Luke 17:21

"Being asked by the Pharisees when God’s Kingdom would come, he answered them, “God’s Kingdom doesn’t come with observation;"

Key Reflection

In Luke 17:21, Jesus responds to the Pharisees' question about the timing of God's Kingdom by asserting that it does not arrive in a manner that can be easily observed or identified. This statement is significant because it challenges their expectation that the Kingdom would manifest itself through visible signs or events. By emphasizing that the Kingdom is not something externally observable, Jesus suggests that its presence is more subtle and internal, rooted in one's faith and relationship with God rather than a dramatic, outwardly apparent occurrence.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Verse 21. Lo here! or, Lo there! When an earthly prince visits different parts of his territories, he does it with pomp. His movements attract observation, and become the common topic of conversation. The inquiry is, Where is he? which way will he go? and it is a matter of important news to be able to say where he is. Jesus says that the Messiah would not come in that manner. It would not be with such pomp and public attention. It would be silent, obscure, and attracting comparatively little notice. Or the passage may have reference to the custom of the pretended Messiahs, who appeared in this manner.

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