Certain Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus’ reply focused on the nature of its coming, and this is conveyed in the account by a negation of the Greek word paratéresis. The corresponding verb parateréo means “watch,” “observe,” “guard,” or “spy on.” Therefore, Jesus’ reply may be understood to mean that God’s kingdom is not coming in a manner that can be closely observed or watched. Unlike the kingdoms of the world that rise to a position of power over other lands through military conquests that can readily be seen, God’s kingdom does not make its entrance on the earthly scene in an impressive, observable manner. (Luke 17:20)
No one would be able to say that it is “here” or “there,” as if it had a defined territory over which it ruled. Jesus then said, “For, behold! God’s kingdom is inside [entós] you.” In relation to God’s kingdom, the Greek term entós probably is to be understood as meaning that God’s reign had already begun among the people. (Luke 17:21) Jesus, the king by his Father’s appointment, was in their midst. By repenting of their sins and accepting him as their king or lord and God’s Son, individuals came to be part of the realm where the Most High is Sovereign. Like leaven that produces results but is hidden in the dough, God’s kingdom was already present and in operation but not in a manner that could be observed like the military conquests of earthly governments. (Matthew 13:33)
The end of all competing human rule was yet future and would follow Jesus’ return in glory. It was concerning this return that he next spoke to his disciples.
In the intervening period before Jesus’ return, his disciples would face trying times. They would yearn to have one precious day with him, just one of the days for which the majority who saw Jesus had little appreciation. “Days will come,” Jesus told them, “when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see [it].” The past days when he walked and labored among them, teaching, comforting, and reassuring them, would not be repeated. (Luke 17:22; see the Notes section for another possible explanation.)
In times of distress, people are susceptible to being deluded by those who offer false hopes. The Jewish historian Josephus referred to false prophets who, prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, deceived the people with promises of divine deliverance. He continued, “Now, a man that is in adversity does easily comply with such promises; for when such a seducer makes him believe that he shall be delivered from those miseries which oppress him, then it is that the patient is full of hopes of such deliverance. Thus were the miserable people persuaded by these deceivers.” (War, VI, v, 2, 3) Jesus’ admonition served to safeguard his disciples from being deceived into thinking that his return and deliverance from distress was at hand. He said, “They will say to you, ‘Look here!’ or ‘Look there!’ Do not go out nor pursue.” (Luke 17:23)
His return would not be of a secret nature, becoming known only to a select few. It would be as observable as lightning that illuminates the sky. (Luke 17:24) Regarding developments that were imminent, Jesus said about himself, “First he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25)
Jesus next mentioned the “days of the Son of Man,” which “days” refer to the time of his return in glory and the events associated therewith. He likened those “days” to the “days of Noah.” The people of Noah’s generation paid no attention to him but continued to be preoccupied with their routine of life, eating, drinking, and marrying. Then, after Noah entered the ark, the flood came and destroyed all those who had given no heed to his warning. (Luke 17:26, 27)
Something similar happened in the days of Lot in the city of Sodom. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building. But once Lot was no longer in the city, a downpour of fire and sulfur destroyed them all. In both cases, the judgment came at an unexpected time, with the people engaging in the usual affairs of life. Likewise it will be on the day “the Son of Man is revealed.” His return in glory for judgment will find people preoccupied with their daily routine and not expecting a sudden day of reckoning. (Luke 17:28-30)
“On that day” or at that time, there will be no opportunity for any kind of preparation or last-minute changes in one’s condition, and undue attachment to anything of a mundane nature would jeopardize one’s being in a prepared state. Regardless of where individuals may find themselves, they must be ready to welcome the Son of God upon his return or suffer the consequences for being in a disapproved state. Stressing that undue attachment to anything of this world would pose a grave danger to one’s having an approved standing, Jesus said that a person on the roof should not go back into his house to get belongings and that the individual in the field should not turn back to the things he left behind. “Remember Lot’s wife,” Jesus added. Although no longer in Sodom, she remained attached to what she had left behind. Failing to move swiftly out of the danger area and longingly looking back, she perished. (Luke 17:31, 32; for additional comments regarding verse 31, see the Notes section.)
Being in a state of readiness for Christ’s return requires being faithful to him at all times. This could even include sacrificing one’s very life. Efforts to save one’s soul or life in ways that would constitute disloyalty to Christ would mean losing the real life of an enduring relationship with him and his Father. The one losing his soul or life for the sake of the Son of God would be preserving it, as his resurrection would be assured at the time Jesus returned. (Luke 17:33; the same thought is expressed in Matthew 10:39; 16:25; John 12:25.)
It will be a time of judgment, with those who are approved being united with the Lord Jesus Christ, whereas the others will be left behind to experience adverse consequences. According to Jesus’ words, even close associates would then be affected, as they would not necessarily be sharing the same outcome. “In that night, two [men] will be in one bed. One [man] will be taken, and the other one will be left. Two [women] will be grinding [grain] together. One [woman] will be taken, and the other one will be left.” (Luke 17:34-36; see the Notes section regarding verse 36.)
The disciples asked, “Where, Lord?” They wanted to know in what particular location this would occur. Revealing that no specific place was involved, Jesus said, “Where the body [carcass is], there also the eagles [vultures] will gather.” (Luke 17:37; see the Notes section about the Greek word for “eagle.”) The response seems to have been a proverbial saying, indicating that wherever there is a carcass the carrion birds would be seen. It would not be a matter of location, but the event would be readily discernible, just as when an increasing number of vultures begin to circle in the sky.
Notes:
There is a possibility that longing for “one of the days of the Son of Man” could refer to the yearning for just one of the days of his future return. In that case, the disciples’ not seeing one of these days suggests that considerable time would pass before he would come again.
In Luke 17:31, the house would be one with a flat roof, where people would commonly spend time on a hot day, as it would be cooler there than inside the home. Access to the roof would be either by means of outside stairs or a ladder. This explains the admonition for the individual on the roof or housetop not to come down to get belongings from inside the house.
Luke 17:36 is missing in the oldest extant manuscripts and is usually not included in modern translations. The passage reads, “Two [men] will be in the field. One [man] will be taken and the other one will be left.”
The Greek word aetós is the usual designation for “eagle.” Numerous translators have chosen to render the Greek term in Luke 17:37 as “vultures,” for these birds gather in large numbers to feed on carcasses. As a proverbial saying, the rendering “vultures” would fit better, for eagles are primarily solitary hunters that catch living prey.