Luke 17:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In other words, the kingdom of God resides within you for as long as I remain with you. This presence is not solely due to your faith in Me and your commitment to Me, but also because you now experience a life filled with careful attention, stemming from My concern for you. However, there will come times when I am absent, and during those days, you will face peril, being brought before rulers and authorities. In those moments, you, as the embodiment of the kingdom of God, will long for the secure existence you enjoyed while under My guidance, wishing for even a single day of My company, which you would consider the safest of all.

Having clearly demonstrated this to all, He now shares His teachings with His devoted disciples, referring to them as His loyal companions. He declares, “The days will come when you will wish to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it.” Does the Lord, by making this statement, instill fear in His followers? Does He burden them beforehand and numb them to withstand the tribulations and temptations they will face? This was not His intention; rather, He aimed to prepare them for any trials that may come their way, encouraging them to endure patiently so they may stand firm and enter the kingdom of God. He cautions that before His return from heaven, at the culmination of the age, they will encounter tribulation and persecution.

Despite the Pharisees’ scornful inquiries, He responded with gentleness and His customary wit. He ultimately told His disciples that, though He had not yet met His death, He would not continue to dwell among them. This conveys their desire to witness even a single day of His life.

Simultaneously, He communicated to His disciples about His manifestation during the judgment of the unfaithful, which would occur subsequent to His rejection by that generation. These will be challenging times for Christ's followers, who will long for one of those days they currently spend with the Son of Man to return. They will be distressed by false claims: here is Christ, there is Christ. However, in that moment, He will reveal Himself on earth in a manner distinct from His present form. He will manifest like lightning, not in a terrestrial shape, but in the divine judgment, appearing as lightning flashes from one end of heaven to the other—wherever the disobedient are dispersed, upon whom judgment will be rendered.

A significant number of the statements recorded by Luke can also be found in the profound prophetic discourse of Jesus regarding the devastation of Jerusalem and the culmination of the age. This discourse was delivered to the apostles shortly before His Passion. It is plausible that Jesus addressed this matter on more than one occasion, leading to the repetition of certain statements. Additionally, the Gospel writers may have incorporated elements from this address as well as remarks from Jesus made during different moments and in various contexts.

In addressing the disciples, the Lord provided critical teachings, potentially in the presence of the Pharisees, which served as a response to their inquiries. He highlighted the arrival of the Son of Man as a form of judgement against a generation that rejected the Messiah and failed to recognize the establishment of His kingdom. This first coming of judgment correlates with His anticipated second coming in several ways (refer to Mt. 24). Consequently, the language used by the Lord bears resemblance to His earlier discourse about the destruction of Jerusalem and the culmination of time (Mt. 24).

After briefly proclaiming the establishment of His kingdom among humanity to the Pharisees, the Lord provided the disciples with a deeper understanding of God's divine plan. He foretold the judgment that would come upon the Jewish people for their rejection of their Messiah, while simultaneously referencing His return. In doing so, He illustrated how the two events—the destruction of Jerusalem and the culmination of time—bear striking similarities. The glorious unveiling of His majesty will not occur merely because, following His ascension, those enduring great tribulation and hardship may wish to see their Lord in a tangible way, nor will it be pointed out by the false prophets and misguided souls anticipating a physical kingdom of the Messiah.