

And, as I expected Justin Martyr used only the phrase "kingdom of heaven" which is an indication that he only knew of the "Memoirs of the Apostles."

As you pointed the word "kingdom of heaven" is not found in gMark, gLuke, gJohn, Acts of the Apostles, or the letters of the writer called Paul, these used the phrase "kingdom of God", perhaps giving an indication that they were written or parts of them were written after the writings of Justin Martyr.