Luke 17:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

‘The labors of the Egyptians, the commerce of the Ethiopians, and the Sabeans, those towering men, shall come to you and shall be yours; they shall follow you and come in chains, casting themselves down before you and pleading, saying, “Only You have God, and there is no other God. Truly, You are the hidden God, the God of Israel, the Saviour”’ (Isaiah 45:14, 15). The words of blessed Peter resonate with this truth: ‘There is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’ (Acts 4:12). What could be more humble than Christ in the mystery of the Incarnation? Consider David’s words concerning His being made lower than the angels: ‘What is man, that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? You have made him a little lower than the angels: with glory and honor, You have crowned him’ (Psalm 8:5, 6). Paul clarifies that these words pertain to Christ, stating, ‘Jesus was crowned with glory and honor after enduring death, who was not greatly humbled before the angels’ (Hebrews 2:9). Similarly, in comparison to mankind, He appeared inconsequential. Indeed, what does Isaiah proclaim? ‘There was no form or majesty that we should be attracted to Him; He was despised and rejected by men’ (Isaiah 53:2, 3). Thus, He referred to Himself as a worm. Where can this be found? ‘I am a worm, and not a man’ (Psalm 21:7). The Father similarly addresses Him in Isaiah: ‘Fear not, O worm Jacob’ (Isaiah 41:14). Additionally, concerning His glorious conclusion, the same prophet said, ‘And your beauty is a worm’ (Isaiah 14:11). It was necessary for Him, like a skilled fisherman, to conceal the radiant rod of His divinity with a fleshly worm as bait, casting it into the depths of this world to ensnare the serpent, fulfilling the statement from the book of Job, ‘Shall thou draw out the serpent's milk?’ (Job 40:20).

Thus, it can be affirmed that God reigns when our souls are free of worldly influences, and we act in a manner that rises above worldly concerns. This mode of existence resides within us; we can embrace it whenever we choose. For authentic faith does not require lengthy periods or distant journeys; both faith and the virtuous life that follows are near to us. As the apostle stated: "Near unto thee is the word in thy mouth and in thy heart, that is, the word of faith which we preach" (Rom. 10:8). To believe and live in accordance with that belief is embedded within us. The Pharisees scorned the Lord for proclaiming a Kingdom that had not been previously announced. Yet, the Lord asserts that they fail to comprehend what lies within themselves and is easily attainable for those who are willing. Now that I am in your midst, you can undoubtedly embrace the Kingdom of God if you place your faith in Me and commit to living according to My commandments.

For that time can be observed neither by men nor angels, not as the time of the Incarnation which was proclaimed by the foretelling of Prophets and the heraldings of Angels.” Wherefore He adds, Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, Lo there! Or else, They ask about the kingdom of God, because, as is said below, they thought that on our Lord’s coming into Jerusalem, the kingdom of God would be immediately manifested. Therefore our Lord answers, that the kingdom of God will not come with observation.

Secondly, it involves establishing peace with our neighbors, tranquility from passions, harmony with our conscience, and reconciliation with God through genuine repentance and humility. When a Christian aligns themselves in this manner, they will receive divine assistance and, through the Holy Spirit, will find joy amid trials, firmly holding onto the apostolic assurance that suffering produces endurance, endurance fosters character, character breeds hope, and hope does not disappoint (Rom. 5:3-5); that the present afflictions are trivial compared to the glory that will be revealed in us in the life to come (see Rom. 8:18), and that we must persevere through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22).

The Lawgiver inquired: ‘I ask (you, tell us) that we also may know: what is this work?’ The ascetic replied: “This is to seek through prayer the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is ‘within us,’ according to the Lord's declaration (Lk. 17:21), who promised that to those who seek it, all things necessary for life will be provided (Mt. 6:31).

First, we must possess the actual grace of the Holy Spirit within our hearts, and subsequently, we must enter the kingdom of heaven in accordance with this grace. The Lord revealed this when He said: ‘the kingdom of heaven is within you’ (Luke 17:21). The Apostle affirmed this truth, stating: ‘faith is the notification of those who trust’ (Heb. 11:1), and again he proclaimed: ‘Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates’ (2 Cor. 13:5).

