Articles
When Is the Kingdom Coming?
As Jesus was making His way toward Jerusalem late in His public ministry, some Pharisees asked Him when the kingdom of God was coming (Luke 17:20). Did they sincerely want to know? Was this another effort to entrap Him in what He said—that was often the reason for their questions? Was it asked in ridicule, in view of the fact that a good many Pharisees were scoffing at Jesus by this point (16:14)? Regardless of their motive, Jesus responded sincerely. His answer, however, was likely not what they expected.
“The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (vv. 20-21).
This answer is consistent with what Jesus told Pilate: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servant would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm” (John 18:36).
The emergence of God’s kingdom cannot be observed in the way the rise of an earthly kingdom might be. It is not marked by rebellions, coups, or elections. There are no armies or military campaigns. It is an altogether different kind of kingdom. Jesus’ answer points to that. God’s kingdom is internal, not external. It is “in your midst” or “within you” (NKJV). That is what the word means. Its only other occurrence in the New Testament is in Matthew 23:26, referring to the inside of a cup.
Some object to this meaning, arguing that Jesus would surely not be saying the kingdom is inside the Pharisees. They suggest “among you” as the idea. Because Jesus, the king, was among them, so was the kingdom. Jesus, however, preached that the kingdom was at hand (Mark 1:15), coming soon with power (Mark 9:1). He did not say it had already come because He had. Obviously, when He said the kingdom is among you, you is used in a generic sense of a person.
God’s kingdom is spiritual. He reigns, through His Son, in people’s hearts and lives. In one sense, the kingdom was coming when Jesus took His place on God’s throne. He did that when He ascended back to heaven following His death and resurrection (Acts 2:22-36; Revelation 3:21). In another sense, the kingdom “comes” whenever one submits to Jesus’ lordship and becomes His disciple.
In Luke 19, when people were anticipating that the kingdom was coming immediately because Jesus was nearing Jerusalem, the Lord countered with a story about a man who traveled to a distant country to receive a kingdom (vv. 12-27). That is precisely what He did. Appropriately, that story also includes a warning to those who rejected His reign!
God made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The question is, Have you? Does Jesus rule in your heart?
