Luke 17:20-37

1. In 1887, a small but impactful movement emerged in the United States, led by a Canadian pastor named A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. When Simpson initiated the mission movement, he was deeply passionate about evangelism and missions. He recognized that Jesus Christ is the center of both evangelism and missions. As a result, he introduced a theological and practical concept known as the Fourfold Gospel. The Fourfold Gospel emphasizes Christ as our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. While focusing on Jesus Christ, Simpson also placed strong emphasis on the Kingdom of God. He believed that the Kingdom of God would come once believers fulfill God’s Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:18–20. Christians believe that Jesus will return, and many are eager to know the details of His coming. When I looked through libraries and bookstores, I found thousands of books written about Jesus’s return and the Kingdom of God. I mention this because today’s Scripture focuses on Jesus’s teaching about the Kingdom of God. My hope is that, through today’s sermon, we will gain a proper understanding of the Kingdom of God. Let us now read Luke 17:20–21.

Luke 17:20–21 NASB 2020

Now He was questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, and He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

2. Although I will be addressing verses 20 to 37, I have read only verses 20 and 21. After the Second World War, scholars such as Oscar Cullmann stated that the Kingdom of God has already come, but not yet in its fullness. This led to the well-known phrase “already, but not yet.” While this phrase effectively captures the meaning of the Kingdom of God, it still requires further explanation. Today’s passage, Luke 17:20–37, can be divided into several sections:

1. The Kingdom Is Already Here – But Not as Expected (vv. 20–21)

2. The Kingdom Is Coming in Glory – But First Comes Suffering (vv. 22–25)

3. Learn from the Past – Judgment Is Sudden (vv. 26–30)

4. When the Time Comes – Don’t Look Back (vv. 31–33)

5. The Final Separation – Ready or Not (vv. 34–36)

6. Where Will This Happen? – Judgment Is Certain (v. 37)

3. As we read verses 20–21, we see that Jesus did not describe the kingdom of God as a separate place, such as Heaven. Instead, He taught that the kingdom of God is present not because of physical or material things, but because of His presence. At this point, Jesus engages in a conversation with the Pharisees about the kingdom of God. In this discussion, depending on the Bible translation, we encounter different expressions such as “in,” “midst,” or “within.” Here, the kingdom of God is described as being “in your midst” or “with you.” In this context, the kingdom of God does not refer to a political kingdom. Rather, it is founded on God and faith.

Colossians 1:13–14 NIV

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

4. When we think of the kingdom of God, we should understand that it exists both in Heaven and on earth. Since Jesus came to earth, the kingdom of God has already begun, and the key to entering it is faith in Christ. Therefore, if we do not experience the kingdom of God here on earth, we cannot expect to experience it in Heaven. Moreover, without faith, we cannot fully comprehend the reality of the kingdom of God. Then, beginning in verses 22 to 30, Jesus speaks about being prepared for the coming of the kingdom of God. In these verses, His focus is not on special signs or symbols that announce the arrival of the kingdom. Instead, Jesus emphasizes the importance of being attentive and faithful in the midst of ordinary life.

Luke 17:22–25 NLT

Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see the day when the Son of Man returns, but you won’t see it. People will tell you, ‘Look, there is the Son of Man,’ or ‘Here he is,’ but don’t go out and follow them. For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so it will be on the day when the Son of Man comes. But first the Son of Man must suffer terribly and be rejected by this generation.

Luke 17:26–30 NASB 2020

And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so will it also be in the days of the Son of Man: people were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, and they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, and they were building; but on the day that Lot left Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

5. There is a theological spectrum known as eschatology, which refers to the doctrine of the last things. Eschatology addresses how we can understand the final events and occurrences on earth, particularly in relation to the second coming of Jesus. It also guides us in recognizing and interpreting the signs and symbols associated with the end times and their timing. People are eager to know when Jesus will return. They also seek to understand the signs and symbols of the end times. As a result, they often focus on the prophetic books and the Book of Revelation. Studying these scriptures is helpful for deepening our understanding. As I mentioned, we have been living in the “already but not yet” period since Jesus came as the Messiah. This period began when Jesus ascended into heaven, as described in Acts 1, answering the curiosity the Pharisees expressed in Luke 17.

Acts 1:6–8 NASB 2020

So, when they had come together, they began asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” But He said to them, “It is not for you to know periods of time or appointed times which the Father has set by His own authority; but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”

6. Even Jesus’ disciples wanted to know when the kingdom of heaven would be restored. However, Jesus did not reveal the timing; instead, He focused on what they should do. Similarly, in Luke 17, Jesus did not disclose the timing of the coming of the kingdom of God to either the Pharisees or the disciples. Rather, He shared two stories that illustrated signs of God’s work, particularly the judgment that would accompany the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Luke 17:26–30 ESV

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

7. According to Jesus’ teaching, there would be no extraordinary signs to indicate the end times; instead, ordinary life itself could serve as the sign. This reveals that as people become absorbed in everyday activities and pleasures—rather than focusing on God and His work—their way of life becomes a sign of the approaching Kingdom of God. Even in Lot’s time, people ignored both Lot’s message and the warnings delivered by the angels. As a result, they all perished when God’s judgment came. Although it was not a biblical message, I remember something my pastor said when I was ten years old that had a lasting impact on me. He preached that if we worshiped the Lord at a church other than our own, God would not accept our worship. This frightened me, so I decided not to visit my grandparents if it meant missing worship at my church on Sundays. I now understand that this was a false message, but it shaped my commitment to worshiping the Lord consistently in one place. For me, the message or size of the church does not matter; my focus is on worshiping the Lord. I recognize that this can be difficult at times because of busy schedules, uninspiring sermons, or even the appeal of attractive children’s programs. 

