The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed…
Summary: The Bible talks about a lot of things, many of which are invisible. Describing something that exists without physical form or substance is a challenge. Fortunately for us, God is undaunted by challenges!
“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, ‘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.’” (Luke 17:20-21)
This is a rare moment of plain speaking from our Lord Jesus! Here he tells us flat out that we will not be able to see the kingdom of God when it comes.
Let’s pause and think about this for a moment…
First, Jesus is speaking as a person in the flesh, not as a spirit. He is speaking to people who are in the flesh. He is trying to describe something that nobody on earth has ever seen. Not only is the “kingdom of God” something that nobody has ever seen [except Jesus (John 3:13)], but God himself remains invisible to his people (John 1:18).
Second, Jesus is speaking as a traveler. He doesn’t travel from a distance as we reckon distances in our world. He has traveled from a place outside of time and space. John describes it this way:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (John 1:1-2)
And then …
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14)
So Jesus came from another place, a place that existed before the earth and the physical realm was created. He knows things that we do not know and cannot know unless he tells us. And so he tells us that the kingdom of God cannot be observed but that it is “in your midst.”
The kingdom of God is here in our “midst.” What does that mean?
The Greek word translated as “midst” is “entos.” This is the same word that is used when Jesus is shaming the Pharisees for their hypocrisy:
“Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside [entos] of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.” (Matthew 23:26)
In this second passage, we see that “entos” can mean within us. “Inside of the cup and dish” means that it is not enough to act righteous on the outside, but that God requires us to be righteous inside as well. In fact, many English Bibles translate Luke 17: 21 as “the kingdom of God is within you” instead of “in your midst.”
Even though we have physical bodies, our thoughts and feelings are invisible to all but God and ourselves. Does that invalidate them? If you design a building in your imagination and then build it with real bricks and mortar, does that mean the building you designed didn’t exist until the bricks arrived at the construction site?
The invisible comes before the visible. Jesus tells us plainly that the kingdom of God cannot be observed. And then he adds, “because the kingdom of God is within you.”
Application: Learn to see the kingdom of God with your inner eyes.
Food for Thought: How does the invisible kingdom of God make itself known in our lives?
While I don’t completely agree with your assessment due to some other Scriptures, I do agree that the Holy Spirit lives within us. The kingdom of God is about its King. Jesus was in their midst and He still is in our midst. He was in the midst of the seven churches in Revelation (1: 13). He says He will always be with us (Matthew 28: 20). He said He would send the Holy Spirit to be in us (John chapter 14 – 16; Ephesians 1: 13 – 14). But when He comes as King He will be seen by everyone (Revelation 1: 7; Matthew 24: 27). He will reign on this earth for a thousand years (Revelation 20). The Kingdom is not currently on this earth. It is not of this earth. The Holy Spirit indwells us and it is in us. But someday every eye will see our King and every knee will bow (Philippians 2: 9 – 11). When Jesus was talking about the Kingdom of God in their midst, I believe He was talking about Himself. The kingdom can not be separated from its King. The Kingdom of God was there because Jesus was there.
Rich,
Thank you very much for your fair and honest rebuttal! Your words speak to the heart of the question, “What is the kingdom of God?” The answer is not a salvation issue (our Lord is not bound by our understanding of his Word – his power to redeem is without limit!) but it does impact how we live as Christians and how we understand the Lord’s Prayer.
Not really intended as a rebuttal brother. I am very sorry if it came across that way. Another very good devotion. You are doing a great job.
Brother,
I didn’t mean “rebuttal” in a bad way and I didn’t take your comments in a bad way. I love you deeply and I love that you are willing to engage with me in the Word.
Most of what you wrote in your first comment I agree with. The words that represent your opinion are just that, your opinion, and I respect your views tremendously. I understand we come at some things in the Word differently and just so you know, that does not bother me a bit. You are faithful to Scripture and in that sense we are both on the same page.
🙂
Amen brother. And ditto. Love you too brother.
After accepting Christ and have been imputed with His Holy Spirit.
It’s not an easy thing to grasp or even comprehend, but it is all true. Since I have Christ within me, I get to walk in His kingdom everyday, it’s my choice to take the plank out of my eye and see His kingdom for where it truly is, in my heart. His invisible kingdom is within me and everyone else who has accepted Him and have been imputed. Jesus didn’t heal the blind men all the same way, they all were different, just like when our eyes are opened to the truth in which scriptures speak. It’s different for everyone but still leads to the same God, Christ and Holy Spirit, that is if we listen and respond.
