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Luke 15-17
Kingdom Perspectives
Psalm 119:121-128 Loving Truth and Hating Falsehood
121.AYIN “I have done what is just and righteous. Don’t leave me to my oppressors.122.Ensure Your servant’s well-being. Don’t let the proud oppress me.123.My eyes fail looking for Your salvation, for Your righteous word/promise.124.Deal with Your servant according to Your hesed/loyal covenantal love. Teach me Your statutes.125.I am Your servant. Give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies.126.It is time to act, Yahweh, for they break Your law.
127.Therefore I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, more than pure gold.128.Because I esteem all of Your precepts pleasing/right: I hate every false way."
Observations
119:121-123.Just and righteous are the two characteristics God demanded of Israel and which will characterize the Messiah's actions. Yet in spite of doing what is just and right, the psalmist has proud oppressors (just like the Messiah did). His response is to look for God's deliverance/salvation as He promised in His word.
119:124-126.
The psalmist asks for God to act in demonstrating hesed to him and dealing with his lawbreaking oppressors. The first seven occurrences of the word for “intentionally teach” are in Deuteronomy 4-6, each of which are immediately followed by “do.” The psalmist isn't asking for information about God, but he wants God to teach him so he can do what God wants. This desire arises from the request for God to deal with him according to His hesed, so the psalmist wants to know what obligations he needs to fulfill for God to fulfill His, in protecting and blessing him. This is followed by a request for insight/understanding so that he may know precisely what God wants him to do.
119:127-128.
Knowing the value of God's word for his survival and success, the psalmist loves God's commands more than gold, and embraces them as his greater good. Thus he hates every false path, knowing such paths do not lead to what he wants.
Application
If we don't hate evil, we might want to consider what we love.
Prayer
God, I love Your words and Your way, help me live according to them every day. Amen.
Proverbs 28:23-28 Where's Your Trust?
23.One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.24.Whoever robs his father or his mother, and says, "It’s not wrong." He is a partner with a destroyer.25.One who is greedy stirs up strife; but one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.26.One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.27.One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.28.When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive."Observations
28:23-27.Trusting God means that we will say the difficult thing when appropriate and find favor (even if rejected) because God will be pleased. The one who trusts in God for prospering him/her won't rob, take advantage of others, nor be greedy, because they know that God is watching out for them. Trusting in God's revealed wisdom (like Proverbs) keeps one safe, but trusting in yourself makes you a fool on the way to destruction. Trusting in God results in generosity, because you know that what you have is from Him, and if you use it for His purposes, He'll provide all you need.
28:28.
Wicked people will get into power, and then it's good for the righteous to lay low until God brings about the destruction of the wicked. Then the righteous will thrive.
Application
Where's your trust? If you place your interests in God's hands, you do well; if you seek to secure your interests by trusting in yourself, you become a fool.
Prayer
Lord, thanks that You who rule the nations are trustworthy, for the things that concern me; may my trust in You never waver. Amen.
Luke 15-17 Kingdom Perspectives
Make sure you don't miss the beginning of the commentary of Luke 15, which will hopefully dispel some major myths about righteousness which cloud a correct interpretation of the parables. This post also corrects some deadly distortion about the Kingdom of God in chapter 17. You will have some good opportunities to practice your Sherlock 'Olmes skills in the parables about the prodigal son, the rich man and Lazarus, the dutiful servants, and the use and abuse of riches, that you'd miss if you don't pay close attention to the context. Chew thoroughly before swallowing.
Luke 15 Lost Sheep, Coin, Son
1.Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him.2.The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."3.He told them this parable.4."Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?5.When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.6.When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’7.I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.8.Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn’t light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it?9.When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.’10.Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."11.He said, "A certain man had two sons.12.The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of your property.’ He divided his livelihood between them.13.Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living.14.When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need.15.He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs.16.He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any.17.But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough to spare, and I’m dying with hunger!18.I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight.19.I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."20.He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.21.The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22."But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.23.Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate;24.for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’ They began to celebrate.25."Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing.26.He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on.27.He said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.’28.But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him.29.But he answered his father, ‘Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.30.But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’31."He said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.32.But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.’"Observations
15:1-7.Note the “my sheep;” in order to go astray, one had to first be in the flock (have a relationship). That's not just an interpretation of a parable, but something clearly seen in the “My people” of both testaments, and the exhortations “to return.” The point is that God seeks the lost and rejoices over their repentance. Pharisees and scribes should do the same.
15:8-10.
