Luke 17:20

When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses Pharisees who question him about the timing of the kingdom of God's arrival, immediately after instructing a healed leper to present himself to the priests.

The words — ἔρχεται (erchetai) = is coming captures the Pharisees' inquiry regarding the kingdom's arrival, while Ἐπερωτηθεὶς (Eperōtētheis) = having been asked establishes the conversational trigger for Jesus' response.

The thread — The passage connects to John 18:36, where Jesus clarifies that his kingdom does not originate from this world, and to Luke 16:16, which records that the gospel of the kingdom has been preached since John's ministry began.

Why it lands — The text commands readers to abandon the search for visible landmarks or public declarations, stating directly that the kingdom's presence is already among those listening rather than a future spectacle to be located.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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:

Cross-references

John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Luke 16:16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.
Luke 19:11 While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently.
Daniel 2:44 In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself stand forever.
Zechariah 4:6 So 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.
Luke 10:11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
Luke 17:23 People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.
Acts 1:6 So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”