The kingdom of God: In the "midst" of you or "within" you?

The kingdom of God is of course a major aspect of Jesus' ministry in Luke's Gospel, as it is in each of the Synoptic Gospels. The statements which summarize Jesus' ministry in Luke 4:43, 8:1, 9:2, 11, 16:16 and 18:29 indicate that `preaching the kingdom of God' epitomizes Jesus' ministry. Jesus' teaching about the kingdom of God is best understood along the lines of `inaugurated eschatology', or, in the words of George Ladd, `fulfillment without consummation'. That is, there is both an `already' and a `not yet' aspect to the kingdom. Thus, in keeping with OT expectations, Jesus expected a future consummation of the kingdom. The more striking element of Jesus' teaching in the Gospels, however, is that he did not just announce a future kingdom; he announced the present arrival of that kingdom in his own ministry. In Luke's Gospel the presence of the kingdom is especially emphasized in Luke 10:9, 11; 11:20; and 17:21. In Luke 10:9, 11 Jesus tells his disciples to go into the towns ahead of him and announce that `the kingdom of God is near' (with the sense of arrival), and Luke 10:9 adds that the kingdom has come `upon you' (eph hymas). In 11:20 exorcisms by Jesus are tied to the presence of the kingdom, which is said to have `come to you'. In 17:21, a passage unique to Luke's Gospel, Jesus answers a question about the kingdom's presence by stating that the kingdom of God is `among you' (NIV mg.). Given that this is a response to the Pharisees, it is unlikely to be a statement about a spiritual internalization of the kingdom in their hearts but is rather a declaration that the kingdom of God is `in their presence'. That is, in the context of the previous verses, the point is that the kingdom has come with the coming of the King, and the Pharisees should not miss the presence of the kingdom right before their eyes. Entrance to the kingdom, therefore, is possible already and requires a response to Jesus.

Alan J. Thompson. The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke's Account of God's Unfolding Plan (New Studies in Biblical Theology) (Kindle Locations 309-321). Kindle Edition.