English Standard Version
Luke 17:20
20Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed,
Luke 17:20 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
- New International Version (NIV)Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
- New Living Translation (NLT)One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs.
Context of Luke 17:20
18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19And he said to him, "Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." 22And he said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
Read all of Luke 17Luke 17:20 word by word
Ἐπερωτηθεὶς δὲ ὑπὸ τῶν Φαρισαίων πότε ἔρχεται ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ, ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς καὶ εἶπεν· οὐκ ἔρχεται ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ μετὰ παρατηρήσεως,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andδέde · thenG1161
- when he was demandedἐπερωτάωeperōtaō · to questionG1905
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- the Phariseesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
- whenπότεpote · when?G4219
- the kingdomβασιλείαbasileia · kingdomG932
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- should comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- he answeredἀποκρίνωapokrinomai · to answerG611
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- notοὐou · noG3756
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- observationπαρατήρησιςparatērēsis · observationG3907
Cross-references for Luke 17:20
- Luke 10:11'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'
- Luke 16:16"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.
- Luke 19:11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
- Acts 1:6So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"
- Luke 17:23And they will say to you, 'Look, there!' or 'Look, here!' Do not go out or follow them.
- Daniel 2:44And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,
- Zechariah 4:6Then he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.
- John 18:36Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
Commentaries on Luke 17:20
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Cometh not with observation - With scrupulous observation. That this is the proper meaning of the original, , Kypke and others have amply proved from the best Greek writers. As if he had said: "The kingdom of God, the glorious religion of the Messiah, does not come in such a way as to be discerned only by sagacious critics, or is only to be seen by those who are scrupulously watching for it; it is not of such a nature as to be confined to one place, so…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Was demanded - Was asked. Of the Pharisees - This was a matter of much importance to them, and they had taught that it would come with parade and pomp. It is not unlikely that they asked this merely in “contempt,” and for the purpose of drawing out something that would expose him to ridicule. The kingdom of God - The “reign” of God; or the dispensation under the Messiah. See the notes at Matthew 3:2. With observation - With scrupulous and attentive…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-37Verses 20-37 The kingdom of God was among the Jews, or rather within some of them. It was a spiritual kingdom, set up in the heart by the power of Divine grace. Observe how it had been with sinners formerly, and in what state the judgments of God, which they had been warned of, found them. Here is shown what a dreadful surprise this destruction will be to the secure and sensual. Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. When Christ came…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21When the kingdom of God would come: Many Jews believed that the Messiah (Christ) would establish God's kingdom in Jerusalem. They expected him to defeat Israel's enemies and bring peace, prosperity, justice, and righteousness (see 3:15; compare Acts 1:6). The Pharisees were likely questioning the claim that Jesus was the Messiah (God’s chosen king). He was not defeating the Romans or setting up a visible kingdom on earth, as they expected. Jesus did not…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 20-3720-25. when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects. It cometh not with observation--with watching or lying in wait, as for something outwardly imposing and at once revealing itself.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 17:20
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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