Luke 17:20 kjv
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luke 17:20 nkjv
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
Luke 17:20 niv
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,
Luke 17:20 esv
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,
Luke 17:20 nlt
One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, "When will the Kingdom of God come?" Jesus replied, "The Kingdom of God can't be detected by visible signs.
Luke 17 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 14:17 | For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness... | Nature of Kingdom: spiritual, not ritual |
| John 18:36 | Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world."... | Nature of Kingdom: not earthly/political |
| Luke 17:21 | "nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." | Direct continuation: kingdom within/among you |
| Matt 24:23 | Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There he is!'... | Warning against seeking visible signs |
| Luke 21:28 | Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. | Observable signs for Christ's Second Coming |
| Matt 3:2 | "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." | Kingdom announced as present/near |
| Luke 10:9 | ...and heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' | Kingdom accessible through Jesus' ministry |
| Luke 10:11 | 'Even the dust...we wipe off against you...the kingdom of God has come near.' | Kingdom is offered, and can be rejected |
| Dan 2:44 | In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom... | Prophecy of an everlasting, divine kingdom |
| Mark 1:15 | ...saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand..." | Kingdom inaugurated with Jesus' ministry |
| Col 1:13 | He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, | Believers already in His spiritual Kingdom |
| 1 Pet 1:8 | Though you have not seen him, you love him... | Kingdom's spiritual reality believed, not seen |
| 2 Cor 5:7 | For we walk by faith, not by sight. | Principle of spiritual discernment |
| Heb 12:28 | Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, | Kingdom's stability, not worldly appearance |
| Phil 3:20 | But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior... | Our ultimate kingdom/citizenship is heavenly |
| Acts 1:6-7 | So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"... He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons..." | Disciples' misunderstanding of kingdom timing/nature |
| Isa 9:6-7 | For to us a child is born...and the government shall be upon his shoulder... | Prophecy of the Messianic King and His reign |
| Jer 23:5-6 | "Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch..." | Prophecy of righteous King and His righteous reign |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, | Entrance into God's family and kingdom |
| Luke 12:31-32 | Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you... your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. | Focus on seeking God's Kingdom, God's gifting |
Luke 17 verses
Luke 17 20 Meaning
The verse signifies that the Kingdom of God does not manifest with observable or outward signs, spectacles, or predictable events that can be physically scrutinized. It is not an earthly kingdom that arrives through a visible, political, or military conquest as many in Jesus' day expected. Instead, its arrival and presence are primarily spiritual and internal, requiring spiritual discernment rather than outward observation. Jesus refutes the Pharisees' popular notion of the Messiah's coming being accompanied by political upheaval and easily seen demonstrations of power.
Luke 17 20 Context
Luke chapter 17 is a discourse given by Jesus to His disciples and later addressing the Pharisees and then His disciples again. Prior to verse 20, Jesus teaches about offences, forgiveness, and faith, addressing His disciples. Verse 20 begins a new section where the Pharisees directly question Jesus about the Kingdom of God. This interaction sets the stage for Jesus' deeper teaching to His disciples about His second coming, referred to as the coming of the Son of Man (vv. 22-37). The Pharisees' question reveals their prevailing expectation of the Kingdom of God as an outward, politically observable event that would establish Israel's earthly dominion. Jesus' answer corrects this fundamental misunderstanding, pivoting to describe the spiritual and non-physical nature of the Kingdom's arrival in the present and preparing His disciples for a distinct understanding of the future, visible return of the Son of Man.
Luke 17 20 Word analysis
Asked by the Pharisees: These were religious leaders who adhered strictly to the Law and traditions. Their primary concern about the Kingdom was often nationalistic and political, expecting a visible, external restoration of Israel's glory through a Messiah who would overthrow Roman rule.
when the kingdom of God would come: This phrase reflects their anticipation of a decisive, public, and observable event that would initiate the Messianic Age, typically associated with nationalistic and military deliverance. They looked for "signs" or overt indications.
He answered them: Jesus directly addresses their mistaken notion. His response serves as a direct rebuttal to their expectations, emphasizing the kingdom's different nature.
The kingdom of God: (Greek: hē basileia tou theou). This is the central concept in Jesus' teaching, referring to God's sovereign rule and reign, which is present in the person and work of Jesus Christ, impacting human lives spiritually and inwardly, not just politically or geographically. It has "already" been inaugurated by Jesus but is "not yet" fully consummated.
is not coming: (Greek: ouk erchetai). This emphatic negation signals a sharp contrast to their expectations. It underlines that the kingdom's nature is fundamentally different from what they anticipate.
with signs to be observed: (Greek: meta paratēreseōs). The key term is paratērēsis. It means "careful observation," "watching closely," "outward display," "spectacle," or "scrutiny." It implies a measurable, physically discernable coming with observable portents or phenomena that could be cataloged or timed. Jesus rejects the idea that the Kingdom's initial arrival would be heralded by such external, undeniable signs as a political or military revolution. It is not something one can point to and say, "Look here!" or "Look there!" because it's already at work, spiritually and internally.
Words-group analysis:
- "when the kingdom of God would come... is not coming with signs to be observed": This directly challenges the common Messianic expectation of Jesus' day, which was heavily influenced by Old Testament prophecies often interpreted through a lens of national restoration and visible, cataclysmic events (e.g., as understood from certain apocalyptic passages). Jesus teaches that the Kingdom, in its present reality, is not entering the world with overt, external manifestations suitable for public display or scientific measurement. Its arrival is subtly yet profoundly through the Person and work of the King Himself.
Luke 17 20 Bonus section
- The tension between "already" and "not yet" is central to understanding the Kingdom of God. Luke 17:20 addresses the "already" aspect—that the Kingdom's present arrival is not visible or outward—while the subsequent verses (17:22ff.) describe the future, definitive, and visible coming of the Son of Man in judgment and glory, which will be an observable event, but one distinct from the "first coming" or the spiritual presence of the Kingdom.
- Jesus’ answer also subtly refutes a deterministic or rigid apocalyptic timeline that demanded certain observable signs before the Kingdom could be acknowledged. His point is that the Kingdom's primary operation is not contingent on outward shows but on the transformative work of God in human hearts and society.
Luke 17 20 Commentary
Luke 17:20 fundamentally clarifies the nature of the Kingdom of God as distinct from popular political and visible expectations. The Pharisees, representatives of the Jewish leadership, sought a spectacular, earthly kingdom that would overtly establish God's rule through external displays and observable power, leading to Israel's geopolitical dominance. Jesus’ concise reply dismantled this misunderstanding, stating that the Kingdom is not coming meta paratēreseōs – not with an observable, calculable arrival marked by outward display. This does not mean there are no future signs related to the return of Christ, but rather that the present manifestation of the Kingdom inaugurated by Jesus is not of that character. It is a spiritual reality, initiated by Jesus' presence and teachings, cultivated by personal transformation and spiritual adherence to God's rule in the hearts of individuals and in the community of believers. It highlights that true discernment of God's reign requires spiritual understanding, not mere physical observation or worldly scrutiny.