The Kingdom Family

The Pharisees believed that the kingdom would be composed of those who had earned their place in it by pleasing God with good works. This results in a hierarchy among those in the kingdom based on merit - those who please God most are highest up.  But Jesus portrays the kingdom differently.  We are not God's slaves, but children.  We are not slaves of each other, but brothers and sisters.  There is not one who has earned or received closer access to Christ based on self-righteousness.  We are family.  This concept of family is imperfect now, but will one day come to full expression, and there will be only the one true family - the family of God.