Same point: there's joy in heaven when sinners repent. Therefore if the Pharisees were concerned about God's joy, they would be joyful as well, and seek to bring about the repentance of the wayward and lost.
15:11-32.
Both sons had a relationship with the father. The younger got and lost his inheritance (sounds like Israel in the OT). To request an inheritance when the father was alive, could be to wish the father to be dead, but that implies a level of animosity unsupported by the father's acquiescence. The prodigal (wasteful) son reaps the consequences of his bad choices and is reduced to feeding pigs, an occupation to which no self-respecting Jew would aspire. However, the son “comes to himself” which implies he wasn't there to begin with. It's an expression for coming to one's senses, or to repentance. In any case, it represents a change of mind, from having a distorted view of reality to a more accurate one. He plans his confession (“sinned against heaven/God and you; therefore not worth to be a son; hire me as your servant”). He will only get to say the first two when he goes home. His father eagerly ran to him, and compassionately accepted him back, throwing a feast to celebrate what amounted to his son's return from the dead. His willingness to be a servant resulted in him being given honor. Like the sheep and coin, what was lost was found. So the Pharisees should rejoice that sinners are coming to Jesus. But wait, there's more. As the younger son represents the sinners, the older son represents the Pharisees. The older son is estranged from the father and the joy over repenting sinners. He is dutiful and obedient but loves himself more than others. He lacks the father's heart and compassion, and thus joy. The father goes to him as well, seeking for him to repent and join the party. The son pouts that he's been righteous, a fact with the father doesn't dispute, and unrewarded. The father addresses this complaint by saying that all the son has always been with him, and all that the father has is the son's, but apparently the son hadn't been experiencing the joy of that relationship. The father urges him to join the party, because what was lost is found. The point of all three parables is that seeking and regaining the lost results in joy. There is no stated condemnation of the older son as an unrighteous or self-righteous sinner, but he is not willing to be a servant to the needs of his brother. He's just not in sync with God's purposes of reconciling all to Himself. If the Pharisees join with Jesus in that task, they will be like the older son joining the party. If they refuse, they will be like the older son standing outside being miserable. Luke doesn't tell us what the older son did, but does go on to portray the Pharisees as refusing to embrace God's joy.
Application
There's joy in seeking and saving the lost, and sadness in self-centeredness; join the party.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thanks that You sought and found me; may I be Your servant in reaching others; and share in the heavenly joy. Amen.
Luke 16 Use and Abuse of Riches
1.He also said to his disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a steward. An accusation was made to him that this man was wasting his possessions.2.He called him, and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an accounting of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’3."The steward said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg.4.I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from management, they may receive me into their houses.’5.Calling each one of his lord’s debtors to him, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe to my lord?’6.He said, ‘A hundred batos of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’7.Then he said to another, ‘How much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred cors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’8."His lord commended the dishonest steward because he had done wisely, for the children of this world are, in their own generation, wiser than the children of the light.9.I tell you, make for yourselves friends by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.10.He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is unrighteous in a very little is also unrighteous in much.11.If therefore you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?12.If you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?13.No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. You aren’t able to serve God and mammon."14.The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they scoffed at him.15.He said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. For that which is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.16.The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the Good News/gospel of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is pressing towards it.17.But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tiny stroke of a pen in the law to fall.18.Everyone who divorces his wife, and marries another, commits adultery. He who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.19."Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, living in luxury every day.20.A certain beggar, named Lazarus, was laid at his gate, full of sores,21.and desiring to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Yes, even the dogs came and licked his sores.22.It happened that the beggar died, and that he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died, and was buried.23.In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom.24.He cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue! For I am in anguish in this flame.’25."But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that you, in your lifetime, received your good things, and Lazarus, in the same way, bad things. But now here he is comforted and you are in anguish.26.Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, that those who want to pass from here to you are not able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’27."He said, ‘I ask you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house;28.for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, so they won’t also come into this place of torment.’29."But Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets. Let them listen to them.’30."He said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’31."He said to him, ‘If they don’t listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if one rises from the dead.’"Observations
16:1-9.Like the prodigal son (in 15:13), the steward had “wasted” what was entrusted to him. He uses his present position and opportunities to secure for himself future “benefit.” Although the methodology was dishonest, the objective was wise. Some say the “dishonest” applies to the “wasting”, and that the steward was just decreasing his commission, which is remotely possible (but unlikely, since the next steward wouldn't get compensated if the commission was removed). In any event, using present material wealth to make friends who will welcome the benefactor into heaven, is commended. A corollary is that wealth should be used to populate heaven rather than to gratify one's pleasures, which the rest of the chapter intimates. Investments in the Lord's work yield dividends that are out of this world.
