Luk 17:21 | KingComments | STEP | The Pharisees have a question. They want to know when the kingdom of God will come. They think, they are ready for the kingdom. They think, the question is only when the kingdom will be ready for them. It is a question of blind unbelief. It’s like asking for a sign. They have no eyes to see, because they are blind and because they are blind, they do not see the kingdom of God, because it “is not coming with signs to be observed“. By this, the Lord means that it does not come in external power and glory. Yet He has provided an abundance of evidence that the kingdom of God is present among them, because it is present in His Person. However, they do not recognize God’s King in Him, although He revealed the true power of the kingdom in the many victories over satan and over all the consequences of sin in this world. The true power of the kingdom is revealed in the dependent and obedient Man, in the never failing power of God that is working through Him. They are blind to all of this. They do not appreciate it because they do not appreciate God. As a people they long for what would exalt them and destroy the enemies, but they do not long for what will glorify God and humiliate man. Therefore, the Lord shows them in His answer that, from the time of His rejection until He returns to glory, it is not a matter of “’Look, here [it is]!’ or, ‘There [it is]!’”, but of faith to acknowledge the glory of His Person and to see that the power working in Him is the power of God. The kingdom of God is in their midst and they do not see it because they do not see Him. They think little of the Lord Jesus. This is the downfall for anyone who hears the testimony, but refuses to accept it. Luke speaks of the kingdom of God , not of the kingdom of heaven . Only Matthew speaks of the kingdom of heaven, and he says nowhere, as long as the Lord was on earth, that the kingdom of heaven had come. He does say, however, in accordance with what Luke says here, that the Lord said: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” ( ). The kingdom of God was present when Christ was on earth. He proved this by revealing the power of the Spirit in countless victories over satan. The kingdom of heaven came only after He went to heaven, and from heaven began His hidden reign over the earth. When He returns in glory, He will exercise that government in public form, and there will be no difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. Then will the kingdom come in power and glory and be established.

‏ Luke 17:21

The Kingdom of God Is in Christ

The Pharisees have a question. They want to know when the kingdom of God will come. They think, they are ready for the kingdom. They think, the question is only when the kingdom will be ready for them. It is a question of blind unbelief. It’s like asking for a sign. They have no eyes to see, because they are blind and because they are blind, they do not see the kingdom of God, because it “is not coming with signs to be observed“. By this, the Lord means that it does not come in external power and glory.

Yet He has provided an abundance of evidence that the kingdom of God is present among them, because it is present in His Person. However, they do not recognize God’s King in Him, although He revealed the true power of the kingdom in the many victories over satan and over all the consequences of sin in this world. The true power of the kingdom is revealed in the dependent and obedient Man, in the never failing power of God that is working through Him.

They are blind to all of this. They do not appreciate it because they do not appreciate God. As a people they long for what would exalt them and destroy the enemies, but they do not long for what will glorify God and humiliate man. Therefore, the Lord shows them in His answer that, from the time of His rejection until He returns to glory, it is not a matter of “’Look, here [it is]!’ or, ‘There [it is]!’”, but of faith to acknowledge the glory of His Person and to see that the power working in Him is the power of God.

The kingdom of God is in their midst and they do not see it because they do not see Him. They think little of the Lord Jesus. This is the downfall for anyone who hears the testimony, but refuses to accept it.

Luke speaks of the kingdom of God, not of the kingdom of heaven. Only Matthew speaks of the kingdom of heaven, and he says nowhere, as long as the Lord was on earth, that the kingdom of heaven had come. He does say, however, in accordance with what Luke says here, that the Lord said: “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Mt 12:28).

The kingdom of God was present when Christ was on earth. He proved this by revealing the power of the Spirit in countless victories over satan. The kingdom of heaven came only after He went to heaven, and from heaven began His hidden reign over the earth. When He returns in glory, He will exercise that government in public form, and there will be no difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. Then will the kingdom come in power and glory and be established.