¶ 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:
And {G1161} when he was demanded {G1905} of {G5259} the Pharisees {G5330}, when {G4219} the kingdom {G932} of God {G2316} should come {G2064}, he answered {G611} them {G846} and {G2532} said {G2036}, The kingdom {G932} of God {G2316} cometh {G2064} not {G3756} with {G3326} observation {G3907}:
The P’rushim asked Yeshua when the Kingdom of God would come. “The Kingdom of God,” he answered, “does not come with visible signs;
When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs.
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
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John 18:36
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. -
Luke 19:11
¶ And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. -
Luke 16:16
The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. -
Acts 1:6
¶ When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? -
Acts 1:7
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. -
Daniel 2:44
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. -
Luke 17:23
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after [them], nor follow [them].
Luke 17:20 (KJV)
Verse Text: "¶ 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:›"
Context and Background:
This verse opens a section where Jesus discusses the coming of the Kingdom of God. The Pharisees, a prominent religious and political group, ask Jesus about the timing of the kingdom's arrival. Like many Jews of their time, they likely expected the kingdom to come as a dramatic, visible, political event that would overthrow Roman rule and establish Israel's sovereignty under a Messiah.
Key Themes and Meaning:
Linguistic Insight:
The Greek word translated "observation" is paratērēsis (παρατήρησις). It implies a careful watching for signs, a visible display, or outward show. Jesus is saying the kingdom's arrival won't be accompanied by the kind of public spectacle or obvious signs that people would be looking for or observing intently.
Practical Application:
This verse reminds us that God's kingdom is not always about dramatic external events. While there will be a future visible return of Christ and the full establishment of the kingdom, the kingdom is also present now in a spiritual reality, often working in subtle, internal ways within individuals and communities. We should not solely look for grand outward signs but recognize the kingdom's presence in transformed lives and the work of God's Spirit.