And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse isn't just about announcing the kingdom; it's about proclaiming its arrival. The Greek word used here emphasizes that the kingdom has "approached" or "drawn near," indicating a momentous shift had already occurred with Jesus' presence, not just a future hope. This implies the disciples were to declare that God's reign was actively breaking into the world right then.
And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples on a special mission, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. He instructs them to focus their initial efforts on the "lost sheep of Israel," the Jewish people, rather than Gentiles or Samaritans, signaling a preparatory phase before the gospel would go worldwide. Their core message is the imminent arrival of God's reign, a concept they are to proclaim with signs of healing as proof.
When Jesus' disciples announced 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand,' what did they really mean? Was it fully here, or just coming?
The phrase 'is at hand' (Greek: 'engiken') is powerful! It doesn't just mean 'soon,' but 'has approached,' 'is near,' or 'has drawn close.' When the disciples proclaimed this, they were announcing that the long-awaited reign of God, promised by prophets, was no longer a distant hope but a present reality, unfolding right before people's eyes through Jesus himself.
Think of it like a royal procession entering a city. The heralds shout, 'The King is coming!' The crowd cheers, knowing the King is about to appear. The disciples were those heralds. They weren't saying the kingdom was fully realized in all its future glory, but that its King had arrived and His reign was actively beginning. This was a call to attention, a prelude to the full inauguration of God's rule.
The disciples weren't just telling people about the kingdom; they were given specific powers to back up their message. What was the connection?
Jesus didn't just send his disciples out with a message; He equipped them. Matthew 10:7-8 details this: 'proclaim... saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.'
This wasn't arbitrary. The miraculous signs were tangible proof, the 'seals' of their message. They demonstrated that the kingdom they proclaimed was not just a concept but a powerful reality, breaking into the present world and overcoming the forces of sin, sickness, and death. By healing and delivering, they were already displaying the effects of God's reign – a reign characterized by restoration, wholeness, and freedom.
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Understand the original words
basileia tou ouranou · Greek Noun
The sovereign reign and rule of God. It signifies the breaking in of God's redemptive power and authority into history, calling for repentance and submission.
engizo · Greek Verb/Adjective
A term denoting that an event or state is immediate, imminent, or has drawn very near. It indicates that the arrival of God's reign is no longer a distant future hope but a present reality.
The disciples' proclamation of 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand' was a crucial announcement within a specific, unfolding historical moment. It wasn't just a theological statement, but a message delivered by Jesus' immediate messengers to the people of Israel, signaling that the long-awaited Messianic reign was finally dawning, albeit in a spiritual, not purely political, form.
c. 27-29 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry after his baptism and temptation, calling disciples and teaching about God's reign.
c. 28 AD
John the Baptist's Ministry
John the Baptist preached a message of repentance and baptism, announcing the imminent arrival of the Messiah and His kingdom.
c. 28 AD— this verse
Jesus Commissions the Twelve
Jesus specifically sends out the twelve apostles to preach, heal, and cast out demons, focusing their initial mission on the lost sheep of Israel.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem
Jesus makes a triumphal entry into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecies and further signaling the approach of His kingdom, though many still did not recognize it.
c. 30 AD
Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified and rises from the dead, signifying the pivotal event that would fully inaugurate His spiritual kingdom.
c. 33 AD
Pentecost and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit descends upon the apostles, empowering them to preach the gospel to all nations and marking the full establishment of the Church.
This passage mirrors Matthew 10:7, detailing the same commission given to the twelve disciples to preach that the kingdom of God has come.
Matthew 3:2John the Baptist, like the disciples in Matthew 10:7, proclaimed 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' setting the stage for Jesus' ministry and the disciples' subsequent proclamation.
Acts 1:8This verse describes the expansion of the disciples' mission from the initial focus on Israel ('the kingdom of heaven is at hand') to a worldwide proclamation ('to the end of the earth') after the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 10:9This verse shows the disciples being sent out again, this time as the seventy, with a similar message: 'The kingdom of God has come near to you,' highlighting the ongoing importance of this proclamation.
Matthew 4:17This verse shows Jesus himself beginning his public ministry with the same core message: 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,' underscoring its foundational significance.
barnesMatthew 10:7: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."
The kingdom of heaven is at hand - Or, more literally, the "reign" of heaven, or of God, draws near. See the notes at Matthew 3:2 .
bensonMatthew 10:7: "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Matthew 10:7-8 . And as ye go, preach — Κηρυσσετε , proclaim, namely, with ardour and zeal, as becomes my heralds. The word is derived from κηρυξ , a herald. “Probably,” says Doddridge, “they were to make this proclamation with a loud voice, as they passed through the streets of the towns they went to, as Jonah delivered his message to Nineveh.” The kingdom of heaven is at hand — Ηγγικεν , hath approached. Publish e…
The verse isn't just about announcing the kingdom; it's about proclaiming its arrival. The Greek word used here emphasizes that the kingdom has "approached" or "drawn near," indicating a momentous shift had already occurred with Jesus' presence, not just a future hope. This implies the disciples were to declare that God's reign was actively breaking into the world right then.
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples on a special mission, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. He instructs them to focus their initial efforts on the "lost sheep of Israel," the Jewish people, rather than Gentiles or Samaritans, signaling a preparatory phase before the gospel would go worldwide. Their core message is the imminent arrival of God's reign, a concept they are to proclaim with signs of healing as proof.
Jesus is sending out his twelve disciples on a special mission, giving them authority to heal and cast out demons. He instructs them to focus their initial efforts on the "lost sheep of Israel," the Jewish people, rather than Gentiles or Samaritans, signaling a preparatory phase before the gospel would go worldwide. Their core message is the imminent arrival of God's reign, a concept they are to proclaim with signs of healing as proof.
"And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’" — The verse isn't just about announcing the kingdom; it's about proclaiming its arrival. The Greek word used here emphasizes that the kingdom has "approached" or "drawn near," indicating a momentous…
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Last reviewed October 2026