Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 17 : 20-37 "QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD FROM THE PHARISEES"
Day 210 – Luke 17
Text: Luke 17 : 20-37
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD FROM THE PHARISEES
The Pharisees had tried to trap Jesus again and again on a number of issues.
1. The Sabbath issue.
The Pharisees did not make any headway at all. They were defeated all the time (Luke 6:1-11; 13:10-17; 14:1-6)
2. The Healing issue.
The Pharisees suggested that Jesus was empowered by demonic forces (Luke 11:14-26). They were proven to be wrong in their perception and argument.
3. The Association with Sinners issue.
The self-righteous attitude of the Pharisees caused them to be separated from sinful people. They accused Jesus of wrong association (Luke 15:1-3)
There were other issues that the Pharisees found fault with. However, Jesus held His own and proved that His understanding and approach to life and ministry were essentially correct.
One day a group of Pharisees came to ask Him to elaborate on the subject of “The Kingdom of God”. They had heard so much about the coming of God’s kingdom. Their asking Jesus to explain things does not necessarily indicate interest on their part. We are more prone to understanding that they wanted Jesus to trip Himself.
The Kingdom of God was a bigger and more comprehensive subject than the other issues that Jesus spoke on. Whereas they could not gain the upper hand, the Pharisees thought that they might get Jesus to be tangled up if they were to engage Himself to discuss the Kingdom of God issue.
It is good and wise to remember what Luke observed about the Pharisees.
“And as He had said these things,
The Scribes and the Pharisees
Began to assail Him vehemently ,
And to cross-examine Him
About many things,
lying in wait for Him,
and seeking to catch Him in something that He might say,
So that they might accuse Him.”
Luke 11:53-54
Their asking about the Kingdom of God does not necessarily suggest that they had come around and were now more open to receiving the teachings of Jesus. This was not the case at all, as can be observed in the reply that Jesus gave to the Pharisees. He knew what was in their heart. Nevertheless, He answered them.
Jesus was never afraid of speaking that which was the truth. He never failed to teach people about the Kingdom of God, even though there might not be a positive response to His message.
WHEN WOULD THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME?
This was the question raised to Jesus. As far as they were concerned, it would be impossible for Jesus to answer this question.
1. The prophets had foretold about the Kingdom of God, but thus far the Kingdom of God had not materialized.
2. What was this Kingdom of God anyway? No one seemed to be very sure.
a) There were those who thought that the Kingdom of God was going to be the restoration of the nation of Israel.
b) There were those who thought otherwise. These spoke of a kingdom that was spiritual entirely.
c) There were still others who longed for a Messianic Kingdom. Anything would be better than their present situation. But what was the Messianic Kingdom? The prophets spoke of the day when “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks” (Isaiah 2:4). But when would this kingdom come? If it would come at all!
“When would Kingdom of God come?” This was almost like a taunt to Jesus. The Pharisees were not really interested in Jesus’ teaching on this subject. They were just going to see how they could find fault with Jesus as He gave a discourse on this subject.
THE WISDOM OF JESUS
Jesus had preached on the subject of the Kingdom of God on many occasions. On every occasion, He seemed to have taught a new aspect of the Kingdom. The Pharisees could never figure out how Jesus was able to speak of so many different aspects of the Kingdom of God.
Once again, Jesus bewildered the Pharisees with these opening lines.
“The Kingdom of God does not come with observation;
Nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or “See there!’
For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luke 17:20-21
Jesus adopted an interactive teaching approach. He would make a comment on the subject of the Kingdom of God, and He would invite response to what He said. He knew that there would probably be no response to what He said.
He still answered the question of the Pharisees. But He stopped short! The Pharisees could take up His statement and then enter into a discussion or debate with Jesus. However, the Pharisees did not dare to raise even one question. They would first have to understand His deep statement. If they showed that they did not even understand His opening statement, how could they hope to understand the rest of His arguments? Once again, the Pharisees were bested!