Whoever diligently seeks God with passion both day and night, striving to eliminate the assaults of the adversary from his heart, is both feared by demons and cherished by God and His angels. A pure soul harbors a mental sanctuary; in it, the shining sun represents the light of the Holy Trinity, while the air that fills this sanctuary is the Comforter, the All-Holy Spirit. Accompanying him is the holy and incorporeal essence, and together they embody the vitality, joy, and bliss of Christ—the light of light—of the Father. The one who gazes upon his soul experiences joy every hour and marvels at its beauty that outshines the brightness of the sun a hundredfold. This is the hidden Jerusalem and the Kingdom of God within us, as articulated by the Lord (Luke 17:21). This sanctuary is the cloud of divine glory, into which only the pure in heart shall enter to behold the face of their Lord and ignite their minds with the brilliance of the Lord's light.

The kingdom of God exists within us when we are united with Him through the grace of the Holy Spirit. This divine union was present from the creation of Adam, but when our first ancestor fell into deception and sin, God withdrew from us, taking His kingdom away. It is inconceivable for the All-Holy God to dwell with someone who embraces sin. For His return and the reestablishment of His kingdom, we must turn away from our sins and seek purification. Yet, since we cannot achieve this on our own—much like a stained garment cannot cleanse itself without water—He came to us, capable of purifying and opening the way for God to dwell within us, thereby allowing His kingdom to manifest in us. This transformation occurs through the sacred act of baptism and, if one sins post-baptism, through the sacrament of repentance. Repentance is required in both circumstances. Once this is accomplished, you will be prepared to accept the gift you seek when you pray, “Thy kingdom come.” Then, God will reign within you by His grace and accomplish His will through you.

Strive earnestly to seek and knock, so that the door to the kingdom of heaven may be opened for you, allowing you to discover it within yourselves, as the Lord states, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21). For those who depart this life before entering the heavenly kingdom, where and when can they attain it, especially if their journey leads them into perpetual darkness? Thus, in this life, we are commanded to seek and attain it, pressing against its gates with repentance and heartfelt sorrow. If we follow this path, Christ assures us of this kingdom; however, if we fail to heed His call and neglect our efforts to receive the kingdom of heaven within us while we are in this world, we will inevitably hear these solemn words from Christ upon our departure: “Why do you seek what you shunned while I offered it to you in your time? Did I not implore you repeatedly to labor a little for the promise of my kingdom, but you turned away, preferring transient, earthly delights? What do you expect to find here, considering the time for action has passed and now is the time of judgment?” Therefore, dear brethren, let us diligently observe Christ's commandments, that we might attain both this life and the eternal kingdom. Let us not hear the judgment: “He who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36), nor in the future encounter the condemnation: “I do not know you, from where you are; depart from Me” (Luke 13:27). Instead, let us hear the encouraging call: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). By living according to my commands, you have nourished and provided care for Me, who sought your salvation amidst hunger and thirst, and you have approached Me with purified hearts. Enter now into the joy of My blessings, experiencing the unspeakable delight tied to eternal life, made accessible to all by the grace and humanity of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom belongs all glory and dominion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

This kingdom, which is heavenly, is the grace of the Holy Spirit, as the Lord declared, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21), urging us to embrace and nurture the Holy Spirit within us.

Thus, the Kingdom of Heaven—a reality proclaimed as ‘the kingdom of God is within us’—represents the peace that comes from Christ. Within the soul where passions yield to God, His peace reigns. However, this peace differs significantly from worldly notions; it is not granted in the manner that humanity typically understands peace. The temporary and often harmful unity aimed at mundane objectives may create a façade of harmony among individuals. In contrast, the peace of Christ is sacred—found wholly in Him. This peace is cultivated in the soul through the Word of God, nurtured by adhering to Christ’s commandments, and allowed to flourish through an invisible yet attainable effort.

Through the workings of the Holy Spirit, the peace of Christ envelops the mind, heart, and body of the mature Christian, healing the divisions wrought by sin. It restores a reconciled individual to wholeness, returning them to a state of unity with God akin to their original design prior to the fall. I pray for this peace for myself and for you, dear brothers and sisters, from the one true Bestower of divine and holy peace, our Lord Jesus Christ. May ‘the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding’ guard our hearts and minds in Christ (Philippians 4:7), ensuring that our earthly endeavors and our eternal fate, which relies upon these actions, are safeguarded for Him. Amen.