16:10-18.
Jesus follows the parable with an exhortation to faithfulness, which results in reward. Note that faithfulness is contrasted with unrighteousness. Being faithful with what God has entrusted to us materially in this illustration (the money is least, and is God's) resulted in being given true riches (great and for ourselves). Those who have not been faithful will not be rewarded (16:12). A hindrance to faithfulness is money; we're tempted to serve it rather than use it, and wind up being disloyal to God. We each have to decide what we will serve. It's a discipleship decision. Jesus says that in the pursuit of money, people despise their obligations to Him. This plays out every morning in many lives (insert DailyTruthbase commercial here). The Pharisees, who loved material blessings as a sign of God's favor before men, scoffed (cf. Ps 1). Think about what is exalted in the eyes of worldlings: success, significance/fame, power, pleasure, possessions, etc. Jesus says that stuff is an abomination (as in something to be judged and destroyed, an idol – Col 3:5) in the sight of God. The law and prophets until John had described the righteous living God wanted. John called people to repent and live righteously, since the promised kingdom coming from God, was at hand, in which God would judge and reward righteousness (and punish unrighteousness). The multitudes were repenting and pressing towards (eis indicates direction/goal) the future kingdom. But not the establishment, who were chasing after the benefits of the worldly kingdom of the present. The requirements of the Law still stood (and would stand under the New Covenant -Jer 31:31, when the law would be written in human hearts where the Spirit would dwell). However, the Pharisees didn't approve of adultery, but pursued their pleasure anyways, and justified themselves by signing a certificate of divorce, which validated their actions in the sight of men, but not God. See comments on Mt 19.
16:19-31. The parable of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus combines the Pharisees love of money with their avoidance of the inconvenient parts of the law, which hampered their pursuit of power, pleasure, and possessions, and condemns both. The rich man lived the pleasant life, failed to use his wealth for the benefit of others, and suffers punishment and torment in the future. Lazarus suffered in this life and receives comfort in the future. The point of the parable is the punishment that results from failing to listen to the law and the prophets. Listening to and obeying the OT would have spared the man from judgment. As a Jew participating in the Day of Atonement, the issue isn't forgiveness, but righteousness. But like the fool in Proverbs, he didn't pay attention to the warnings, and is now suffering judgment. The rich man, a son of Abraham, wants his brothers to be warned. Abraham replies that if someone is not receptive to the truth of the Law and Prophets, they won't be persuaded by someone rising from the dead. The sign of Jonah (and another guy named Lazarus) didn't influence everyone to repent.
Some ignore the obvious point of the parable to speculate upon the nature of eternal state. One must be careful about making parables walk on all fours (that means making every item in the parable have some point of contact with reality). It's reasonable to draw some conclusions about the future state of those who accept or reject truth. The burden of proof is upon those who view this as the eternal state to show when such an emphasis entered the narrative. Last time we saw people being punished for neglecting the truth of the OT, it was the unprofitable servants of chapter 12. Hades (frequently incorrectly translated “hell”) is the equivalent of the Hebrew “Sheol,” the abode of the dead (distinguished from the eternal lake of fire in Revelation 20:13-14). In Acts 2:27 & 31, it is said to have hosted Christ after His death. It is a place were there is suffering during the Millennial Kingdom, whose occupants are eventually tossed into the lake of fire if their names were not found written in the Book of Life (Rev 20:15). Lazarus on the other hand, was carried by Angel Express to Abraham's bosom, a more pleasant place. Note that Abraham can see and communicate with those in Hades, so it doesn't appear to be heaven. Some think Hades has first-class and tourist compartments for those traveling to the future judgments (before and after the Millennium).
Application
Being faithful with the truth and your treasure, and all God has entrusted to you is a good way to get good stuff in the future and avoid any possible bad stuff. See the series at the end of TOYL on Truthbase.net and the accompanying sermons if your serious about securing a comfy future.
Prayer
Lord, may I be a good steward of all that You've already given me, so that You can entrust me with true and enduring riches. Amen.
