Therefore, we have to ask two critical questions when we see the lists of quotations that illustrate a text. First, are they actually parallels, or do they merely use similar language? The “Kingdom” is clearly an important theme for both rabbinic Judaism and Jesus’ followers, but the word does not mean the same to both groups. That’s why the Gospels spend so much time spelling out what they mean by it. However, it is still necessary to explore the Jewish meaning, because this is what the readers
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