Luke 17 21

Luke 17:21 kjv

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 17:21 nkjv

nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

Luke 17:21 niv

nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is in your midst."

Luke 17:21 esv

nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you."

Luke 17:21 nlt

You won't be able to say, 'Here it is!' or 'It's over there!' For the Kingdom of God is already among you. "

Luke 17 verses

Luke 17 21 Meaning

Luke 17:21 declares that the Kingdom of God is not found in an outward, observable manifestation or a specific geographical location that people can point to. Instead, its essence and presence are internal and immediate. This means God's sovereign rule is either actively present "within" the hearts of believers, shaping their spiritual reality and submission to His will, or it is already "among" or "in the midst of" the people, primarily demonstrated through the person and works of Jesus Christ, the King Himself, who stood before them.

Luke 17 21 Context

Luke 17:21 immediately follows a question posed by the Pharisees to Jesus regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God (Lk 17:20). The Pharisees, representative of many Jews of their time, largely expected a visible, political, and triumphant messianic kingdom that would overtly establish Israel's earthly dominion. Jesus responds to this expectation by first stating that the Kingdom "is not coming with signs to be observed," directly challenging their conventional understanding. Verse 21 then provides further clarification: it is not a kingdom that one can pinpoint geographically or await as an outward, cataclysmic event. Historically, this countered a strong prevailing view that the Messiah's advent would involve a public, nationalistic revolution, rather than an initial, unobserved, spiritual presence. Jesus implies a paradigm shift, where God's rule operates in ways profoundly different from human anticipation.

Luke 17 21 Word analysis

• Neither shall they say: This emphasizes the futility of seeking an external, publicly proclaimed marker. It challenges the notion that the Kingdom's arrival would be a visible event to be announced by human observation.
• Lo here! (Idou hode - ἰδοὺ ὧδε) / or, lo there! (hē idou ekei - ἢ ἰδοὺ ἐκεῖ): "Idou" is an interjection meaning "behold" or "look!" Combined with "hode" (here) and "ekei" (there), it powerfully conveys the idea of a physical, discernible location or observable phenomenon that people could point to. Jesus directly refutes this popular expectation, indicating the Kingdom's nature is not confined to space.
• for, behold, (gar idou - γὰρ ἰδοὺ): "Gar" indicates a reason or explanation for the preceding statement. "Idou" again highlights that what follows is significant, urging attention. It introduces the true nature of the Kingdom in contrast to the prior misperceptions.
• the kingdom of God (hē basileia tou theou - ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ): This phrase refers not primarily to a geographic realm but to the active, dynamic reign and rule of God. It signifies His kingly authority being exercised. This concept is central to Jesus' teachings, revealing the nature of God's dominion in both present reality and future consummation.
• is within you (entos hymōn - ἐντὸς ὑμῶν): This is the most debated and critical phrase.
  • "entos" (ἐντός): Can mean "within" (interior to), or "among" / "in your midst." The ambiguity profoundly impacts the interpretation.
    • "Within" interpretation: Points to the Kingdom of God residing spiritually in the hearts and lives of those who accept God's rule. It is a matter of inner transformation, personal relationship, and God's reign over one's spirit.
    • "Among you" / "in your midst" interpretation: Given that Jesus is speaking to the Pharisees, many of whom did not accept Him, this interpretation suggests that the Kingdom is already present because Jesus, the King, is physically present in their midst. His miracles, teachings, and very person embodied God's active rule. This makes sense of the Pharisees' unbelief yet the Kingdom's presence.
  • "hymōn" (ὑμῶν): This is a plural "you." While addressed to the Pharisees, it likely refers to "you people" collectively present. If interpreted as "within you," it would only apply to those (some disciples present) who spiritually had the Kingdom; if "among you," it refers to the literal presence of Jesus among the gathered crowd including the Pharisees. Most scholarly consensus leans towards "among you" due to the audience, but Christian tradition also deeply values the "within you" spiritual application for believers.
• Word-Group Analysis:
  • "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there!": This collective phrase establishes the initial error: a carnal, localized, and visible expectation of the Kingdom. Jesus dismisses the idea of observing the Kingdom's advent as a geographically fixed or public spectacle. It serves as a direct polemic against Jewish messianic nationalism that focused on a physical, earthly, political revolution.
  • "for, behold, the kingdom of God is within/among you": This entire concluding phrase offers the correct understanding. It shifts the focus from external observation to an internal or immediate reality. The Kingdom is not distant or yet-to-come in a way that requires outward seeking; it is already present, whether as an inner spiritual experience or through the very presence and work of Jesus Christ Himself.

Luke 17 21 Bonus section

The understanding of entos hymōn (ἐντὸς ὑμῶν) as "among you" carries significant weight because Jesus' audience included Pharisees who clearly were not demonstrating the internal spiritual transformation indicative of God's Kingdom reigning "within" their hearts. Thus, the primary sense becomes that the King, Jesus Himself, embodying God's reign and actively manifesting it through His ministry, was physically present in their midst. This interpretation strongly underscores the "already" aspect of the "already but not yet" Kingdom theology. The Kingdom was not just a future hope, but a present reality in the person of Jesus. It highlights that the most powerful manifestation of God's reign isn't in visible institutions or territories, but in the divine activity of God in Christ and through the Holy Spirit working in and among people.

Luke 17 21 Commentary

Luke 17:21 presents a revolutionary understanding of the Kingdom of God, sharply contrasting with the prevalent expectations of Jesus' time. The Pharisees anticipated a clear, observable, political takeover by God. Jesus' response reveals that God's Kingdom is not like human kingdoms; it does not come with visible fanfare or territorial declarations. Its power and presence are not discerned by looking "here" or "there" for outward signs or geopolitical shifts. Instead, Jesus declares that God's rule is already "within you" or "among you." This statement signifies either a profound spiritual reality in the hearts of those who receive Christ and His transforming rule, or it means that God's active reign is powerfully present and operational in the very person, teachings, and miraculous works of Jesus who stood in their midst. In this, the Kingdom of God is shown to be primarily spiritual and already inaugurated, even as its full manifestation remains future. It compels individuals to look inward for transformation and recognize the divine King's immediate presence. For example, rather than waiting for an earthly capital to be established, one finds the Kingdom by submitting to God's reign in one's own life, allowing righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit to characterize their existence (Rom 14:17).