Luke 17 Kingdom Confusion
1.He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no occasions of stumbling should come, but woe to him through whom they come!2.It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.3.Be careful. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him. If he repents, forgive him.4.If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him."5.The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."6.The Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you would tell this sycamore tree, ‘Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.7.Now who is there among you, having a servant plowing or keeping sheep, that will say, when he comes in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down at the table,’8.and will not rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me, while I eat and drink. Afterward you shall eat and drink ’?9.Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded? I think not.10.Even so you also, when you have done all the things that are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants. We have done our duty.’"11.It happened as he was on his way to Jerusalem, that he was passing along the borders of Samaria and Galilee.12.As he entered into a certain village, ten men who were lepers met him, who stood at a distance.13.They lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"14.When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." It happened that as they went, they were cleansed.15.One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice.16.He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.17.Jesus answered, "Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?18.Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?"19.Then he said to him, "Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed/saved you."20.Being asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The Kingdom of God doesn’t come with observation;21.neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you."22.He said to the disciples, "The days will come, when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.23.They will tell you, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Don’t go away, nor follow after them,24.for as the lightning, when it flashes out of the one part under the sky, shines to the other part under the sky; so will the Son of Man be in his day.25.But first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.26.As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it be also in the days of the Son of Man.27.They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.28.Likewise, even as it happened in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;29.but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulphur from the sky, and destroyed them all.30.It will be the same way in the day that the Son of Man is revealed.31.In that day, he who will be on the housetop, and his goods in the house, let him not go down to take them away. Let him who is in the field likewise not turn back.32.Remember Lot’s wife!33.Whoever seeks to save his life/soul loses it, but whoever loses his life/soul preserves it.34.I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. The one will be taken, and the other will be left.35.There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left.36.Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”37.They, answering, asked him, "Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the body is, there will the vultures also be gathered together."Observations
17:1-6.See comments on Matthew 18 for forgiveness, and Matthew 15 for the mustard seed. As the tiniest seed, it would have to draw upon resources outside itself for growth. This is particularly necessary for having to repeatedly forgive those who harm them. It takes faith to believe that God will justly recompense everyone (Heb 11:6).
17:7-11.
The servant who just does the minimum expected gets a minimum benefit. In Luke 12:37-38 and 42-44 (which precedes the unprofitable servant passage of last post), Jesus clearly taught that the master would reward, bless, and serve His faithful servants. So what changed? In chapter 12 the servants were eagerly watching and awaiting the master's return. Here, they are more like the prodigal's older brother, just punching the time clock without embracing the Father's heart. If the emphasis is on just obeying commands (like the Pharisees), they are unworthy of greater reward. If they love God wholeheartedly and their neighbor correspondingly, and want to see God's glory manifested on earth, they will be worth of greater reward (as chapter 19 clearly teaches).
17:11-19.
The Ungrateful Leper's Union, Local 1717, illustrate the response of the Jewish nation to the Messiah. They want the benefit, but fail to take responsibility to render praise and glory. The hero is a Samaritan, a half Jew or Gentile (remember the northern kingdom of Israel whose capital was Samaria had been taken captive by Assyria, and never returned). Notice that they did all obey. As they went they were healed. But also note that they were unprofitable servants, taking the blessing, yet failing to bless God, giving Him the glory. Verse 19 is usually not translated correctly (the verb is “sodzo” Strong's #4982, the basic word for “saved”). All the lepers were healed, or made whole, only the one who glorified God gets this pronouncement of salvation. Like the woman in Luke 8:48 expressing gratitude to Jesus, who had the same thing said about her, the grateful, God-glorifying leper expresses a faith that God rewards (glorification - Heb 11:6). He believed that Jesus was worthy of his praise and honor. Jesus is not commending the faith that lead to the initial obedience and healing (which the other nine had experienced), but the faith that led to seeking to glorify God above and beyond the others.
17:20-25.
Now for one of the most misinterpreted and misapplied verses in the NT. The degree to which this verse has been twisted and distorted to the detriment of believers can only be called demonic. The Pharisees, who have been rejecting the Messiah and plotting His demise, ask Him when the Kingdom promised in the OT, (which comes from God, and was announced by John and Jesus which Luke has been talking about throughout the entire gospel thus far), is going to finally arrive. Apparently it wasn't there yet. Jesus responds that the promised Kingdom doesn't arrive with observation. This is a medical term used only here in the NT. It refers to scrupulous observation of something, like symptoms of a disease. It could be a reference to the scrupulous observation of the law by the Pharisees, or of observing ritual celebrations like the approaching Passover, or of astrological gazing, or something else. The prohibition of looking for external indications does not mean it is something that can't be seen, since verse 24 says it will be as obvious as lightening which flashes across the sky (not exactly internal). But the Pharisees often missed the obvious, like the guy standing in their midst. Jesus says the Kingdom is in the midst of them.
