Luke 17:20-22
The Coming of the Kingdom
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. (ESV)
The already-not-yet Kingdom is in the midst of the Pharisees, yet they cannot see it. Things will go on in the world, just as they did in Sodom, then the consummated Kingdom will come suddenly and without warning. The days of the Son of Man have introduced the Kingdom, yet, when Jesus is gone, they will long to see what Jesus has established, but will still be unable to. Being a citizen of the Kingdom makes it real, even though the Kingdom of God has not been fully inaugurated. We are blessed to belong to the Kingdom now, and will be even more blessed when Jesus returns again to consummate all things!
The Reformation Study bible says of this:
“17:20–37 Jesus’ answer to questions regarding the coming of the kingdom of God points to the dynamic character of that kingdom. In this passage, Jesus presents the kingdom both as present reality (v. 21) and as yet to be fully revealed (vv. 22–37). Jesus often presented the kingdom as a hidden and growing reality (Matt. 13:31–33), which is both present and future. In the earthly ministry of Jesus, the kingdom is already present (11:20), but the full reality of the kingdom is yet to be manifested (cf. 19:11). Christians are to pray for the full realization of God’s kingdom (11:2)”
Maranatha! IC -|- XC
Prayer for Today:
Thank you, Lord, for bringing your Kingdom nigh to us and for what you will do when you return again. We await your second advent expectantly and with the hope of the Kingdom in our hearts. Amen.