Luke 17:20-21
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.
“The kingdom of God cometh
Not with observation:”
It is important that all understand
This piece of information.
Jesus was not speaking to us
But rather, to his generation,
And to be more precise, the Pharisees,
Who were in constant opposition.
They were keen to know
When the kingdom would come
For they were expecting much hoorah
Instead of God’s Son.
Not a location
As in the case of Bethlehem,
Neither a “lo here!” or, a “lo there!”
He had said to them.
Some are yet awaiting
For the kingdom to come
And this event they are anticipating
In the return of God’s Son.
Some believe otherwise
That he has already come
But this, in the coming of Holy Spirit
To vindicate the Son.
However, Jesus made it clear
The kingdom had come
And that kingdom is synonymous
With himself, God’s Son.
Once when he was accused
Of using Satan’s power,
He made it clear to his accusers
In that very hour.
He showed them the folly
Of their conflicting analogy
That if as Satan, he cast out Satan,
Such would be silly.
Matthew 12:25-26
And Jesus knew their thoughts
And said unto them,
Every kingdom divided against
Is brought to desolation;
And every city or house divided against itself
Shall not stand.
And if Satan cast out Satan
He is divided against himself;
How shall then his kingdom stand?
Matthew 12:28
But if I cast out devils
By the Spirit of God,
Then the kingdom of God
Is come unto you.
Why do we yet pray
“Thy kingdom come”?
God’s kingdom has come
In Jesus, His Son.
Why do we look for that
Which has already occurred
And when it has been clearly stated
Right in God’s Word?
But where is the kingdom
If it has already come?
Where did you get such an idea?
Where did it come from?
From Jesus, of course,
From his infallible word
And it’s to Luke chapter 17 again
To which I refer.
Journey back there with me
If you have the time
And if you argue that you haven’t
Then you need to unwind.
For it means you are hooked
With things not nearly as critical
As this very important matter
That’s necessary for survival.
The kingdom has come
And is within you,
Meaning everyone that’s born again
And has been made anew.
Luke chapter 17
And verse number 21:
“The kingdom of God is within you.”
Once you are reborn.
The exact words of Jesus
As stated in the KJV:
Go to that location right now
And you will see.
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.
Stewart Russell © January 2, 2025
