Heaven is within You
The kingdom of God is within You (Luke 17:21)
Text (KJV) "Neither shall they say, 'Lo here!' or, 'Lo there!' for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Greek οὐδὲ ἐροῦσιν· Ἰδοὺ ὧδε ἢ Ἐκεῖ· ἰδοὺ γὰρ ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ ἐντὸς ὑμῶν ἐστιν.
Context in Luke 17:20–21
Jesus is responding to the Pharisees, a group often depicted in the Gospels as focused on external religious observance, signs, and political expectations of the Messiah. They ask *when* the kingdom of God (βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ) will come, implying they expect a visible, dramatic, geopolitical event (like the restoration of Israel’s independence).
Jesus rejects that framework entirely!
"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation" (Luke 17:20) → Greek *paratērēsis* = "with outward show" or "visible signs to be watched for." It will not be located in a place ("Lo here! or lo there!").
Key Phrase: ἐντὸς ὑμῶν (entos hymōn)
Then comes the climactic revelation: "Behold, the kingdom of God is entos hymōn." This is the most debated phrase in the verse.
| Translation | Meaning | Implications |
| "Within you" (KJV, NIV, ESV margin) | Inside your inner being; spiritually present in the heart | Radical internalization of God’s reign |
| "In your midst" / "Among you" (NASB, NRSV, NET) | Present in the community, especially through Jesus | Emphasizes Jesus as the embodiment of the kingdom |
Linguistic Analysis
ἐντός (*entos*) appears only twice in the NT:
Matthew 23:26: "cleanse first that which is within the cup" → clearly *inside*.
Luke 17:21: same author, same word → favors internal meaning.
- Preposition ἐν + genitive ὑμῶν = "inside/of you (plural)" → can refer to individuals or the group.
- No spatial marker like "here/there" is needed if it's truly internal.
While "in your midst" fits the immediate context (Jesus standing among them), "within you" is grammatically and theologically defensible, especially given Luke’s emphasis on inner transformation.
Theological Implications
A. The kingdom is Already Present — But Hidden
- Jesus announces the inauguration of the kingdom in His own person and ministry.
- It is not a future cataclysm but a present reality operating invisibly,
like yeast (Luke 13:21) or a seed (Mark 4:26–29).
- This subverts apocalyptic expectations: no armies, no temple takeover, no visible throne.
B. The kingdom is Internal, Not Institutional
- God’s rule begins in the human heart—through repentance, faith, and obedience.
- Contrasts with Pharisaic externalism (ritual purity, Sabbath laws, etc.).
- Foreshadows John 3:3–5: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
C. Paradox: Said to Unbelievers
- Jesus says this to Pharisees, many of whom rejected Him.
- So how can the kingdom be "within" them?
- Option 1: Ironic or prophetic — *It should be within you, but isn’t because you reject me.*
- Option 2: "Among you" — *I, the King, stand in your midst, yet you do not recognize me.*
- Option 3: Universal potential — *The capacity for God’s rule exists in every human heart, awaiting response.*
Broader Biblical Resonance
| Theme | Parallel Passage |
| God dwelling in people, John 14:23 | "We will come and make our home *with* him" |
| Inner transformation, Ezekiel 36:26–27 | "A new heart… I will put my Spirit *within* you" |
| Hiddenness of the kingdom | Mark 4:30–32 (mustard seed); Col 1:27 ("Christ *in* you, the hope of glory") |
Historical and Mystical Interpretations
| Tradition | View |
| Early Church Fathers (e.g., Origen, Augustine) | Favored "within you" → spiritual, mystical indwelling |
| Medieval Mystics (Meister Eckhart, St. John of the Cross) | "The kingdom is the soul itself when purified" |
| Reformation (Luther, Calvin) | Balanced: present in believers via Word and Spirit |
| Modern Liberal Theology | Psychological or ethical kingdom (realized eschatology) |
| Evangelical | Already/not yet: inaugurated in hearts, consummated at return |
Application: What Does This Mean Today?
1. God’s rule is not confined to churches, rituals, or holy sites. → It begins when a person submits to Christ inwardly.
2. You cannot "find" the kingdom by looking outward. → No pilgrimage, no political movement, no end-times chart will reveal it.
3. The kingdom grows silently, from the inside out. → Like a seed → small acts of love, forgiveness, justice.
4. Intimacy with God is immediate and personal. → No mediator but Christ; no delay. He is nearer than your breath.
Final Synthesis
Luke 17:21 is a spiritual bombshell:
Jesus declares that the long-awaited kingdom of God is not a spectacle to observe
but a reality to be received within.
Whether entos hymōn means "within each of you" or "in your midst (in me)", the effect is the same:
God’s reign has broken into history in a way that demands inner transformation, not external observation.
It is the biblical root of the idea that God is closer than your breath, not in a pantheistic sense, but in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in those who believe (Rom 8:9–11; 1 Cor 3:16).
"The kingdom of God is within you" not as a metaphor,
but as a living, transformative presence, available now to all who turn and receive.