Luke 17:22-37

2 d. Luke 17:22-37. The Coming of the Kingdom.

To the Pharisees Jesus declared what they did not know, the spiritual essence of the kingdom. But Jesus did not mean to deny the external and final appearing of a divine state of things. To develope this other side of the truth, He turns to His disciples, because it is only to those who possess something of His spiritual life that He can speak profitably of His future return. Thus it is that the treatment of the same subject is modified, according to the character of those whom Jesus addresses. Besides, the abstract idea of the coming of the kingdom is now presented as the reappearing of Jesus Himself. The truth could only be expounded in this aspect to believers. We may see with what justice the Revue de Théologie alleges: “The first two verses (Luke 17:20-21) are in contradiction to the rest, and have no connection with what follows!” (1867, p. 386.)

The discourse of Jesus bears on three points: 1 st. When and how will Jesus reappear (Luke 17:22-25)? 2 d. What will be the state of the world then (Luke 17:26-30)? 3 d. What will be the moral condition of salvation in that last crisis (Luke 17:31-37)?