Day 83

Luke 17:20–37 (NIV)

²⁰ Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, ²¹ nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” ²² Then he said to his disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. ²³ Men will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them. ²⁴ For the Son of Man in his day will be like the lightning, which flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other. ²⁵ But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

²⁶ “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. ²⁷ People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all. ²⁸ “It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. ²⁹ But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. ³⁰ “It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. ³² Remember Lot’s wife!

³³ Whoever tries to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. ³⁴ I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left. ³⁵ Two women will be grinding grain together; one will be taken and the other left.” ³⁷ “Where, Lord?” they asked. He replied, “Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Helpful Information

vs 21 Note - most modern translations have vs 21 as meaning among you, or in your midst, not "within you". Either way Jesus is saying the kingdom has already arrived.

vs 31- The flat rooftop was used for a variety of purposes. Because the stairs from the rooftop led down the outside wall of the house, not inside, one need not go inside when descending. This is an image of haste: of forgetting possessions, property and worldly concerns to get to the street and greet the returning king, or to flee impending doom. Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary : New Testament. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

vs 36- Some manuscripts add- . Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

Questions

What do you think the kingdom of God looks like? Can we know when it is coming?

What does verses 20-25 say about all the speculation we see in Christian circles about the second coming of Jesus?

What does Jesus say the most important thing to remember about Jesus’ second coming is?

Notes

vs 20-21 The Pharisees again are questioning Jesus. They looked for events that would show the coming that they could analyze and see (not unlike today) God's judgment and kingdom coming in with force. Jesus tells them you are missing it. The kingdom is here . People have asked for signs (11:16) to prove Jesus is the one. Jesus is saying I am the sign, I am the beginning of the kingdom. Remember His answer to John the Baptist (7:20-22)

The Pharisees are looking for the spectacular based on their definition of spectacular is. Jesus is saying the spectacular is right in front of you, (Pharisees are talking directly to God) but you don't see it because you are too busy looking for the way you think God will work. This is a warning for us to also remember.

vs 22 - 37 Jesus now turns to the disciples to talk to them about the kingdom and how it will be fulfilled. They already believe that Jesus is the beginning of the Kingdom being completed. He is the Christ (the hows, whys, whens, and wheres they still have no real understanding of)

vs 22- But now Jesus begins to tell them that the kingdom isn't going to be the way they think either. The final act of the kingdom will not be while Jesus is on the earth at this moment . They will long for Him to come back i.e. for the kingdom to be completed (thy kingdom come as in heaven now on earth) Don't we still long for His coming!

vs 23 -24 People will say Jesus is here or there but don't believe them. There will be no doubt when Jesus returns in His glory. Just like you see lightning flash boldly in the sky there will be no doubt.

vs 25- Jesus once again tells them that He has to suffer and be rejected (9:22, 9:44). This time it is clear that all, not just the leaders, will reject him. This suffering is part of the kingdom being established.

vs 26-29- Jesus then uses two examples of past judgments of God to tell the disciples how it will be when Jesus comes back. As in Noah and Lots day people will be about their everyday routines, denying they live waiting for judgment. But it will come unexpectedly and quickly. Judgment will be complete!

vs 30-33 - For the disciples they must be found ready to go into the completed kingdom. They shouldn't hold on to the things of this world (vs31) . (see Luke 8:13-14) Remember Jesus' comments on being ready even when the master is late (12:35-38)

Jesus warns them again not to be like Lot's wife (Gen 19:26) looking back at the things of this world (9:62)

vs 33 - (see 9:23-26) There is a cost to being part of God's kingdom. The things of this world have to be looked at based on what is to come (12:34) You have to make a choice.

vs 34- 35- It will be swift and it will be based on being ready when the time for the kingdom to be completed happens. Those taken are probably symbolized to be going to the kingdom. Those left are probably left for judgment based on the next verse. Don't read too much into it. The point is be ready, don't be the one left for judgment!

vs 37- Where- after Jesus tells them it will happen like lightning i.e. there will be no doubt, the disciples ask "where?" It shows they just cannot comprehend what Jesus is saying

Jesus' answer has the same meaning as what he said in vs 24. Where vultures circle means something is dead. The "where" will be obvious .

There will be a judgment and when it comes it will be swift and without doubts. Be ready by seeing that the kingdom of God is already here in your midst. Live based on that fact!