“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: Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” [1]
Among scholars of the Bible, there is much division over the word, ‘within.’ My personal opinion is the following:
“Within you” as an inner spiritual reality
This is the most common modern reading.
- The “kingdom” isn’t a physical place.
- It’s a state of alignment with God — compassion, justice, love, clarity.
- In this view, Jesus is saying the divine presence is already inside each person, waiting to be awakened.
Think of it as the inner transformation that leads to outer change.
At odds with my opinion is this:
“Within you” as “in your midst.”
Some scholars argue the original Greek phrase entos hymōn is better translated as “among you” or “in your midst.”
Why this matters to those who hold this opinion is:
- Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, whom he often criticized.
- It would be odd for him to say God’s kingdom is inside you personally to people he believed were spiritually misguided.
- So this reading says: the kingdom is present because Jesus himself is present among them.
This interpretation focuses on community rather than interiority.
The Core Difference in One Sentence
- Luke 11:20 — Jesus says the kingdom is present in His works (exorcisms).
- Luke 17:20–21 — Jesus says the kingdom is present in His person, right in their midst. Bible Hub
This is as far as I will go in dealing with the differing opinions among scholars.
We will now focus on how Jesus described the Kingdom of God on Earth.
What exactly is the Kingdom of God according to Jesus?
Jesus talks about the kingdom more than any other topic. But He never defines it in a single sentence. Instead, He describes it through actions, parables, and contrasts.
Here’s the picture that emerges.
The Kingdom is God’s reign, not a geographical realm
Jesus consistently avoids political or territorial language.
- “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)
- “The kingdom of God does not come with observation.” (Luke 17:20)
This is a rule of God, not a region.
The Kingdom is present wherever God’s will is being done
This is why Jesus teaches:
- “Your kingdom come, your will be done…” (Matthew 6:10)
The kingdom is God’s will being enacted — in hearts, communities, and ultimately the world.
The Kingdom is revealed in Jesus Himself
This is the key to both Luke 11 and Luke 17.
- His miracles show the kingdom’s power (Luke 11:20).
- His presence shows the kingdom’s arrival (Luke 17:21).
Jesus is the embodiment of God’s reign
The Kingdom grows quietly, gradually, and from within
Jesus uses images like:
- a mustard seed
- yeast in dough
- hidden treasure
- a net gathering fish
These all describe something present but not fully visible, small but destined to fill everything.
The Kingdom has a future fullness
Jesus also speaks of:
- the renewal of all things (Matthew 19:28)
- the Son of Man coming in glory (Matthew 25:31)
- the meek inheriting the earth (Matthew 5:5)
So the kingdom is:
Already present, but not yet complete.
How did the earliest Christians understand the Kingdom?
The early church didn’t invent a new idea — they simply extended what Jesus taught.
Here’s how their understanding developed.
They believed the kingdom began with Jesus’ ministry
Acts repeatedly says Jesus’ resurrection and exaltation show He is already reigning.
- “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)
They saw the kingdom as inaugurated, not postponed.
They believed the kingdom spreads through the Spirit
After Pentecost, the kingdom is expressed through:
- transformed lives
- new communities
- justice, mercy, generosity
- the Spirit’s power
Paul describes the kingdom as:
- “righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17)
Not politics — transformed people.
They believed the kingdom is present but awaits a final consummation
This is exactly Jesus’ “already/not yet” pattern.
- Christ reigns now
- Christ will return to complete what He began
This is why early Christians lived with urgency and hope.
They did not expect Jesus to set up a political kingdom in His first coming
This is consistent across:
- Acts
- Paul’s letters
- Early Christian writings (1st–2nd century)
They saw Jesus’ first coming as:
- the revelation of the kingdom
- the defeat of sin and death
- the launching of a new humanity
And His second coming as:
- the final restoration of creation
- the visible triumph of God’s reign
Bringing it together
Here’s the simplest way to express both answers:
The kingdom of God is God’s reign breaking into the world through Jesus — present now in hidden, transformative ways, and destined to be fully revealed in the future.
The earliest Christians didn’t reinterpret Jesus; they simply lived out what He taught.
In part two of this teaching, we are going to look into the all-important issue of: “…the kingdom of God is within you.”
My understanding of this statement, as I have gone to some length to explain, is that the Kingdom of God was ‘in’ Jesus and Jesus was ‘within’ the midst of the discussion with the Pharisees.
In part two, we will learn how the kingdom is transferred from Jesus to you and me.
Blessings
Peter James