Well said, John!
I appreciate the reference to how Jesus heals the blind and how that is similar to our spiritual eyes being opened.
11-27-2022, How does the invisible kingdom of God make itself known in our lives.
We seem to easily accept the early writers of our bible, being empowered by God, living, teaching, and building church’s in the Kingdom of God, but for some reason find it impossible to accept in today’s world.
Believers can only prayerfully seek the truths from God and live accordingly.
1 Corinthians 2:16, For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
The invisible kingdom of God cannot be fully comprehended, contained or described. Isaiah 46:9-10; 1 John 3:20, 1 Peter 1:12. Every truth in the Bible is accepted as fact in faith. This faith has come from God and will grow as we each, individually deny our flesh and grow spiritually.
We accept the fact that God chose to cloak Himself in flesh, walk among us for 33 years, teaching by His words and deeds, and in the end allow Himself to be brutalized and sacrificed for the sins of all mankind. After 3 days He rose from the dead, walked among men for 40 days and ascended into Heaven where He is positionally seated at the right hand of God the Father. These truths have been revealed to each by the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement to come. John 16:8.
Spiritual gifts are bestowed by the sovereign choice of God and need to be exercised in the power and under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:7, To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
Ephesians 1:22-23, The church is the body of Christ, and He Himself is the head of that same body. All things have been placed under His feet, He is the Builder and Head of the church. Christ is positionally in Heaven, at the right hand of God the Father. He is also God, Omnipresent which means, THERE IS NO WHERE HE IS NOT.
Acts 1:8, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Luke 45-47, Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 AND REPENTANCE FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS WILL BE PREACHED IN HIS NAME TO ALL NATIONS, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.
Also see, John 1:12, 1 Peter 2:24, 4:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:13.
Ron,
I agree with your premise; as believers we seek God’s truth in his Word. His Word changes us. As you quoted from Luke 24:45, God opens our minds. When we allow that to happen there is much to see. 🙂
Answering with reading all the comments.
How does the invisible kingdom of God make itself known in our lives?
First, let’s clarify some things about kingdoms. A) one did not need to acknowledge that it’s there to exist. The fool may say “there is no God” or “there is no king” or “there is no law”, but that doesn’t make it true. Or more innocently, a child who has no concept of government is still born under it. We are born under sin, ruled by it. We are taken out from under sin and then under God. Under His protection; under His authority.
B) one’s physical location does not change who your ruler is, or where you belong. Whether you are a tourist, refugee, soldier, captive, you still belong to your nation. We are Christians, we belong to Christ. We are children of the Most High God, we belong to Him. We’ve been adopted, we immigrated, we’ve been grafted into a new home. Home is with God. Our kingdom is His kingdom.
C) a better question…. Is a kingdom a physical place? I think the answer could be yes and no. Yes, because kingdoms have boundaries. And no, because they also have subjects who are part of the kingdom regardless of location.
D) another question…. Is a place any less in the king’s possession just because someone in that place doesn’t want him to be in charge? No. Think of David and Absalom. Is David any less the rightful King just because Absalom says that he’s in charge? Did David not still have subjects? Was David no longer responsible for Israel? Now, admittedly, this is different for men than God. Men can be overpowered, but God cannot. Yet scripture still calls him king.
Second, let’s revisit the passage.
Luke 17:20-21 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
The kingdom of God IS in your midst. Present tense. Spoiler alert….We’re not waiting for God to be in control. He’s already in control. We’re waiting for the King to judge. He’s already king. We’re not looking forward to a coronation and then paradise. Revelation is judgement and the last chance to be on the King’s side before He kicks out the rebels and vandals, thieves and murderers. Then He’ll dispose of everything they destroyed and replace it with what it should’ve been (new heavens and new earth. A new Jerusalem, glorified bodies)
Now, because Jesus’ statement is present tense, we know He’s not talking about the Spirit coming. He is very clear the Spirit would be sent by Himself between His ascension and His return. While the Spirit coming is part of His acting on the earth, it is certainly not the beginning.
Typo in the first sentence 🤣 without reading
Angela,
Well written. I especially like your point, “one’s physical location does not change who your ruler is, or where you belong.”
⭐ ⭐ ⭐
🙂