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Selected Verse: Luke 17:20 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Lu 17:20 |
King James |
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: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
COMING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND OF THE SON OF MAN. (Luke 17:20-37)
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. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Was 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 Mat 3:2.
With observation - With scrupulous and attentive looking for it, or with such an appearance as to "attract" observation - that is, with pomp, majesty, splendor. He did not deny that, according to their views, the time was drawing near; but he denied that his kingdom would come in the "manner" in which they expected. The Messiah would "not" come with pomp like an earthly prince; perhaps not in such a manner as to be "discerned" by the eyes of sagacious and artful people, who were expecting him in a way agreeable to their own feelings. The kingdom of God is "within" people, and it makes its way, not by pomp and noise, but by silence, decency, and order, Co1 14:40. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
observation
Or, outward show. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
With observation (μετὰ παρατηρήσεως)
Only here in New Testament. The progress of the kingdom cannot be defined by visible marks like that of an earthly kingdom. Its growth in the world is a process of pervasion, like the working of the leaven through the lump. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| The kingdom of God cometh not with observation - With such outward pomp as draws the observation of every one. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Cometh not with observation - With scrupulous observation. That this is the proper meaning of the original, μετα παρατηρησεως, 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 that men might say of it, Behold it is only here, or only there: for this kingdom of God is publicly revealed; and behold it is among you; I proclaim it publicly, and work those miracles which prove the kingdom of God is come; and none of these things are done in a corner."
Dr. Lightfoot has well observed that there are two senses especially in which the phrase "kingdom of heaven," is to be understood.
1. The promulgation and establishment of the Christian religion.
2. The total overthrow of the Jewish polity.
The Jews imagined that when the Messiah should come he would destroy the Gentiles, and reign gloriously over the Jews: the very reverse of this, our Lord intimates, should be the case. He was about to destroy the whole Jewish polity, and reign gloriously among the Gentiles. Hence he mentions the case of the general deluge, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. As if he had said: "The coming of this kingdom shall be as fatal to you as the deluge was to the old world, and as the fire and brimstone from heaven were to Sodom and Gomorrah." Our Lord states that this kingdom of heaven was within them, i.e. that they themselves should be the scene of these desolations, as, through their disobedience and rebellion, they possessed the seeds of these judgments. See on Mat 3:2 (note). |
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.