Luke 21:31
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Luke 21:31
This is a natural progression: just as signs portend summer, so the coming of the kingdom of God is imminent when these things happen. The phrase “the kingdom of God is nigh at hand” reframes the signs as not only future wrath or judgment but the nearness of God’s reign breaking into human history through Jesus. Luke’s audience hears a concrete claim: God’s rule is breaking into the present, and their response should reflect hope, repentance, and alignment with Jesus’ mission.
The verse anchors the already-but-not-yet tension—God’s rule is near, but not yet fully consummated. It invites trust in Christ’s authority as the herald of the kingdom. It also reorients disciples toward the central gospel reality: participation in God’s rule through repentance, faith, and mission.
Live with kingdom-minded urgency: invest time in people, especially the marginalized, reflect on what it means to live under God’s rule, and align choices with Jesus’ priorities—justice, mercy, humility. Build anticipation into daily life, not merely doctrine, by acting as signs of the coming kingdom in practical mercy, integrity at work, and hospitable communities.
Cross-References: Isaiah 52:7; Romans 14:17; Colossians 1:13-14; Mark 1:15; Luke 17:20-21