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Luke 17

Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?

Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.

So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

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:

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

And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.

For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

Remember Lot's wife.

Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

What does Luke 17:20 mean?

Explanation

Luke 17:20 is a verse from the New Testament of the Bible in which Jesus Christ is responding to a question posed by the Pharisees about the coming of the Kingdom of God.

The Pharisees, being a group of Jewish religious leaders, were often concerned with the outward observance of religious laws and were expecting a literal and earthly kingdom to appear.

Jesus, in His response, indicates that the coming of the Kingdom of God is not something that can be observed or detected through outward signs or by visual means.

The nature of the Kingdom of God, as taught by Jesus, is not geographical nor political; it is spiritual.

He suggests that God’s rule or sovereignty isn't something one can see with the physical eyes, as one would watch for an approaching king or army, but rather it is something that occurs within individuals and communities when they live according to God's will.

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Historical Context

The question by the Pharisees came at a time when Israel was under Roman rule, and many Jews were expecting a messianic figure to establish a literal kingdom that would overthrow their oppressors.

Pharisees, who were experts in religious law, likely anticipated a Messiah who would fulfill their understanding of the scriptures in a visible, worldly display of power and authority.

In this period, the concept of "Kingdom" was typically associated with a physical place or realm, often ruled by a monarch.

The Jewish expectation was heavily influenced by their historical experiences, such as the glorious reign of King David, and they were looking for a political and national deliverance from Roman occupation.

Theological Insights

This verse can be interpreted through various theological lenses:

Preterist View:

Some scholars believe that Jesus was referring to the manifestation of the Kingdom through his own ministry and its continuation through the church after Pentecost.

Futurist View:

Others see this verse as a prophecy about the end times, indicating that the coming of God's Kingdom will not be detectable via signs but will happen unexpectedly.

Spiritual or Realized View:

The Kingdom of God is considered a present, spiritual reality that occurs within the hearts and minds of believers, a perspective which aligns with Jesus's teachings throughout the Gospels that the Kingdom is "at hand" or "within you."

Practical Applications

From a practical standpoint, this verse encourages believers to look beyond the physical and the literal for the manifestation of God's Kingdom.

It can inspire individuals to seek spiritual transformation and understand that the expressions of God's reign are often found in the love, joy, and justice present in their lives and communities.

Cross-References

John 18:36: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world..."
Romans 14:17: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."
Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase "cometh not with observation" comes from the word "paratērēsis," which can be translated as "watching" or "visible signs." The implication is that the Kingdom's coming is not to be discerned by looking for observable, physical evidence.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The expectation of a Messiah in Judaism during Jesus’s time was mirrored in various ways across different cultures. For example, the Roman culture celebrated their emperors as divine figures.

In contrast, Jesus presented a different view where the divine was not associated with political power or military might.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientifically, the Kingdom's invisible nature as described by Jesus does not fall within the purview of empirical investigation or confirmation.

It is nonetheless pertinent in discussions on consciousness, spiritual experiences, and the psychological effects of religious belief.

Commentaries

Commentators like Matthew Henry have emphasized that Jesus aimed to correct the mistaken notion of the Pharisees regarding the nature of the Kingdom of God.

They observe Jesus directing us to an understanding of a kingdom not tied to the expectations of worldly rulership but to the reign of God in the hearts of mankind.

Contemporary biblical scholars continue to debate the eschatological implications of the verse, considering various aspects of theological interpretation, whether it pertains to a historic, existential, or futuristic understanding of the Kingdom of God.

Luke 17

Luke 17

What does Luke 17:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Preterist View:

Futurist View:

Spiritual or Realized View:

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 17:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Preterist View:

Futurist View:

Spiritual or Realized View:

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?