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Luke 17:22-37

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

22. And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see [it]. 23. And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after [them], nor follow [them]. 24. For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one [part] under heaven, shineth unto the other [part] under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day. 25. But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation. 26. And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. 30. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32. Remember Lot’s wife. 33. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34. I tell you, in that night there shall be two [men] in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35. Two [women] shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36. Two [men] shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 37. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body [is], thither will the eagles be gathered together.

Luke 17:22-37 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Luke 17:22

Theological / Devotional

Said unto the disciples. Whether this was in the presence of the Pharisees (see on vs. 20, 21), or at a later time when Jesus was alone with His disciples, is not certain. It would seem that the discourse of vs. 22-37 was spoken either immediately following the comments of vs. 20, 21 or soon thereafter.

Days will come. The discourse of vs. 22-37 deals with the future kingdom of glory rather than with the present kingdom of divine grace (see on Matt. 4:17; 5:2). Jesus has affirmed that the kingdom of grace is already here, set up and operating, in the hearts of men (Luke 17:21). But Jesus now warns His disciples that the kingdom of glory, which the Pharisees erroneously concluded to be the subject of Jesus’ teaching, is yet future — “the days will come” in contrast to “[now] within you” (v. 21).

Desire to see. That is, the actual establishment of the kingdom of glory at the coming of the Son of man (see on Matt. 25:31). Here Jesus refers to the longing in the heart of every true disciple for the full realization of the coming kingdom. The longing of the Twelve would be intensified as they looked back at the opportunities they once had had, but did not fully appreciate at the time, of walking and talking with their beloved Master (see DA 506). Jesus was with them now, yet many were not properly appreciative of His presence. When He would be taken away from them their estimation of the privilege of being with Him would increase greatly. Before His departure He would promise to come back again (see John 14:1-3), and in His absence they would long eagerly for His promised return.

Son of man. See on Matt. 1:1; Mark 2:10.

Not see it. Because the time had not yet arrived for His second coming.

By SdaBc