Bible Verses About the Kingdom: 12

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

— Matthew 6:33 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about the kingdom want Scripture for priorities that keep sliding, a world that feels ownerless, or hope that God still rules — not a chart of end-times theories. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about heaven, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about faith, Bible verses about worship, and Love and worship. Here the focus is God's reign breaking in now and forever — distinct from heaven as the believer's home (Bible verses about heaven) and from glory as God's worth (Bible verses about glory).

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, "kingdom" is βασιλεία basileia (Strong's G932; Bible Hub G932) — royalty, rule, reign, the sphere where a king has authority. Jesus announces God's basileia as near, present among his people, and still coming in fullness.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 6 presses seeking the kingdom first as the cure for anxious grasping after food and clothes (Bible Hub commentaries on Matthew 6:33; Bible Hub MHC Matthew 6). On Luke 17 he notes that the kingdom is not spotted by sightseeing tours — it is among you in Christ's person and reign (Bible Hub commentaries on Luke 17:21; Bible Hub MHC Luke 17).

12 Bible verses about the kingdom

Matthew 6:33. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Priorities reorder when the King comes first. See Bible verses about worry.
Matthew 6:9-10. "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'" Prayer asks for the King's will on ordinary ground. See Bible verses about prayer.
Luke 17:20-21. "…'The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is in your midst.'" The kingdom arrives with the King, not as tourist scenery. See Bible verses about faith.
Matthew 4:17. "From that time on Jesus began to preach, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.'" Nearness calls for a turned life. See Bible verses about repentance.
John 18:36. "Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'" His reign does not advance by the world's weapons. See Bible verses about the cross.
Matthew 13:44. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." The kingdom is worth a joyful sell-off. See Bible verses about joy.
Romans 14:17. "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Kingdom life shows in Spirit-shaped character. See Bible verses about peace.
Matthew 5:3. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Empty hands qualify for the King's gift. See Bible verses about humility.
Colossians 1:13-14. "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Transfer of citizenship is already done in Christ. See Bible verses about redemption.
Mark 1:15. "'The time has come,' he said. 'The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!'" Nearness pairs repenting with believing. See Bible verses about faith.
Matthew 19:14. "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Childlike welcome, not status, fits the kingdom. See Bible verses about children.
Revelation 11:15. "The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.'" History ends under one King. See Bible verses about hope.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a week of scrambled priorities, a season of waiting for justice, or a prayer that God's will would land at home — not twelve. If you need reordered seeking, start with Matthew 6:33. If you need the kingdom as present with Christ, start with Luke 17:20-21. If you need hope that history has a King, start with Revelation 11:15. For heaven as home, see Bible verses about heaven. For God's glory, see Bible verses about glory. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about the kingdom of God?

Matthew 6:33 (seek first his kingdom), Luke 17:20-21 (the kingdom is in your midst), and Romans 14:17 (righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit) are clear starting places.

What does "seek first the kingdom" mean?

Matthew 6:33 calls disciples to pursue God's reign and righteousness ahead of anxious provision — trusting that needed things follow when the King is first.

Is the kingdom of God the same as heaven?

Heaven is often the believer's home with God (Bible verses about heaven). The kingdom is God's reign — already near in Christ and still coming in fullness (Matthew 4:17; Revelation 11:15).

What did Jesus mean by "the kingdom of God is in your midst"?

In Luke 17:20-21 he refused sightseeing maps for the kingdom and pointed to his own presence and reign among them.

How can I use Bible verses about the kingdom in prayer?

Pray Matthew 6:9-10 slowly ("your kingdom come"). Use Matthew 6:33 when priorities scramble, and Colossians 1:13 when you need to remember your citizenship has already moved.

Sources

NIV text quoted above.
Blue Letter Bible / Bible Hub Strong's entry for basileia (G932).
Matthew Henry Concise via Bible Hub on Matthew 6:33 and Luke 17:21.