The Kingdom Of God Is In The Midst Of You
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’”
The Pharisees were always seeking signs. They wanted visible proof that God was actually doing or going to do something in their midst. They knew how to read the weather but did not know how to read the signs of the times (Matt. 16:1-4). Jesus said that an evil and adulterous nation looked for signs (Matt.16:4). A sinful and idolatrous nation always looks for signs. Jesus said that in the days leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD “…false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22).
Jesus said that the people were following him because they saw the signs that he did (John 6:2). In the same chapter, Jesus complained that they were following him, not because they saw the signs, but because their hunger was satisfied (John 6:26). The Jewish leaders recognized that Jesus did many signs (John 11:47), but they did not connect Jesus with being God in spite of what they saw. Even though Jesus did many signs before them, they refused to believe in him (John 12:37). Jesus said that unless they saw signs they would not believe (John 4:48). What is this penchant that man has for signs? We always want visible solid proof before we believe. We have eliminated faith when we live or think in this way. We walk by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).
Jesus says in Luke 17 that the kingdom was not coming in ways that can be observed, not in ways that are concretely seen. By stating this in the negative, Jesus affirms that the kingdom is coming, yet he also says that the kingdom has arrived. Jesus said “the kingdom is the midst of you (vs. 21).” The word for “in the midst” is the word that means “within” or “among.” When Jesus began his ministry after his temptation, his message was “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 4:17, Mark 1:14, 15). What did Jesus mean by “at hand?” The word means to “come near” or “approach,” either by movement or in time.
Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). It is not my purpose to make a study of the kingdom here. There are many aspects to the kingdom of God. It is also interchangeable with the kingdom of heaven. It appears that the kingdom has a near and far aspect to it. It was coming (the OT speaks of God’s kingdom), had come, and is still coming. Many refer to this as “now” and “not yet.” Many simply just see the kingdom as a millennial kingdom still to come in the future.
The kingdom is spiritual in nature. It is within you as Jesus says. It is not of this world. But Jesus also equates the kingdom as the vineyard that is taken away from unbelieving Israel and given to another people (i.e. the church–Matt. 21:41, 43; Mark 12:9; Luke 20:16). The Apostle Paul explains this very clearly in Ephesians 2:11-22.
The kingdom is made up of people. These people are the covenant people of God (both OT and NT). In the Church, they are neither Jew nor Gentile, but one new people (Gal. 3:28). If you want to see the kingdom, then you must look at these people. So the kingdom is an entity in and of itself, but it is also people. There is a broad aspect and a narrow aspect to the kingdom. There is a general aspect and a particular or specific aspect to it. The world wants to see the visible. If the visible is to be seen, it should be seen as salt and light (Matt. 5:13, 14). The Pharisees wanted to see a grand kingdom, magnificent in appearance, overwhelming Rome and other earthly kingdoms. But they were mistaken as to its nature, as Jesus points out.
One of the dangers facing the Church at the present time is that we have forgotten what we are by nature. This also applies to us as individuals. The Christian is described as a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17). So new that the old has gone! There is no idea in Paul about carrying around with us remnants of the old. God has made us brand new creations. When the world looks at this new creation it will react to it. It won’t like it. What was it about Jesus that the Pharisees liked? They hated our Lord. They were envious of him. All that Jesus did was the will of the Father (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38, 39). Not only this, but Jesus also said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”(Matt. 7:21). Entering the kingdom is reserved for those who do God’s will.
The Pharisees were a diseased tree that could not produce healthy fruit. They were known by their fruits. The idea that they would believe if they saw a sign is preposterous. Jesus did many signs and they did not believe. They even stated at the cross that if Jesus came down, they would believe, but only if they saw (Mark 15:32). Even someone rising from the dead is not enough to convince unless it is first accompanied by believing the Word (Luke 16:31).
Jesus said to Thomas that those who have not seen Jesus, but have believed, are truly blessed (John 20:29). John ends that chapter with these words: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30, 31). Notice those words: “these are written so that you may believe.” It would appear that in some way idolatry is the delight of sight. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil appeared as pleasing to the eye (Gen. 3:6). Whether it is a golden calf, or money in the bank, or houses and lands possessed, or any other thing, the heart of man takes comfort in the sight of it. It is proof that he possesses it.
Man always says “show me the money.” He wants proof before he will take any further action. Walking by faith is never easy. It is the most difficult thing in the world to do. It is by believing God’s Word because it is his Word. It is doing the very opposite that the world demands as absolutely necessary. Do not be conned into thinking that if you provide proof for what the world demands, that then the world will believe. Only an evil and adulterous generation seeks after signs.
Do not make the mistake, either, in thinking that the world Is not watching. The world watches with ferocious intent everything that the Christian does or the Church does. It pounces relentlessly upon the slightest statement or action, yet it always will demand a sign. “By what right or by whose authority are you doing these things,” they will cry out (Mark 11:28). Did Jesus provide them what they asked for? No, he did not (Mark 11:33). It is not necessary to prove anything to the world. We are here to slow down the putrefaction of sin, and we are here to demonstrate the glorious light and life of Christ and his gospel. Jeremiah had some insight on these things when he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity’”(Jer. 10:2, 3).