What Did Jesus Mean When He Said ‘The Kingdom Of God Is Within You’?

In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus is responding to the Pharisees’ question about when the kingdom of God will come. Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you” [NIV 1984].

What an astounding idea that God’s Kingdom is within us. Starting with just a few faithful followers and with faith as small as a mustard seed, it has grown to what it is today in the hearts and minds of countless millions of souls across time and place.

Before getting started, a little clarification is necessary. This is one of those scriptures where different Bible versions use different translations. They all have Jesus saying, “…the kingdom of God is…”. But then, the [ESV] has “in the midst of you”, the [KJV and NKJV] have “within you”, the [NLT] has “already among you”, the [NIV and CSB] has “in your midst” and the [NIV 1984] has “within you”.

There are three popular interpretations of what Jesus meant: 1) the kingdom of God is essentially inward, within man’s heart; 2) the kingdom is within your reach if you make the right choices; and 3) the kingdom of God is in your midst in the person and presence of Jesus.

I'd like to share some thoughts supporting the notion that the first interpretation is most likely what Jesus meant, that the kingdom of God is essentially inward, within man’s heart, and that's where Jesus reigns as King. It is invisible, not something to be observed ‘there’ or ‘here’. Its realm is essentially within the hearts and minds of everyone who puts their faith and hope in Jesus, and lets him reign on the throne of their lives as King and Lord of their life. That’s his kingdom. It was much different from what the Pharisees and Jewish leaders were expecting.

Two Kingdoms

There are two kingdoms - namely, the External Universal Kingdom (Creation) and the Internal Personal Kingdom (Spiritual) - both of which God rules over with supreme sovereignty.

The external universal kingdom is the material world and everything God created. He is king over everything he has created, and rules with complete sovereignty. Creation is there for everyone to see - without excuse - it is 'there' and 'here'. This is the basis of the Jewish leaders' misunderstanding. They were looking for Messiah to come and conquer in the material world - which we know he eventually will at his Second Coming. They thought Messiah would physically destroy all opposing nations, establish his physical kingdom and vindicate his people.

But Jesus was talking about the spiritual kingdom, the internal personal kingdom, which includes everyone he has recreated through faith. He rules in the heart through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. So when Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you", he was talking about the spiritual kingdom over which he reigns in the hearts and minds of everyone who has put their faith and hope in him, and lets him reign on the throne of their lives as King and Lord. Jesus reigns over an invisible, spiritual kingdom in the hearts and minds of souls across time and place. All across the world and across time, starting with just those few who walked with him, people have put their faith in Jesus, and we are part of that spiritual kingdom!

Interestingly, Jesus also rules over the universal creation kingdom - he controlled the wind, created food from nothing, walked on water, overcame death and cured disease.

So, when Jesus said "The kingdom of God is within you" he was talking about the spiritual kingdom he was establishing in the hearts and minds of men and women, over which he rules as Lord and King. Jesus was establishing his kingdom, but it wasn't by force the way the Jewish leaders had in mind. It started with those few people who walked with him, heard his words, saw the miracles, watched his crucifixion and witnessed his resurrection. Now, let's look at how it grew from there.

How Jesus Grew His Kingdom - Faith As Small As A Mustard Seed

In Luke chapter 13, Jesus describes what the kingdom of God is like. Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches” (Luke 13:18-19). He followed that with a parable about leaven, a similar thought about things starting small and growing. And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal until it was all leavened” (Luke 13:20-21).

What an astounding thing it is to think about that, like a mustard seed - the smallest in the garden, that grew into a large tree - Jesus established his kingdom as seeds of faith in the hearts and minds of his few initial followers, through which, even with the smallest amount of faith, it would grow. And grow it did! 2000 years later Jesus is in the hearts and minds of people all over the world. Because he is alive! And people who call on him can know him, even today. And it will continue to grow until his Second Coming and God's plan for history comes to pass.

The Kingdom Will Be Revealed

Jesus established his kingdom 2000 years ago in the hearts and minds of a few. It grew through faith even as small as a mustard seed and it thrives in our hearts today. But the world can't see it. They see us, but they don’t see the kingdom of God within us – it is within us, but they can’t see it.

But, it’s moving toward a day when everyone will see him. And, not only will they see Him, they will see us. Paul describes in Romans 8 that the children of God will finally be revealed: I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God (Romans 8:19-12). There will be the unveiling of who we really are.

How Jesus Reigns - The Trinity In Us

Finally, the wonder of the Trinity being in us. This is how we understand how Jesus reigns in the invisible spiritual kingdom. Jesus is alive and takes up residence in us along with the Father and the Holy Spirit – the Trinity is in us! Jesus said about the Holy Spirit, If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you (John 14:15-17). Jesus went on to say, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 14: 23). And that’s the wonder of fellowship with God, that the Trinity has taken up residence in the lives of those who embrace Jesus.

So, we are in the world but not of the world. Our home is in the invisible, spiritual kingdom of God where Jesus reigns!