KEY TEXT: Luke 17:20-21 (KJV) – “20 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. 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Who were the Pharisees? The Greek word for Pharisee is Pharisaios. It is a transliteration (a sound-copy) of a Hebrew/Aramaic word: פָּרוּשׁ (pārūsh), which comes from the Hebrew root פרשׁ (parash). The root parash means: to separate, to set apart, to distinguish, to keep oneself apart from impurity. So “Pharisee” literally means: “the separated ones” or “those set apart.” The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group (about 2nd century BC → 1st century AD) who believed they were separated from uncleanness and sin by strict obedience to the Law of Moses and many additional traditions (oral law).
The Pharisees sought distinction and praise by outward observance of piety, but they were comparatively negligent of genuine piety. Jesus taught that God first separates the heart inwardly before the inward transformation manifests in outward actions. They prided themselves on their fancied good works. They possessed great influence with the common people.
The Pharisees used to do good deeds to be seen by others (Matthew 6:1). They loved being observed as keepers of God’s law. They loved the outward display of holiness more than real holiness. Their carnal minds only perceived the physical because they lived their lives seeking physical desires (for example, physical applause from men). However, they did not allow God to spiritually work on their hearts. Jesus understood this and did His best to draw them from their physical understanding of life to a spiritual understanding of life. He explained to them that the Kingdom of God does not come by observation. To observe something, one needs to use physical sight given by God.
When Jesus told them that the Kingdom of God does not come by observation, He meant that the Kingdom of God is not exclusively limited to being perceived by sight and other physical senses. Jesus Christ went ahead and said, “Neither shall they say, lo here! and lo there!” This meant that the Kingdom of God was higher and went beyond men’s common physical senses. Jesus then told them where the Kingdom of God is. He told them, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” This meant that the Kingdom of God is spiritual. The Kingdom of God has to be inherent in us first. That is why Jesus said that He has made us a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). The Bible also says that our bodies are the temples of the Lord (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). This means that God should live and reign in us.
The Sabbath is not merely a day of rest, but a reminder that God’s Kingdom begins in the soul; when we cease from striving and dwell in His presence, His reign takes root within us
If God lived and reigned in the hearts of the Pharisees, they would not have been hypocrites. They would never have shown hate and prejudice toward others because God would guide them in the genuine right way of living. They would not have separated themselves from others, thinking of themselves as more important than others.
Luke 4:43 (KJV) – “And He said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.”
Jesus Christ said that God the Father had sent Him to preach the Kingdom of God everywhere (to other cities). A true preacher of the Gospel should preach everything concerning God’s Kingdom, and it should be preached in a way that best represents God’s Kingdom. The preacher should preach by faith and in love. This does not necessarily mean that we should all preach by physically talking, because not everyone can speak publicly, and not everyone is called to speak publicly. This means that we should spread the Gospel in everything that we do. We should spread the Gospel in all the moral fields in which we participate. I saw this quote on social media today: “Make your character so good that a blind man can see your kindness and a deaf man can hear your good words.”
Luke 8:1 (KJV) – “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.”
What are glad tidings? Glad tidings means good news; it also means the Gospel. Knowledge of the Kingdom of God is good news.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV) – “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Allow God’s Kingdom to live and reign in you, and everything else will be added unto you. When you have the Kingdom of God within you, you are a wealthy person. When you have the Kingdom of God within you, you are beyond rich because you have access to all forms of riches: spiritual and physical riches.
Luke 18:36-37 (KJV) – “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. 37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
When the Kingdom of God is inside you, you have to be entirely different from the world. When Pilate asked Jesus if He was a King, Jesus acknowledged that He is indeed a King and that His purpose is to bear witness to the truth. Jesus Christ has made us kings and priests (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10). It is the prerogative of kings in the Kingdom of God to bear witness to the truth. The greatest thing that we can do as kings is to bear witness to the truth in all that we say and do.
Hebrews 12:28 (KJV) – “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear.”
Believers are given a kingdom that cannot be shaken—God’s eternal reign—unlike earthly kingdoms that rise and fall. The Kingdom of God cannot be shaken. When the Kingdom of God is within you, you cannot be shaken.
Psalm 145:13 (KJV) – “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.”
Worldly kingdoms shall end, but the Kingdom of God shall never end. Therefore, when the Kingdom of God is in you, you are assured that you shall never perish. You are also assured that you shall have dominion forever.
John 3:3 (KJV) – “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Jesus tells Nicodemus that entering or even recognizing God’s Kingdom requires a spiritual rebirth—not physical birth, but an inner transformation by God. A person must receive a new heart and new life from God to understand and experience His reign.
The Kingdom of God is available to be enjoyed by those who receive it. The only way to receive it is by being born again. One who is not born again is not able to enjoy the rights and privileges of this Kingdom. Therefore, I urge you to be born again and receive the Kingdom of God within you.
GOD BLESS YOU!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for making Your Kingdom available to me through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Help me to receive it by being born again, to allow Your Spirit to reign fully in my heart, and to live as a faithful king and priest in Your Kingdom. Teach me to seek Your righteousness above all else, to love others as You command, and to reflect Your glory in every word and action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Activity
- Reflection: Spend 5–10 minutes each morning meditating on one of the scriptures from this article (for example, Luke 17:21 or John 3:3). Visualize God’s Kingdom actively ruling your heart.
- Action Step: Choose one way to demonstrate God’s Kingdom in your day — e.g., show kindness to someone who cannot repay you, speak a word of encouragement, or serve quietly without recognition.
- Journaling: At the end of the day, write one sentence about how God’s Kingdom was visible in your actions and attitude.
Goal: This activity helps you internalize the truth that God’s Kingdom is not just a concept, but a living, active presence in your daily life.
Author: Mark Alex
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