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:

LUKE 17:20KJV
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Luke 17:20 (KJV)

What does Luke 17:20 mean?

Luke 17:20 records Jesus telling the Pharisees that the kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be observed or watched for with outward signs. Jesus is saying that the arrival of God’s kingdom is not something people will be able to pinpoint by watching for visible, dramatic events.

In this scene, the Pharisees are questioning Jesus about when God’s promised rule will begin. Jesus answers that the kingdom of God is not coming in a way that can be tracked or predicted by human observation. The focus is on correcting the idea that God’s reign would arrive with obvious, external signs that everyone could see and measure.

The Greek behind Luke 17:20

  • παρατηρήσεως (paratērēseōs): This word is translated as "observation" and refers to careful watching or scrutiny, often with the idea of looking for visible signs. Jesus uses it to say that God’s kingdom will not come in a way that can be detected by outward watching or by looking for signs.
  • ἔρχεται (erchetai): This is the word for "cometh" or "comes." The form here suggests an ongoing or present reality, not just a future event, which hints that the kingdom is not only something to look for in the future but may already be present in some way.

Why Luke 17:20 matters

  • Luke 17:20 challenges the expectation that God’s kingdom would arrive with dramatic, outward signs, which was a common hope among many Jews of the time.
  • The verse shifts attention from looking for external proof of God’s rule to a different understanding of how and where God’s kingdom appears.
  • This sets up the following verses, where Jesus explains more about the nature of God’s kingdom, emphasizing its presence among or within people rather than as a political or visible event.

Where else these words appear

“when” Greek G4219 · used in 17 verses

  • Matthew 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
  • Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
  • Luke 9:41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.

“demanded” Greek G1905 · used in 58 verses

  • Matthew 12:10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
  • Mark 9:33 And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?
  • Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

“Pharisees” Greek G5330 · used in 95 verses

  • Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
  • Mark 2:18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
  • Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.