Luke 17:20-37
Parallel Accounts
No parallel accounts.
However, there are similarities found in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
Luke 17 most likely takes place at an earlier date.
Luke’s reason for recording
- Reveals the Pharisees’ attitude toward Jesus.
- Encounters like these will help justify Jesus’ death.
- May be a primer for chapter 21.
What is the kingdom of God?
- In a general sense – God’s rule over all creation.
- In a particular sense – An actual future kingdom established on earth.
- The Jew’s concept – A kingdom established by the Messiah which involves Israel ruling with him.
- In actuality – God’s eschatological kingdom.
Jesus makes it clear
- “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- “at hand” is engizo which is a reference to space and not time.
- The kingdom of heaven is found where Jesus is.
Exegesis of the passage
- Verse 20 – Pharisees demand an answer from Jesus that lines up with their own thinking.
- Jesus responds: They can’t observe the kingdom because of the way they think about it.
- Verse 21 – They will never see it come in the future because it already has come.
- Verse 22 – Jesus alludes to his ascension and presence in heaven.
- Verse 23 – Jews will continue to look for the Messiah but will not find him.
- Verse 24 – Jesus alludes to his second coming and no mistaking about it.
- Verse 25 – Jesus alludes to his crucifixion.
- Verses 26-30 – Much of the world will live unaware of prophecy unfolding before them.
- Verses 31-35 – Jesus refers to final events and “the rapture.”
Final Events leading to the fulfilled Kingdom of Heaven
- The day of verse 24 is found in Revelation 14:14-20 the day the earth is “harvested.”
- Paul speaks of this day in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.
- After the harvest of righteous the wrath of God is poured out on the earth (Revelation 16).
- This aligns with the second part of the harvest found in Revelation 14.
- This explains what Jesus alluded to in Luke 17:34-35.
- The millennial reign is established in Revelation 20:1-6.
- After the millennial reign Satan is released, and he gathers the armies of the world against God’s chosen, but God defeats them (Revelation 20:7-10).
- The second resurrection (Revelation 20:5) and God’s judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).
- Paul describes second resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53.
- God’s eternal kingdom is then established on a new earth (Revelation 21:1-4 & 21:9ff)
“Where, Lord?” – verse 37
- Verse 37 – Disciples are seeking to be assured they recognize Jesus.
- Jesus’ response reinforces the idea that there will be no mistake.
- He will be the only one who is able to strike the wicked.
Transformation Expectation
- God provides information about the end to give us hope.
- God withholds the specifics because we don’t need them.
- God has given you everything you need to live fully for him.
- Live like today is the last.