The statement “the kingdom of God is within you” appears only once in the Bible, in Luke 17:21. In context, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. They had asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming. Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:20-21).
There are several possible interpretations of what Jesus meant by this important statement:
1. The kingdom of God is within your grasp
Jesus could have simply meant that the kingdom of God was right there in front of the Pharisees if they would only recognize it and embrace it. It was within their reach and in their midst in the person of Jesus Himself and the miracles He was performing (Luke 17:21). The religious leaders were searching for signs of the Messiah’s coming, but missing the fact that the Messiah was already there in their presence. If they would only put their faith in Jesus, they could experience the kingdom of God in their lives.
2. The kingdom of God is within your heart
Many interpret this verse to mean that the kingdom of God exists in the hearts of those who place their faith in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit living inside believers, God rules internally in their hearts and minds (Romans 14:17). The reign of God is manifested in the lives of His people through the fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). So in this sense, the kingdom of God is established in the hearts of men.
3. The kingdom of God is in your midst
The kingdom was in their midst in the person of Christ. Wherever Jesus went, the kingdom went. Jesus demonstrated the character and nature of God’s kingdom through His words, actions, miracles, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead. The kingdom was seen in vivid display during Christ’s earthly ministry.
In a broader sense, God was already ruling over the lives of those who had believed in Him during Old Testament times. The kingdom was evident throughout biblical history in the lives of Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah and many other saints. So God’s kingdom was present and at work long before Christ came.
4. The kingdom of God is within your actions
Some interpret this verse more actively to mean we must do something to initiate the kingdom of God. Through righteous living, acts of service, prayer, evangelism, and relying on God’s strength, believers usher in the kingdom of God into the world around them. As we yield ourselves to righteousness, the reign of God is evident in our actions.
Jesus demonstrated this idea of bringing in the kingdom through our actions in the Lord’s prayer when He prayed, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). Jesus taught that we are to pray and work for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done in our world today. As we seek to advance God’s purposes, we spread the influence of His kingdom.
5. The kingdom of God is within your church community
The kingdom of God is evident when believers live in harmony together as the body of Christ. Jesus prayed that His followers would be unified just as He and the Father are one (John 17:20-23). When Christians demonstrate qualities like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in their relationships within the church, God’s kingdom is powerfully displayed.
The early church did this very well: “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had…There were no needy persons among them” (Acts 4:32, 34). They lived in true kingdom community.
So the kingdom of God can be manifested within the loving, caring relationships of God’s people, the church.
6. The kingdom of God is within your mindset
Some scholars point out that the Greek word translated “within” in Luke 17:21 can also mean “among” or “in the midst of.” If understood this way, Jesus may have meant, “the kingdom of God is among you” or “in the midst of you.” In this sense, it refers to a kingdom mindset. Wherever God reigns in people’s hearts and minds, the kingdom is present.
Those who have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5, 1 Corinthians 2:16) demonstrate the reign of God in their attitudes, perspectives, values, thoughts, and conduct. When believers live according to God’s principles and priorities, they manifest the kingdom of God within their mindset.
7. The kingdom of God is within you spiritually
Considering the Greek word for “within” can also be translated “inside” or “among,” some interpreters suggest the kingdom of God is within believers spiritually. When Jesus reigns in their hearts through the indwelling Holy Spirit, then the kingdom is established inside Christians spiritually.
Jesus emphasized the spiritual nature of God’s kingdom: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). While the kingdom has implications in the physical realm, it is essentially spiritual. The kingdom exists in the inner person, in the soul and spirit of man where Jesus is Lord and King.
The apostle Paul spoke of being translated into Christ’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). And he taught that “the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). These verses indicate the spiritual essence of God’s kingdom within His people.
8. The kingdom of God is within your salvation
Some interpreters view this verse to mean the kingdom of God will be instituted within men only through salvation in Christ. Jesus was telling the unbelieving Pharisees that the kingdom could never be established in their hearts until they received Him as Messiah and King. It requires spiritual rebirth.
Jesus declared that unless a man is born again he cannot even see the kingdom of God, much less experience it (John 3:3). Salvation brings deliverance from the kingdom of darkness and transfers believers into Christ’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13). When sinners turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, God’s kingdom comes within them.
Therefore, Christ was explaining that the reign of God could only begin within the Pharisees when they repented of their sins and entered the kingdom through salvation in Jesus.
9. The kingdom of God is within your future hope
Since Jesus told the Pharisees that the kingdom of God was “within you” or “in your midst,” it clearly was not fully established at that time. Though inaugurated during Christ’s earthly ministry, the full manifestation of God’s kingdom on earth is still a future event.
Many prophecies in the Old and New Testaments speak of the coming earthly reign of Jesus when He returns that will fulfill all the promises of God’s kingdom. The kingdom will be entirely present on earth when Christ rules and reigns during His millennium reign described in Revelation 20.
Until that future day, the kingdom of God exists in part but not in fullness and completion. One day the prayer Jesus taught will be fully realized, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). We still look forward to the coming kingdom.
So in saying the kingdom of God was “within you,” Jesus may have been indicating that the kingdom was still in the future. It was within the plan of God to bring the kingdom to earth, but it was not yet fully instituted.
Conclusion
In summary, Jesus’ statement about the kingdom of God being “within you” is subject to several possible interpretations. Each perspective provides insight into the nature of God’s kingdom and how it can be experienced today.
The kingdom of God was within the presence of Jesus during His life on earth. It exists within hearts that trust in Christ. It is found within the church community. The kingdom is in our mindset, actions, and spiritual nature if Jesus reigns within. And while God’s kingdom is among us now, it will be established in fullness and glory in the future.
In saying the kingdom of God was “within” the Pharisees, Jesus was declaring that the long-awaited kingdom had arrived, bringing the hope of salvation, spiritual life, and the reign of God Almighty. His kingdom breaks into our world through every life submitted to His lordship until He returns to establish it forever.