Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 17 : 20-37 A QUESTIONABLE APPROACH TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Day 211 – Luke 17
Text: Luke 17 : 20-37
A QUESTIONABLE APPROACH TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
What were the Pharisees looking for when they asked “…when the Kingdom of God would come” (Luke 17:20)? Why did Jesus reply as He did, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation” (Luke 17:20).
Perhaps an observation from the Apostle Paul about the Jews might give us a clue as to what they were really like. Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthian Church said,
“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom.”
1 Corinthians 1:22
Paul was right in his observation of the Jews. They would always be demanding one sign or another to verify things. This was a trait that Luke also observed as he wrote in his Gospel. He wrote,
“Others, testing Him, sought from Him
a sign from heaven.”
Luke 11:16
Jesus had refused to comply with their request for a sign from heaven. He had already performed many signs and wonders. If they did not believe that His miracles were genuinely wrought by the Power of God, the giving of another sign from heaven would not go very far. Whatever sign He gave them would be scrutinized and reinterpreted wrongly!
What did Jesus mean when He said, “The Kingdom of God does not come with observation”? He saw through their cleverly disguised question. They were hoping to inveigle Jesus to give them some kind of indication that the Kingdom of God that He proclaimed was indeed that which was promised in the prophetic Scriptures!
Why would the Pharisees think that “observations of the Kingdom of God” would help them anyway? Did they think that they could make a last-gasp decision the moment they were sure that the Kingdom of God had indeed come? Meanwhile, they could live as they pleased?
This attitude, this approach was unworthy of any true seeker of the Kingdom of God. One does not take a nonchalant attitude towards the spiritual things. One also cannot make demands that signs be given.
This approach by the Pharisees was generally erroneous and thus Jesus did not go very far towards giving them an answer. However, He did give fresh new insight into the subject of the Kingdom of God.
SIGNS AND WONDER
Jesus expressed understanding as to how people saw the kingdom of God. If they were to see something extraordinary, they would quickly be drawn to that event, and they would call people with these words, “See here” or “See there.” These extraordinary things would be considered “signs”.
Signs are not in themselves “bad”. However, signs were not always clear indications! Let us consider the fact that signs could also be performed by Satan and his emissaries.
In Paul’s second epistle to the Thessalonian Church, he warned them not to be taken in by signs and wonders, as if they were unqualified indications of God’s visitation.
“The coming of the lawless one
is according to the working of Satan,
with all power, signs, and lying wonders,
And with all unrighteous deception
Among those who perish,
Because they did not receive the love of the truth…”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10
Things which are observable are signs and wonders. However, signs and wonders could be duplicated. Satan could duplicate the things Jesus did. His signs and wonders are calculated to deceive.
Who would be deceived? Paul clearly identified these people. They would be people who did not receive the love of the truth. The key issue in the days of Jesus, or in the days of Paul was TRUTH – not things observed by the human eye!
This principle still holds true today! We must go on to maturity. We must go beyond basic and general understanding of spiritual matters. The Kingdom of God does not come with observation of signs and wonders.
“THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU…” Luke 17:21
The phrase “within you” may also be translated, “among you” or “in your midst”. This is less confusing. Jesus was not saying to the Pharisees that they already had the kingdom of God in them! Far from it!
The phrase “within you” when translated “among you” or simply, “in your midst” would make better sense. This phrase points to what Jesus had been saying all the time, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”
Jesus was proclaiming to the multitudes that the Kingdom of God was just a step away. If they were to take the step of faith and believe that Jesus was the Messiah of God, they would be ushered into the kingdom of God.
Jesus had preached wonderful truths of the Kingdom of God! His messages were backed up by the power of God, expressed in the healing of the sick. The Kingdom of God was at hand, and the Son of Man was there to lead them by the hand into the Kingdom. What more could they ask for?
ARE YOU IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Have you received Jesus as the King of your life? Are you drawn to Him because of the love of truth? Are you proving your genuine faith by living a life of a Disciple? Few questions could be of greater importance than the issue of the Kingdom of God.
Don’t be drawn by signs and wonders to come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Knowledge of Jesus and love for the truth are far better teachers and guides.