The Kingdom of God in Matthean Parables

Its Metaphors and Meaning

By (author) Rafał Strugiński Series edited by Rajmund Pietkiewicz Series edited by Piotr Burgoński

Book cover: The Kingdom of God in Matthean Parables

Extent: 426 pages

Publisher: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht

Subjects: Religious Studies

Series: Eastern and Central European Voices

Language: English

Hardback (Forthcoming)

(December 2026)

ISBN: 9783525502730

Price: $163.00

What is the Kingdom of the Heavens according to the parables of Matthew?


There is no single correct answer to the question, what is the Kingdom of the Heavens according to the parables of Matthew? The parables of the Kingdom are open-ended and no single interpretation will exhaust their meaning. They are poetic rather than narrative; symbolic and figurative rather than literal; and tend to inspire rather than provide a systematic explanation of faith. Matthew was more of a creative theologian than a technical engineer. It is, however, possible to come near to an answer. The conceptual metaphors of the Kingdom outline the framework of Matthew’s understanding. Hence the parables convey three paradigms. They are concerned with telling a story about the Kingdom’s progress in time and its closeness, its ultimate fulfilment which will bring a final assessment of each person’s righteousness, and the call for radical commitment which will culminate in an enormous gain. The call to commitment is multi-faceted. The Kingdom calls for forgiveness, merciful justice, acceptance of its demands (living righteously) and readiness to fulfil them. This quadruple call is its core message.

Rafał Strugiński SJ is an Assistant Professor, PhD, at the Catholic Academy in Warsaw – Collegium Bobolanum.

  • By (author) Rafał Strugiński
  • Series edited by Rajmund Pietkiewicz
  • Series edited by Piotr Burgoński