The translation “within” is wrong linguistically and contextually, and has led to denial of the Kingdom promised in the OT, thus effectively eliminating the motivation for self-sacrificial service of God and resultant reward (which occurs in the Kingdom -see Lk 19). The translation-meaning of “within” is illegitimate:
- in light of the context,
- the actual meaning of the word,
- and the rest of Luke and the Scripture.
Let's start with the lexical meaning. The word (“entos” Strong's #1787) is used only one other time in Scripture (Mt 23:26) to refer to the midst or inside of a cup. That's were the wine or water go. It's not referring to the clay or metal molecules that make up the walls of the cup, but the area surrounded by the walls. There is another word that means inside or within, used by Luke (“esothen” Strong's #2081) in 11:39 to refer to the unclean, wicked, inward part of the Pharisees (in contradistinction to the outside of a cup). That is the word Luke (and Jesus) would have used if “within” was meant.
The Kingdom is not wherever the King rules, but the Kingdom promised in the OT, where the Messiah would destroy Israel's enemies, regather His people and rule over them from Jerusalem in a time of unprecedented peace and prosperity. This is the kingdom that would never be destroyed (Dan 7:14 and other places). The mention of the Son of Man in His day is from Daniel 7:14, adding support to the external promised kingdom coming from the heavens (cf. Matthew Kingdom of the Heavens). This is a major theme and promise of OT prophecy awaiting future fulfillment.
The Pharisees are rejecting God's rule in their lives, and thus will be excluded from the Kingdom, as verse 22 states (what about “you will not see it” don't you see?). So if the Pharisees won't see the kingdom, how could it be within them. If they were wicked and rejecting God, how could His rule be within them? It can't. So what Jesus means in verse 21 is “(Don't) look here or there (for the kingdom), but Behold! (as in do look right in front of you) the Kingdom (in the person of the Messiah King who would bring in the promised Kingdom) is in your midst.” (cf. 11:20). The King, attempting to bring the promised kingdom was standing right in the middle of them. But they didn't want it, so they would not see it nor participate in the future rule of the Messiah. Future references to the Kingdom indicate it is still the literal Kingdom promised in the OT (Isa 40-66) and is still future. Before the Son of Man could come in His kingdom, “first, he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation”. There is no way the kingdom could be in the hearts of the Pharisees then, because it couldn't arrive until after Christ's passion. Do you know of any other passage that could indicate the Kingdom Jesus spoke about is inside people? I don't.
17:26-37.
Jesus goes on to elaborate (it looks like to the disciples) the conditions that would exist when He does set up the Kingdom, and that it will be a time of catastrophic judgment. As in the days of Noah and Lot, people were just living for this life, and it soon became obvious that judgment was upon them. The loss was devastating. Verse 33 repeats the call to discipleship discussed in chapter 9 (see comments there). Verses 34-36 indicate that the coming of the Kingdom will result in discriminating judgment. There will be a separation not based upon geography or family relationships. The taking away is most likely to safety (rapture anyone? 1Thess 4:17), since in Noah and Lot's day the ones taken away were saved, and the ones left behind, destroyed. See Matthew 24:28 for the gathering of vultures which might refer to the piles of carrion from the battle the Messiah will fight with the armies of Gog at His return (Ezekiel 38-39).
Application
For those who eagerly expect and seek the Kingdom of God, there will be reward and blessing. Those who don't have a Biblical perspective on the Kingdom, will probably miss its benefits.
Prayer
God, don't let me get so caught up in the affairs of this life, so I think this is all there is; please help me keep Your coming Kingdom in my sights, so I experience it as You intended. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God compassionately seeks to save those who are lost, and even those who reject Him, because He has joy over their repentance and return to Him. He will punish those who continue to reject Him. He expects people to do His will, as revealed in the Law and the Prophets.
Build-a-Jesus: Jesus seeks to bring even the unrepentant and ungrateful into a relationship with God. He teaches people how to live so they can be blessed.
Us in a nutshell: We can embrace God's objectives for our time here on earth, and find joy, or do our own thing and miss out (or even experience pain). Those who are not receptive to truth are not receptive to miracles either, and will suffer for their obstinacy (just like in OT Israel). If we are faithful and seek God, we will get blessed. If we live for this life, we will wish we hadn't, but by then it will be too late to do anything differently.