Luke 17:21
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Neither shall they say, See here! or, see there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
American King James Version (AKJV)
Neither shall they say, See here! or, see there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And men will not say, See, it is here! or, There! for the kingdom of God is among you.
Webster's Revision
Neither will they say, Lo here! or lo there! for behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
World English Bible
neither will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'Look, there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you."
English Revised Version (ERV)
neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.
Clarke's Luke 17:21 Bible Commentary
Lo here! or, lo there! - Perhaps those Pharisees thought that the Messiah was kept secret, in some private place, known only to some of their rulers; and that by and by he should be proclaimed in a similar way to that in which Joash was by Jehoiada the priest. See the account, 2 Chronicles 23:1-11.
Barnes's Luke 17:21 Bible Commentary
"Lo here! or, Lo there!" When an earthly prince visits different parts of his territories, he does it with pomp. His movements attract observation, and become the common topic of conversation. The inquiry is, Where is he? which way will he go? and it is a matter of important "news" to be able to say where he is. Jesus says that the Messiah would not come in that manner. It would not be with such pomp and public attention. It would be silent, obscure, and attracting comparatively little notice. Or the passage may have reference to the custom of the "pretended" Messiahs, who appeared in this manner. They said that in this place or in that, in this mountain or that desert, they would show signs that would convince the people that they were the Messiah. Compare the notes at Acts 5:36-37.
Is within you - This is capable of two interpretations.
1. The reign of God is "in the heart." It does not come with pomp and splendor, like the reign of temporal kings, merely to control the external "actions" and strike the senses of people with awe, but it reigns in the heart by the law of God; it sets up its dominion over the passions, and brings every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
2. It may mean the new dispensation is "even now among you." The Messiah has come. John has ushered in the kingdom of God, and you are not to expect the appearance of the Messiah with great pomp and splendor, for he is now among you. Most critics at present incline to this latter interpretation. The ancient versions chiefly follow the former.
Wesley's Luke 17:21 Bible Commentary
17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there - This shall not be the language of those who are, or shall be sent by me, to declare the coming of my kingdom. For behold the kingdom of God is within or among you - Look not for it in distant times or remote places: it is now in the midst of you: it is come: it is present in the soul of every true believer: it is a spiritual kingdom, an internal principle. Wherever it exists, it exists in the heart.