8. The Kingdom of God is not defined by a specific time or place, but by the priority it holds in the lives of believers. When we live in the Kingdom of God, we follow God’s ways and strive to live as Jesus did, rather than simply leading an ordinary life. Recognizing that we live in the Kingdom allows us to teach our children how to set the right priorities in their own lives. When I was young, even though churches often focused too much on teaching moral behavior and the outward conduct of worship, I still learned the importance of maintaining the right posture during worship. I believe this was valuable—not because it was burdensome or difficult, but because it taught me about setting priorities. Today, churches often hesitate to teach such lessons, fearing that children might feel pressured, especially since past efforts sometimes led to negative side effects. Instead, families and parents now have an important role in teaching children how to establish their priorities.

9. Therefore, if we have faith in Christ, we can live a kingdom life as we prepare for Jesus’ return. However, for those who lack faith or are seeking faith in Christ, signs and symbols of the Kingdom of God and of Jesus’ return become necessary. In Luke 17, Jesus emphasizes living in the Kingdom of God because He is present among them, rather than focusing on its timing or signs. As Christians, while we should not neglect learning about and speaking of the signs of the coming Kingdom, we are called to teach these truths by living as citizens of the Kingdom, demonstrating our readiness for Jesus’ return. Signs must lead to application, and our lives—lived in preparation for His return—serve as a testimony to the world.

10. What Does This Mean for Us Today? We are living in what the Bible calls the “already but not yet” time. God’s Kingdom has already started because Jesus came. But it’s not fully complete yet.So how should we live?

• Don’t focus too much on when Jesus will return.

• Instead, live every day as a citizen of God’s Kingdom.

• Put God first. Teach your children to set the right priorities.

• Trust in Jesus. He is not only the sign of the Kingdom—He is the Kingdom.

11. Let’s make God’s Kingdom our identity. Let’s not search for other ways.Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus. Because of Him, we are already part of God’s Kingdom.  And one day, He will return and complete it fully.Until then, let’s live each day with faith, hope, and the help of the Holy Spirit!

Podcast: https://notebooklm.google.com/notebook/1c3fdc95-0d7e-43b2-b8b6-28feb02da89f/audio

Quiz

Instructions: Answer each question in 2-3 sentences.

• What is the Fourfold Gospel, and who introduced this concept?

• According to the source, what did A.B. Simpson believe needed to happen before the Kingdom of God would come?

• Explain the meaning of the phrase "already, but not yet" in the context of the Kingdom of God.

• Based on Luke 17:20-21, where did Jesus say the Kingdom of God was located?

• How does the source explain that one can enter the Kingdom of God here on earth?

• According to Luke 17:22-25, what will happen before the Son of Man comes in glory?

• What does the source suggest is a sign of the approaching Kingdom of God in the "days of Noah" and "days of Lot"?

• What does the source say about the importance of focusing on the timing of Jesus' return?

• According to the source, what defines the Kingdom of God in the lives of believers?

• What role does the source suggest families and parents have in teaching children about priorities today?

Answer Key

• The Fourfold Gospel is a theological and practical concept that emphasizes Christ as our Saviour, Sanctifier, Healer, and Coming King. It was introduced by A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church.

• A.B. Simpson believed that the Kingdom of God would come once believers fulfill God’s Great Commission, as recorded in Matthew 28:18–20.

• The phrase "already, but not yet" means that the Kingdom of God has already begun since Jesus came, but it has not yet reached its full completion. This concept was popularized by scholars like Oscar Cullmann after the Second World War.

• Based on Luke 17:20-21, Jesus said the Kingdom of God was "in your midst" or "with you." He emphasized that it was not coming with observable signs or in a specific physical location.

• The source explains that the key to entering the Kingdom of God here on earth is faith in Christ. It states that if we do not experience the Kingdom of God on earth, we cannot expect to experience it in Heaven.

• According to Luke 17:22-25, before the Son of Man comes in glory, He must first suffer terribly and be rejected by that generation.

• The source suggests that a sign of the approaching Kingdom of God in the "days of Noah" and "days of Lot" was that people were absorbed in ordinary everyday activities and pleasures, rather than focusing on God and His work.

• The source advises against focusing too much on when Jesus will return. Instead, it encourages living every day as a citizen of God's Kingdom.

• The source states that the Kingdom of God is not defined by a specific time or place, but by the priority it holds in the lives of believers. It is about following God's ways and striving to live like Jesus.

• The source suggests that families and parents now have an important role in teaching children how to establish their priorities, as churches sometimes hesitate to teach such lessons to avoid causing negative side effects.