Lukas 11:20

11:20 But if I cast out demons by the finger ¹  of God, then the kingdom of God ²  has already overtaken ³  you.

Lukas 17:20-21

The Coming of the Kingdom

17:20 Now at one point ⁴  the Pharisees ⁵  asked Jesus ⁶  when the kingdom of God ⁷  was coming, so he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs ⁸  to be observed, 17:21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is ⁹  in your midst.” ¹⁰ 

Lukas 19:11

The Parable of the Ten Minas

19:11 While the people were listening to these things, Jesus ¹¹  proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, ¹²  and because they thought ¹³  that the kingdom of God ¹⁴  was going to ¹⁵  appear immediately.

Lukas 21:31

21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know ¹⁶  that the kingdom of God ¹⁷  is near.

[11:20]  ¹ sn The finger of God is a figurative reference to God’s power (L&N 76.3). This phrase was used of God’s activity during the Exodus (Exod 8:19).

[11:20]  ² sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

[11:20]  ³ tn The phrase ἔφθασεν ἐφ᾿ ὑμᾶς (efqasen ef’ Juma") is important. Does it mean merely “approach” (which would be reflected in a translation like “has come near to you”) or actually “come upon” (as in the translation given above, “has already overtaken you,” which has the added connotation of suddenness)? The issue here is like the one in 10:9 (see note there on the phrase “come on”). Is the arrival of the kingdom merely anticipated or already in process? Two factors favor arrival over anticipation here. First, the prepositional phrase “upon you” suggests arrival (Dan 4:24, 28 Theodotion). Second, the following illustration in vv. 21-23 looks at the healing as portraying Satan being overrun. So the presence of God’s authority has arrived. See also L&N 13.123 for the translation of φθάνω (fqanw) as “to happen to already, to come upon, to come upon already.”

[17:20]  ⁴ tn The words “at one point” are supplied to indicate that the following incident is not necessarily in chronological sequence with the preceding event.

[17:20]  ⁵ sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[17:20]  ⁶ tn Grk “having been asked by the Pharisees.” The passive construction has been translated as an active one in keeping with contemporary English style, and the direct object, Jesus, has been supplied from the context.

[17:20]  ⁷ sn The kingdom of God is a major theme of Jesus. It is a realm in which Jesus rules and to which those who trust him belong. See Luke 6:20; 11:20; 17:20-21.

[17:20]  ⁸ tn Or “is not coming in a way that it can be closely watched” (L&N 24.48). Although there are differing interpretations of what this means, it probably refers to the cosmic signs often associated with the kingdom’s coming in the Jewish view (1 En. 91, 93; 2 Bar. 53—74). See D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1412-14, also H. Riesenfeld, TDNT 8:150.

[17:21]  ⁹ tn This is a present tense in the Greek text. In contrast to waiting and looking for the kingdom, it is now available.

[17:21]  ¹⁰ tn This is a far better translation than “in you.” Jesus would never tell the hostile Pharisees that the kingdom was inside them. The reference is to Jesus present in their midst. He brings the kingdom. Another possible translation would be “in your grasp.” For further discussion and options, see D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1414-19.

[19:11]  ¹¹ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:11]  ¹² map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[19:11]  ¹³ tn The present active infinitive δοκεῖν (dokein) has been translated as causal.

[19:11]  ¹⁴ sn Luke means here the appearance of the full kingdom of God in power with the Son of Man as judge as Luke 17:22-37 describes.

[19:11]  ¹⁵ tn Or perhaps, “the kingdom of God must appear immediately (see L&N 71.36).

[21:31]  ¹⁶ tn The verb γινώσκετε (ginwskete, “know”) can be parsed as either present indicative or present imperative. In this context the imperative fits better, since the movement is from analogy (trees and seasons) to the future (the signs of the coming of the kingdom) and since the emphasis is on preparation for this event.

[21:31]  ¹⁷ sn The kingdom of God refers here to the kingdom in all its power. See Luke 17:20-37.