LORD, YOUR KINGDOM COME

Passage: Luke 17:20-25

Key verse: 21b

NIV

The Coming of the Kingdom of God(A)

20 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,(B) Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’(C) because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[a]

22 Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man,(D) but you will not see it.(E) 23 People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.(F) 24 For the Son of Man in his day[b] will be like the lightning,(G) which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. 25 But first he must suffer many things(H) and be rejected(I) by this generation.(J)

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 17:21 Or is within you
  2. Luke 17:24 Some manuscripts do not have in his day.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Coming of the Kingdom

20 Being asked by the Pharisees (A)when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God (B)is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor (C)will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”[a]

22 And he said to the disciples, (D)“The days are coming when you will desire (E)to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 (F)And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 (G)For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be (H)in his day.[b] 25 But first (I)he must suffer many things and (J)be rejected by this generation.

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Footnotes
  1. Luke 17:21 Or within you, or within your grasp
  2. Luke 17:24 Some manuscripts omit in his day
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The kingdom of God is within you (2

-21)

The Pharisees thought they had a first class ticket to heaven. Jesus told them that the kingdom begins with God's rule within men's hearts. Those who only think about eating, drinking and getting married, who leave no room in their hearts and lives for loving and obeying God, will be swept away with unbelievers on the day of judgment.

2. The Son of Man will come like lightning (22-25)

Jesus' disciples long for God's kingdom to come. False messiahs down through the ages have tried to take advantage of this longing. But God's people must not be deceived. When Jesus comes again everyone will know it. First, Jesus must die on the cross for the sins of the world. Then, the gospel of salvation must be preached to the ends of the earth. One who gives his life to Jesus for his use seems to lose a lot. But only one who loses his life for Jesus' sake will save it.

Prayer: Lord, let your kingdom come in my heart, so that I may be ready to welcome you joyfully when you come again.

One Word: God's kingdom begins within