Luke 17:30Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

For refusing to believe the words of warning they were suddenly visited with a real punishment from God; but their unbelief proceeded from self-indulgence, and softness of mind. For such as a man’s wishes and inclinations are, will also be his expectations. Therefore it follows, they eat and drank.

For when Antichrist has come, then shall men become wanton, given up to abominable vices, as the Apostle says, Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. (2 Tim. 3:4.) For if Antichrist is the dwelling-place of every sin, what else will he then implant in the miserable race of men, but what belongs to himself. And this our Lord implies by the instances of the deluge and the people of Sodom.

To illustrate the suddenness of His return, of which no one is aware, and the coming of the end of the age, it is stated that this will occur "as in the days of Noah and Lot." People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, buying and selling, and building; yet the floodwaters brought destruction upon some, while others became victims of fire and brimstone. What does this signify? It highlights the necessity of being constantly alert and prepared to stand before God's judgment.

He rightly declares the deluge to have been caused by our sins, for God did not create evil, but our deservings found it out for themselves. Let it not however be supposed that marriages, or again meat and drink, are condemned, seeing that by the one succession is sustained, by the other nature, but moderation is to be sought for in all things. For whatsoever is more than this is of evil.

Just as in the days of Noah and Lot, when those who indulged in comfort and lived heedlessly faced destruction—some through the flood and others by fire and brimstone suddenly descending from the heavens—similarly, at the time of Christ’s second coming, those who pursue pleasure without thought will meet their end. Sulfur is indeed a suitable fuel for fire.

Having used the example of the deluge, that no one might expect a future deluge by water, our Lord cites, secondly, the example of Lot, to shew the manner of the destruction of the wicked, namely, that the wrath of God would descend upon them by fire from heaven.

The coming of our Lord, which He had compared to lightning flying swiftly across the heavens, He now likens to the days of Noah and Lot, when a sudden destruction came upon mankind.

In a similarly dreadful manner, the Lord warns those who indulge excessively. As it is written in the Scriptures, He declares, "It shall come upon you," and "this day shall come upon you suddenly." What day is He referring to? It is one marked by only a mere glimpse, a preliminary indication shown in the terrifying events of Sodom. This day does not threaten just a singular city steeped in luxury or a handful of such cities; rather, it poses a danger to the entire world, leading people to "pant for fear and expectation of those things which are coming upon the earth" (Luke 21:26). On this day, "the Lord will come with His holy angels in darkness to execute judgement upon all," revealing the wicked for their sinful deeds (Jude 1:14-15).

Simultaneously, He spoke to His followers about His return during the judgment of the rebellious, which would occur following His rejection by His generation. These will prove to be challenging times for the believers in Christ, who will yearn for the days they spent in His presence. They will be troubled by misleading claims, saying, "Here is Christ" or "There is Christ." However, when He returns, it will be in a manner vastly different from His current presence. He will come like lightning, not in a terrestrial form, but in the divine judgment of heaven, appearing from one end of the sky to the other, wherever the unfaithful are scattered for whom judgment awaits.

Many of the statements recorded by Luke appear in the significant prophetic discourse of Christ regarding the fall of Jerusalem and the culmination of the age, which He delivered to the apostles shortly prior to His passion. It is highly plausible that Jesus addressed the same topic on multiple occasions, leading to some of His teachings being reiterated. Additionally, the evangelists may have included remarks from separate instances along with those particularly articulated in their accounts. For further clarification, see the designated section.

The exact timing of this event remains a mystery, as neither angels in heaven nor anyone but my Father knows the day or hour. People will conduct their lives without awareness of what is to come, just as in the days of Noah; they will consume food and drink and engage in marriage, oblivious to the approaching end. In Noah’s time, they failed to recognize the impending destruction until he boarded the ark and the flood brought devastation upon them. Likewise, at the coming of the Son of Man, many will be living without the realization that it is time to account for their lives before God. Therefore, be vigilant so that your hearts do not become burdened by excess, drunkenness, and the worries of life. Otherwise, that day may unexpectedly overtake you, coming as a snare upon all who dwell on the earth (Luke 21:34-35).

That day will arrive unexpectedly, serving as a moment of reward for all devoted servants, while simultaneously acting as a moment of judgment for those who are not fulfilling their true purpose and are unready for this significant occasion. To firmly engrain this message of vigilance and loyalty in their hearts, and to caution them more insistently about the perils of a negligent existence and the dimming of the lamp of alertness, He presented two parables: the one about the ten virgins and the one concerning the talents (Matthew 25), which are notable for their simplicity and offer deep spiritual insight.

It will be as stated; the arrival of Christ will take many by surprise, both during His initial, enigmatic judgment alongside the destruction of Jerusalem and during the final judgment of humanity at the end of time.