Quote:
Originally Posted by Light
WOW. 
Jesus couldn't have made it more clear and direct with the statement: "its not here or there its within you". Simple. What is there to misunderstand?
When you change it to "its in our midst" its not so clear and then you have to cover that incoherent change with things like he spoke "obscurely" or in "parables".
The only one speaking obscurely and in parables is you. |
You miss the irony of the passage entirely! The Pharisees were looking for grand, spectacular signs for the COMING kingdom, totally missing the fact of all Jesus' spectacular miracles during his PRESENT ministry. So, he simply told them truth: The kingdom is standing in your midst. This is why he told them:
Luke 17:21a
21
nor will they say,' Look, here it is!' or,' There it is!
NASB
The "kingdom" about which they inquired was standing right in front of them! It was closer than "right at hand"!
Have you never read Jesus' rebuke to the Pharisees and Sadducees?
Matt 16:1-4
16
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Him asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 But He answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' 3 "And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times? 4 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah." And He left them, and went away.
NASB
What were the "signs of the times"? Were they not all Jesus' spectacular works and miracles? How often did Jesus perform miracles right in the presence of these religious leaders? And what effect did it have on their hardened hearts? They hated him all the more! So Jesus alluded to the final greatest sign of all -- his impending death and resurrection, i.e. the "sign of Jonah". Do you think they understood what he meant by that obscure phrase?
