Luke 17:27Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If you consider the duration and distance of the reward you seek, I can demonstrate how valuable it truly is, and, furthermore, I will strive to show you through the very experiences of life that such excuses are futile. In this current existence, you prepare many things that you may never actually utilize; if someone points this out, you might find solace in the labor you’ve expended for your children and grandchildren.

In this context, the Lord highlights the abruptness and unanticipated nature of His return. Just as the flood came upon Noah unexpectedly and brought destruction, so too will His arrival be. The examples of the pre-flood society and the inhabitants of Sodom serve as a foreshadowing that, in the era of the Antichrist, sinful desires will abound among people, who will engage in immoral and illicit pleasures. The Apostle Paul warned that "in the last days.... men will be... more lovers of pleasure than lovers of God" (2 Tim. 3:1-2, 4). It is not surprising that wickedness will thrive under the dominion of the deceiver, who embodies the essence of all sin. What else could he seek to instill in the lost people of that time except for his own traits?

To illustrate that His return will be unexpected and unknown to many, and that the end of the age will occur suddenly, He refers to the days of Noah and Lot. As He noted, they were engaged in daily activities such as eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, buying and selling, and building their lives; yet the floodwaters swept some away, while others were consumed by fire and brimstone. What does this signify? It calls upon us to remain alert and prepared to stand before God's judgment. For as Paul teaches, we shall all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each individual may be rewarded according to their actions in the body, whether good or bad. He will position the righteous at His right hand and the unrighteous at His left.

Regarding the return of the Lord, the preaching during Noah's era was futile, as the people chose not to believe. God's patience lingered for many years, during which the ark was constructed, serving as a form of proclamation itself. Similarly, individuals today remain in a state of ignorance, akin to a prison, resulting in their disbelief, even as they witness the Church being established worldwide in preparation for the impending judgment, a deluge that will lead to the demise of all who do not believe. The Lord states: "As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and the flood came and destroyed them all" (Luke 17:26-27).

Marriage is not deemed sinful, just as food is not regarded as sinful. The purpose of marriage is to ensure the propagation of humanity, while food serves to nourish life; otherwise, we would need to depart from the earth. However, moderation is essential in all things, as excess is of the evil one (Matthew 5:37). Couples should consider taking time apart for prayer, as noted in 1 Corinthians 7:5. There should be a spirit of holy restraint and moments of purity amidst worldly distractions and widespread immorality.

This illustration is documented more explicitly by Matthew in the fifty-eighth chapter, where one may uncover its significance.

Brethren, let us turn back to God and produce fruits that reflect true repentance, especially as we approach the final hour that holds significance for all, whether in the context of Christ's anticipated return and the great judgment or the moment of our own passing, beyond which awaits judgment alone. Until we reach this monumental hour, may we not be heedless like those during the flood in Noah's time or those consumed by fire in Lot's era. Let our repentance not be limited to the moments we clear our conscience before a spiritual leader but encompass the entirety of our lives thereafter. Let us genuinely repent, moving beyond merely abandoning sinful actions, which even non-believers might do to evade social condemnation.

Concurrently, He revealed to His disciples about His manifestation during the judgment of the unbelieving, which was to occur following His rejection by His contemporaries. These will be difficult times for Christ’s followers, who will long for the days spent with the Son of Man to return. They will face confusion due to misleading claims: “Christ is here” or “Christ is there.” However, when He returns, He will not come as He does now; His return will be like lightning, not in a physical form, but in the divine judgment of heaven, illuminating from one end of the sky to the other, wherever the disobedient are gathered and judgment awaits.

Much of the teaching recorded by Luke appears in the significant prophetic discourse of Christ regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the end of the age, delivered to the apostles shortly before His Passion. It seems plausible that Jesus addressed this topic multiple times, and certain statements may have been reiterated by Him; additionally, the Gospel writers may have incorporated remarks made by Christ on different occasions and in various settings.

The exact moment of His coming—neither the day nor the hour—is known by no one, not even the angels in heaven, but solely by my Father. People will continue to live their lives as frivolously as they do now, resembling those in the era of Noah; they will indulge in eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, oblivious to the impending end. Just as in Noah's time, when they were unaware of the impending judgment until he entered the ark and the flood swept them away, so shall it be at the arrival of the Son of Man. Many will be unprepared, failing to realize the moment has arrived to stand before God to account for their lives. Therefore, be vigilant, so your hearts are not burdened by dissipation, drunkenness, and life’s anxieties, lest that day come upon you unexpectedly. It will ensnare all who dwell on the earth (Luke 21:34-35).

That day will arrive unexpectedly, serving as a time of reward for all devoted servants while simultaneously being a time of judgment for those who fail to fulfill their purpose and are unprepared for this significant day. To deeply engrain this message of vigilance and faithfulness in their hearts, and to provide a stronger warning against the perils of a negligent life and the dimming of their lamp of vigilance, He shared two parables: the ten virgins and the talents (Matthew 25). These stories, notable for their clarity, offer deep spiritual insights.