Section 17:20–37

Jesus taught about the time when the kingdom of God will come

The Greek text does not indicate when Jesus said the words in this section. Scholars believe that he said them during the same time period as the last section. During this time, Jesus was making his final journey to Jerusalem. The Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus answered by describing the way the Son of Man, the Messiah, will return to earth. He will return suddenly, and it will be obvious to everyone that he has returned. Jesus compared his return to how suddenly the flood came in the time of Noah and how suddenly Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in the time of Lot.

Examples of headings for this section are:

Jesus taught about when the Son of Man will come
-or-
The coming of the Kingdom of God

Parallel passages are in Matthew 24:17–18, 24:23–28, 24:37–41, and Mark 13:14–16, 13:19–23.

Paragraph 17:20–21

17:20a–b

When asked by the Pharisees: In this section, Luke introduced a new topic. He told about things that Jesus said to people at a different time from the event in 17:11–19. In Greek Luke introduced this new topic with a common conjunction. In some languages it is natural to use a general time phrase such as When in the Berean Standard Bible. Other ways to translate this are:

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-

Later, he was asked by the Pharisees (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

In some languages a conjunction or time phrase is not necessary. For example:

Some Pharisees asked Jesus (Good News Translation)
-or-
Being asked by the Pharisees (Revised Standard Version)

Introduce this new topic in a way that is natural in your language.

asked by the Pharisees: This is a passive clause. Here are some ways to translate this:

• Translate it as passive. For example:

having been asked by the Pharisees (New International Version)

• Translate it as active. For example:

the Pharisees asked Jesus (New Living Translation (2004))

Pharisees: The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group or party. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws very carefully and in detail. Here are some ways to translate this word:

• Transliterate the word Pharisees according to the sounds of your language and indicate that it refers to people. For example:

Farisi members/people
-or-
Parise adherents

• Transliterate the word Pharisees and indicate that it refers to a group of people with certain beliefs. For example:

people belonging to the Farise religious sect/group
-or-
members/people of the religious group called the Farasi

See also “Pharisee,” sense A, in Key Biblical Terms. You may also want to include an explanation of “Pharisee” in the glossary of your translation.

asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come: Here the Pharisees were asking when God would establish his reign. They referred to the future time when God will rule over people as their king. They expected that he would send the Messiah to conquer their enemies and rule with God’s authority.

This clause is similar to “Your kingdom come” in 11:2. Some ways to translate it are:

the Pharisees asked ⌊Jesus⌋ when God would establish his reign
-or-
the Pharisees asked ⌊Jesus⌋ when God would begin/come to reign ⌊over all people⌋

In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech here. For example:

…the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” (New Living Translation (2004))

For more information, see kingdom of God, Context 3 in the Glossary.

the kingdom of God: In this context the phrase kingdom of God refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer here to a land or country that he rules over.

Some ways to translate this are:

• As a noun. For example:

God’s rule/reign
-or-
God’s kingship
-or-
God’s chieftaincy
-or-
God’s government

• As a verbal expression:

the time for God to rule his people
-or-
the time for God to care for his people as king

17:20c–d

Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs…”: There are two ways to interpret the Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs:

(1) It means that people will not be able to observe when God begins to rule people as their king. Here is another way to translate this:

People can’t observe the coming of the kingdom of God. (God’s Word)

(New International Version, God’s Word, King James Version, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) It means that people will not see signs or miracles that will show them that God is beginning to rule people as their king. Here is another way to translate this:

The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. (New Living Translation (2004))

(Berean Standard Bible, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), English Standard Version)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). The evidence is given in 17:21b: the kingdom of God was already present there (and the Pharisees had not detected it). Some ways to translate this interpretation are:

God’s kingdom is coming, but not in a way that you will be able to see with your eyes. (New Century Version)
-or-
You cannot tell by observation when the kingdom of God comes. (Revised English Bible)

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