We are called to separate ourselves from the attributes of our fallen nature and to embrace the qualities of the renewed nature bestowed by Christ. Neither ‘flesh’ nor ‘blood’ can inherit the Kingdom of God. Recognizing that the Kingdom of God is within us, we realize that as long as our heart’s emotions are stirred and tied to the physical realm, we will remain unfamiliar with the spiritual workings that come from God. In the divine sphere, the action of the blood holds a silence imbued with greatness. That sacred peace, which is foreign to our corrupt nature yet is gifted by the Lord, descends into our souls. It brings serene tranquility to our minds, hearts, and bodies, merging these into unity and offering them to Christ from a place of deep humility, reflective of the renewed nature.

Thus, just as water is essential to extinguish fire, so too are tears of repentance necessary to quell the unnatural blaze of the sinful spirit. Similar to how bitter remedies are employed to restore health that has been disrupted by indulgence and excess in food and drink, the grief of repentance and sorrowful tears are required to heal the soul that has been tainted by the allure of sinful pleasures.

The world shuns weeping, particularly when desires or troubles fail to bring forth tears. It favors joy and laughter, rushing with fervor to grasp fleeting moments of delight. It appears to pursue a perfection in frivolity, seeking only entertainment while creating extensive discussions and publications about it, making it difficult to fathom how individuals do not tire of such amusements, which eventually lead to weariness and saturation. Have you considered where this path leads and what outcomes may arise from this consuming desire for entertainment, luxury, and relentless sensory pleasures? The judgment has already been rendered by a Judge whose decrees are immutable, as He is infinitely just and eternal. Woe unto you that laugh now; for ye shall weep, and weep (Luke 6:25). This present era, which you are so diligently filling with vanity and dreams, will soon fade away; the allure and fantasies will vanish, and you will mourn the chaos of your external state, the turmoil of your health, the instability of your mental strength, and, most tragically, you will lament the fact that you did not weep with the brief tears of repentance and sorrow that would have brought you everlasting consolation, instead exchanging temporary joy and laughter for eternal, searing grief.

For this commitment, the grace of the Holy Spirit is bestowed in the sacrament of baptism, which brings forth a new life; from that point onward, it is no longer sin that governs him, but grace, which instructs and empowers him to do good. This represents the kingdom of grace, of which the Lord proclaimed: ‘The kingdom of God is within you’ (Luke 17:21). The future kingdom awaits as the kingdom of glory, while this spiritual kingdom stands as the kingdom of grace. Prayer encompasses both realms. Otherwise, one who desires the swift arrival of the future kingdom without becoming a child of the kingdom of grace will only be longing for the world’s end and the dreadful judgment, where he will undoubtedly find himself among those who will hear: ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ (Matthew 25:41). The holy Fathers and teachers consider both kingdoms together, though they sometimes emphasize the more recent one.

The Lord declares, "The Kingdom of God is within you," and then He instructs on a spiritual practice: ‘Enter into your cell and shut the doors…’ (Matthew 6:6). This refers to the cell of the heart, as understood by all the Holy Fathers. Therefore, a spiritual person, who is engaged in saving endeavors and ascetic practices, is described as being internal. This outlines the pathway to salvation and provides a brief overview of asceticism.

This statement can be understood in two ways: One interpretation suggests that the Messiah's kingdom is already present among you, among the Jewish people, even if it goes unnoticed, which aligns with Christ's message that the kingdom of God does not arrive in a conspicuous manner. The other view holds that this kingdom of God resides internally, within the soul of individuals; it is a spiritual, inner kingdom rather than an external, earthly one like political realms. The first interpretation appears to be supported by the context, although the latter is certainly valid as well.

It is uncertain whether the kingdom of God was intended for the Pharisees who questioned Jesus; however, if the word “you” applies to all believers, it is indeed true. Yet, the structure of the discourse suggests otherwise, as the Lord addresses the Pharisees directly before later speaking to His disciples (John 17:22). Additionally, the Gospels express the same idea regarding the unnoticed emergence of the Messiah's kingdom among the Jewish people (John 1:26, John 12:35, Luke 7:16, Luke 11:11, Luke 11:20). In the first interpretation, the Savior's response seems to fit the questioners' intentions more cohesively. Nonetheless, the latter understanding holds its own truth, allowing for an acceptance of both perspectives.