In Luke 17:20-37, Jesus addresses critical questions surrounding the nature of the Kingdom of God and His second coming. This passage is both a warning and an invitation, urging us to live with awareness, watchfulness, and readiness. By responding to the questions of the Pharisees and offering further teachings to His disciples, Jesus highlights the nature of God’s Kingdom, its present reality, and its future fulfillment. Through these teachings, He invites us into a deeper understanding of how we should live as we await the full manifestation of God’s reign.
The passage opens with a question from the Pharisees: “When will the Kingdom of God come?” This question reflects their expectation of a visible, political kingdom, one that would bring about Israel’s restoration and liberation from Roman rule. The Pharisees were looking for a dramatic, outward shift in the world’s power structures. But Jesus shifts their understanding in a profound way. He tells them that the Kingdom of God does not come with observable signs (Luke 17:20). It’s not about a future event that can be pinpointed to a specific time or place. Instead, He says, “The Kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21).
In this simple yet revolutionary statement, Jesus reveals that God’s Kingdom is not merely a physical realm that can be seen and touched; it is a spiritual reign that is already present among us. It’s not bound by geography or visible political power. Jesus’ ministry, His presence, and His work were the first glimpses of this Kingdom. Through His death, resurrection, and the continued work of His followers, this Kingdom is spreading, and each of us can experience its transformative power.
For the Pharisees, this would have been difficult to comprehend, as they expected a political Messiah to bring about an immediate, visible change. But Jesus was calling them, and us, to understand that God’s Kingdom doesn’t conform to human expectations or temporal boundaries. It’s a reality that can be experienced in the heart of every person who accepts His message.
After addressing the Pharisees, Jesus turns to His disciples to explain what the coming of the Kingdom will look like in the future. He tells them that a time will come when they will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man but will not see it (Luke 17:22). The phrase “Son of Man” refers to Jesus Himself, particularly in the context of His future return.
Jesus describes His return as an event that will be unmistakable, visible to all. He compares it to lightning that flashes and is seen from one end of the sky to the other (Luke 17:24). His return will not be hidden, like the quiet, invisible workings of the Kingdom. It will be clear, public, and undeniable. There will be no mistaking who He is or what is happening. The Son of Man will return in glory, and His reign will be fully established.
Yet, before that final and visible return, Jesus will endure great suffering. He reminds His disciples that He must first suffer many things and be rejected by this generation (Luke 17:25). This is a reference to His upcoming crucifixion. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the difficult truth that His first coming was not to bring immediate triumph, but to suffer, die, and offer salvation. Only when He returns in glory will the full revelation of His Kingship be revealed, marked by judgment and restoration.
To help His disciples understand the suddenness of His return, Jesus compares it to the days of Noah and Lot. In both cases, people were living their daily lives, unaware of the coming judgment. In Noah’s time, the flood came and swept away the unrepentant (Luke 17:27). In Lot’s case, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah was equally unexpected, as fire and brimstone rained down on the wicked (Luke 17:28-29).
Jesus uses these examples to show that when the Son of Man returns, it will be sudden. People will be going about their lives, unaware of the impending judgment. The warning is clear: don’t become complacent. The return of the Son of Man will come like a thief in the night, and it will catch many off guard, just like in the days of Noah and Lot.
Jesus then gives His disciples a series of warnings about what to do when that moment arrives. He speaks of people being in the field or on the rooftop, and the need to flee immediately (Luke 17:31). There will be no time to hesitate, no time to look back. Jesus warns them not to follow Lot’s wife, who turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the destruction of Sodom (Luke 17:32). This serves as a powerful reminder that once God’s judgment begins, there is no turning back.
Our commitment to the Kingdom of God must be total. We cannot afford to hold on to the past, to look back with longing or regret, when we are called to move forward in faith. Jesus says that whoever seeks to preserve their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life will preserve it (Luke 17:33). This paradox is a call to surrender everything, our time, our priorities, our comforts; for the sake of the Kingdom. Those who are attached to this world’s fleeting pleasures will miss out on the eternal life that God offers, while those who live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing God’s will above all else, will find true life.
The passage ends with a cryptic statement about two people being in the same place, one taken, and the other left (Luke 17:34-36). The disciples, curious about the specifics, ask where this will take place, and Jesus responds with a stark image: “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather” (Luke 17:37). This grim imagery reinforces the inevitability of judgment. There will be no hiding from it, no place to escape when it comes. The righteous will be separated from the wicked, and the distinction will be clear at the moment of Christ’s return.
In these verses, Jesus teaches His disciples about the nature of God’s Kingdom and the certainty of His return. The Kingdom is already present in a spiritual sense, but it will be fully revealed when the Son of Man returns in glory. This passage calls us to be ready, to remain vigilant and faithful as we wait for His return. We are to live with an eternal perspective, prioritizing the things of God and living in a way that reflects our hope in His coming Kingdom. The return of Christ is certain, but its timing is unknown. We must be prepared, for the day of His coming will be sudden and unexpected.
As we navigate the new beginnings in our lives, it is crucial to remember that our time here is temporary. This world’s comforts and distractions are fleeting, and we must live with an urgency and anticipation for the full coming of God’s Kingdom. Just as in the days of Noah and Lot, many will be caught off guard. Therefore, we are called to be alert, to live in such a way that when that moment comes, we will be found ready. May we live today in light of that eternal reality, committed to following Christ with our whole hearts, knowing that the Kingdom of God is already here, and yet it is still to come.
And THAT is….
I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.
AMKCH 2025
The images are AI generated on chatgpt at my direction.