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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 17:21 mean?

Explanation

The verse Luke 17:21, "[Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you]," is part of a conversation Jesus is having with the Pharisees about the coming of the Kingdom of God.

It addresses the misconception of a literal, earthly kingdom and instead points to a spiritual realm.

Jesus emphasizes that the Kingdom of God is not a physical location that can be observed or found in a specific place.

The phrase "within you" implies that the Kingdom of God is an inner experience or reality, accessible within the hearts and spirits of individuals who believe and follow the teachings of Jesus.

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Historical Context

This verse is found in the Gospel of Luke, which is generally believed to have been written around A.D. 80-110.

At the time, there was an expectation among Jews that a Messiah would come to establish a political kingdom and deliver them from Roman rule.

Jesus, in this passage, counters this expectation by suggesting that the Kingdom is a spiritual one, not tied to traditional messianic hopes of political liberation and national restoration.

Theological Insights

There are varying theological interpretations of this verse across different Christian denominations:

Traditional Christian View: This interpretation sees the Kingdom of God as the reign of God within the hearts of believers. It underscores the personal relationship between individuals and God, emphasizing transformation and spiritual growth.
Evangelical Perspective: Often correlates with the traditional view, but with an added emphasis on the conversion experience as the moment the Kingdom of God enters one.
Catholic Teaching: Includes a communal dimension, suggesting that the Kingdom of God is also present within the Church, through the sacraments, and the community of believers.
Liberation Theology: Interprets this verse with a focus on social justice, suggesting that the Kingdom of God manifests in actions that promote equality and liberation for the oppressed.

Practical Applications

The teaching in Luke 17:21 can be applied in daily life as follows:

Individual Spirituality: Encourages believers to seek a deep, spiritual connection with God, internally rather than external signs or wonders.
Ethical Conduct: Underlines the importance of living out the values of the Kingdom of God in everyday interactions.
Community Building: Motivates believers to foster a sense of unity and support within the community that reflects the principles of God's Kingdom.

Cross-References

Romans 14:17: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost."
John 18:36: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
Matthew 6:10: "Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven."

Language Study

The original Greek phrase translated as "within you" is "ἐντὸς ὑμῶν" (entos hymōn).

The word "ἐντὸς" (entos) can be translated as "inside, within" or "among, in the midst of." The precise translation can vary based on interpretation, leading some to understand it as the Kingdom being within one's heart, or present among the collective group of believers.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient religions and philosophical systems, there are parallels to the idea of a spiritual kingdom or reality within the individual:

Hinduism talks about the Atman, the spiritual essence within, which is part of the universal Brahman.
Buddhism teaches about achieving Enlightenment or Nirvana, which is a transformed state of existence realized within an individual's being.
The Stoic philosophy of ancient Greece also emphasized the idea of living in accordance with nature and reason, suggesting a kind of inner harmony or kingdom.

Scientific Perspectives

Science generally does not deal with spiritual or metaphysical concepts such as the "Kingdom of God," as these are outside the scope of empirical study.

However, psychology examines the transformative effects of religious belief and practices on human behavior and mental wellness, which could loosely relate to the concept of a spiritual kingdom within.

Commentaries

Different commentators have offered unique perspectives on Luke 17:21:

Matthew Henry’s Commentary suggests that the Kingdom of God is within the believer in the form of graces and virtues.
The Geneva Study Bible notes that the Kingdom of God is not to be observed with the eyes, but is instead a spiritual kingdom that is in the midst of us.
William Barclay argues that Jesus is emphasizing that the Kingdom is not to be associated with spectacular earthly events, but rather, it is to be found in the ordinary life of men and women who are living in his way.

Luke 17

Luke 17

What does Luke 17:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Luke 17:21 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Luke Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?