I disagree with you about the Pharasees (and the Samaritans and any other group you might name that include some or many people who are evil) -- even those who ARE evil in their thoughts and behavior were created in the image of God, and even while corrupted they have at their core that image, that likeness -- the kingdom of God, or Heaven, within them.
The fact that people are able to repent and to become emotionally health(er) is an example of this.
Genesis 1:27 -- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Yeah, but Jesus was talking to the Pharisees when He said this. Jesus also said their father was the devil. You are still taking this scripture out of the context of what was meant by Jesus. He was among them when He said this. The context:
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The Greek word ([entos you, among you]
he answered them and said, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you
Honestly, I don't read that the way you do.
he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation
That tells me that "observing" the scriptures (or anything else) isn't the way to heaven, individually or collectively
Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you
Says, very explicitly, that the kingdom of God is within you
Jesus does NOT qualify that in any way; He doesn't say "the kingdom of God is within (a particular group of people but not within others)."
"within you and among you" is one translation.
I disagree with you about the Pharasees (and the Samaritans and any other group you might name that include some or many people who are evil) -- even those who ARE evil in their thoughts and behavior were created in the image of God, and even while corrupted they have at their core that image, that likeness -- the kingdom of God, or Heaven, within them.
The fact that people are able to repent and to become emotionally health(er) is an example of this.
Yeah, but Jesus was talking to the Pharisees when He said this. Jesus also said their father was the devil. You are still taking this scripture out of the context of what was meant by Jesus. He was among them when He said this. The context:
Luk 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Luk 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. The Greek word ([entos you, among you]
Honestly, I don't read that the way you do.
That tells me that "observing" the scriptures (or anything else) isn't the way to heaven, individually or collectively
Says, very explicitly, that the kingdom of God is within you
Jesus does NOT qualify that in any way; He doesn't say "the kingdom of God is within (a particular group of people but not within others)."