The Coming Kingdom
TRANSLATION
(20) Once, when asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus answered, “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,’ for the Kingdom of God is in your midst.”
(22) He then said to his disciples, “The days are coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. (23) And they will say to you, ‘There he is or here he is!’ Do not go running after them, (24) for just as lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be with the Son of Man on the day (when he comes). (25) But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
(26) “As it was in the days of Noah, even so will it be in the days when the Son of Man (comes). (27) People ate and drank, married and were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. (28) Likewise, as it was in the days of Lot, people were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. (29) But on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained down fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. (30) It will be just like that on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. (31) On that day, no one on the housetop with possessions in the house should come down to remove them. Likewise, no one in the field should try to return. (32) Remember Lot’s wife. (33) Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. (34) I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other will be left. (35) There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other will be left.” (37) And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” And he said to them, “Where a corpse lies, there the vultures will gather.”
OBSERVATIONS
Jesus’ interaction with two diverse groups was set forth in this segment. First, the Pharisees asked him a question which he briefly answered in a way which they did not anticipate (vss. 20 & 21). Repetitions included “the Kingdom of God” occurring three times and “coming/come” twice. In this present age, before the Second Coming, God’s kingdom is not something remote or unreachable but rather “in your midst,” already present among those who are committed to doing God’s will.
Jesus spent far more time addressing the second group mentioned in this segment, his disciples (vss. 22-35). Here, he warned them to prepare for the days when God brings his judgment to bear on the earth. The key word, “day(s),” was used eight times in expressions like “the days of the Son of Man,” “as it was in the days of Noah,” “as it was in the days of Lot,” and what will “the days of the Son of Man” be like? Those “days” will come suddenly, catching everyone off guard. They will also be severe, bringing judgment on the ungodly. Three historic figures and their associated events showed how devastating those days will be: Noah and the flood that God sent to destroy the ungodly, Lot and the devastation God rained upon Sodom, and Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt because she disobeyed God’s command.
OUTLINE
I. Jesus explained the nature of the Kingdom of God for the Pharisees. (20 & 21)
II. Jesus warned his disciples regarding what would happen when God’s judgment falls. (22-37)
IDEA STATEMENT
Those who follow Jesus should not be concerned about when his Kingdom will arrive but rather about being watchful and ready whenever the Lord may return.
APPLICATION
Jesus was abundantly clear in warning his disciples not to attempt to determine the timing of his return or, as our passage states it, “when the Kingdom of God would come” (Lk. 17:20). In the Gospel of Matthew he warned, “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” (Mt. 24:36). Yet, date-setting has preoccupied many so-called students of the Bible. Some authors and radio hosts have gathered large audiences and generated lots of excitement by claiming to have figured out the precise moment when Jesus’ return will take place.
Jesus exhorted his disciples not to preoccupy themselves with trying to determine the time of his coming. Instead, we are to be prepared for his return whenever it should take place. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus warned his followers, “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Mt. 24:44). John in his first epistle explained why we should live this way: “All who have this hope in them purify themselves just as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3). Paul expanded on this theme in his epistle to Titus: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Tit. 2:11-14).