Luke 17:23

Luke 17:23, in plain English

People will say, 'Look, He's here!' or 'There He is!' Jesus says: don't follow them, don't chase rumors. When He comes back, you won't need someone to point it out.

Why it's here

False claims about the Messiah's return would be constant. Jesus wants His followers to stay calm and not be deceived.

Who's speaking

Jesus gives practical guidance for the waiting period: resist the urge to chase every claim and rumor.

Where it sits in the story

Don't run after every rumor. When Jesus returns, it won't be a secret. Stay steady and wait for the real thing.

The scholarly reading

Jesus warns against false reports of His return: 'there He is' or 'here He is' (idou ekei, idou hōde). The command 'do not go out or chase after them' (mē apelthēte mēde diōxēte) warns against being deceived by premature claims.

Language and setting

False messiah claims were common in first-century Judaism and would intensify during the Jewish War (66-70 AD). Jesus prepares His followers to resist deception during His absence.

Voice

Jesus warns His disciples not to follow false claims about His return, establishing that the real event will be unmistakable.

Significance

Jesus tells His followers: when people say 'He's over here!' or 'He's over there!' — don't chase after them. His return won't be that ambiguous.

21Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

22Then He said to the disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

23People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.

24For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day.

25But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Read all of Luke 17 — Ten lepers are cleansed, but only one returns to say thank you — and he's the outsider. Jesus teaches that the kingdom comes without warning.