The coming of the Kingdom - O le oo mai o le Malo

Scripture Focus: Luka 17:20-35,37

Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation; neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” He said to the disciples, “The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away, nor follow after them, for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day. But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. As it was in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise, even as it was in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from the sky, and destroyed them all. It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed. In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever seeks to save his life loses it, but whoever loses his life preserves it. I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left. There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left.” They, answering, asked him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together.”
- Luke 17:20-35,37 (WEB)

Study:

In this passage, Jesus teaches about the nature of the Kingdom of God and its coming. When questioned by the Pharisees about the timing of the Kingdom, Jesus points out that it is not something to be observed externally with signs or spectacle; rather, the Kingdom of God is within or among us. He warns the disciples not to be distracted by false reports or claims of His arrival, emphasizing the sudden and unmistakable revelation of the Son of Man, like lightning flashing across the sky. Jesus also connects the coming of the Kingdom with judgment, comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot, where life went on as usual until sudden destruction came. The call is for readiness and a clear priority on what truly matters—losing one's life for Christ's sake leads to preservation rather than loss. This passage challenges believers to keep their hearts focused on God's Kingdom and to live in alert anticipation of Christ’s return.

Application:

Today, this passage reminds us not to be distracted by worldly events or sensational claims about the coming of God's Kingdom. Instead, we are invited to recognize that the Kingdom is already present within us through faith in Christ. Our priority should be to live according to Kingdom values—holiness, readiness, and self-sacrifice—rather than chasing temporary comforts or possessions. Like Jesus warns, trying to protect our earthly lives and belongings at the expense of our spiritual well-being results in loss. We are encouraged to live everyday in awareness that Jesus could return at any moment, motivating us to stay faithful, focused, and courageous in sharing the Gospel.

Reflection Questions:

• How does knowing that the Kingdom of God is within us change the way we live our daily lives?
• What are some distractions or false signs that may cause us to lose focus on God’s Kingdom?
• In what ways can we prepare ourselves spiritually for Christ’s return?
• What does it mean to 'lose our life' to preserve it in the context of your own faith journey?
• How can we support one another to remain faithful and alert as we await the coming Kingdom?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help us to see clearly that Your Kingdom is not just a future hope but a present reality within us. Teach us to live with hearts fully surrendered to You, prioritizing Your Kingdom above all else. Strengthen us to resist distractions and false teachings, so we may stand ready for Your return at any moment. May we lose ourselves in Your love and purpose, finding true life in You alone. Amen.

Tags: kingdom of God, Luke 17, Jesus teachings, Christian living, end times, spiritual readiness, faith, Bible study, Gospel of Luke