Luke 17:34Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

From this, we discern that the arrival of the Lord will occur abruptly and without warning. The illustration of two people sharing a bed reflects the negligence of humanity. Similarly, the act of threshing conveys the swiftness of His coming. We also understand that this arrival will take place during the night. Thus, the Lord indicates that among the wealthy who recline in their beds, some will be redeemed while others will not. He previously noted that it is difficult for the rich to find salvation (Matt. 19:23-24). Now, He reveals that not all wealthy individuals are doomed, nor are all impoverished granted salvation; even among the affluent, one will be lifted up and caught away to the Lord (1 Thess. 4:17), embodying a spirit of light and heavenly grace, while the other remains below, facing condemnation.

This is the lesson He conveys when He states, ‘On that night there will be two in the same bed: one will be taken and the other left. Two women shall grind together at the mill, and one shall be taken and the other left.’ In His mention of two lying in the same bed, He appears to refer to those who enjoy tranquility and abundance, both possessing worldly affluence; the bed serves as a metaphor for rest. ‘But one of them,’ He declares, ‘shall be taken, and the other left.’ In what manner does this occur? It is because not everyone with wealth and comfort is necessarily wicked and hard-hearted.

That evening, there will be two individuals in one bed; one will be taken, while the other remains behind (Luke 17:34). The mention of night is significant, as it represents the time of the Antichrist, who brings spiritual darkness into the hearts of people, falsely asserting himself as Christ. In those days, deceivers will emerge, proclaiming that Christ can be found in the wilderness (see Matthew 24:24-26), leading many astray with their false claims. Others will assert that Christ is concealed in secret places, binding listeners with fear of the Almighty. Yet, Christ, like a brilliant flash of lightning, radiates His glory across the entire world; He does not roam in desolate areas or find refuge anywhere. “Am I not filling heaven and earth?” declares the Lord (Jeremiah 23:24).

By using the term 'bier,' he conveyed the notion of abundant life, while 'chalk' represented servitude and labor for wages. The term 'village' signified agrarian living, illustrating that every way of life encompasses both the redeemed and the condemned. Similarly, when a monarch arrives in a city, dignitaries and respected citizens greet him from a distance, whereas those facing charges remain within the city, anticipating the coming of the judge.

That evening—what evening are we referring to? It is the night of the Lord's return. As for those who will be working in the fields, the Gospel of Matthew, particularly in its fifty-eighth chapter, clearly addresses this. There, we find the description, “Then two shall be in the field.”

(Note: The following verse 36, which states “Two shall be in the field: one shall be taken up, and the other left,” is not found in Gentilius as noted by Mattheus, leading to the assumption that Euthymius did not possess it. This particular verse is indeed missing from several Greek manuscripts, similar to its absence in the translation of St. Alexius (Chudov Manuscript). However, Euthymius seems to have been aware of it, as evidenced by the phrase “in the field” appearing in his commentary.)

Humanity tends to overlook its moral and spiritual condition; instead, they celebrate their abundance, unaware of how the allure of earthly wealth distracts them from the growth of their spirit, the pursuit of eternity, and their relationship with God. While the world may extol its achievements and claim ultimate security and peace, they will be caught off guard by sudden destruction (1 Thess. 5:3); the end of times will arrive unexpectedly for those enraptured by material success. The ignorance of the world will result in the Day of the Lord coming unexpectedly, like a thief in the night (1 Thess. 5:2). In reference to this spiritual blindness, the Lord described His return as occurring during a time of darkness.

Simultaneously, He conveyed to His disciples the reality of His forthcoming return to judge the unfaithful, which would occur after His rejection by the people of His time. Difficult days will await the followers of Christ, who will long for a return to those moments they shared with the Son of Man. They will be distressed by deceptive claims about His location: "Here is Christ" or "There is Christ." However, His return will be unlike His current presence on earth. He shall come like lightning, not in a physical form, but in divine judgment, illuminating the skies from one end of heaven to the other, targeting the rebellious humanity that awaits His decree of judgment.

Numerous sayings attributed to Luke can be found within the profound prophetic discourse of Christ regarding the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the culmination of the age, which He imparted to the apostles shortly before His passion. It is plausible that Jesus spoke on this topic multiple times, with some statements being reiterated. Additionally, the evangelists might have included phrases recorded by one another and referred to remarks made by Jesus in different contexts and situations.

In discussing the swift nature of His return, Jesus indicated that among two men working in a field, one will be taken while the other remains, and similarly, among two women grinding grain, one will be taken and the other left. To grasp these statements, it is essential to recognize that at His Second Advent, Christ will instruct His angels to gather His chosen ones from all corners of the earth (Matt. 24:31). Although the angels will ultimately gather everyone for Judgment, their initial focus will be on the elect—those deemed worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven.

On that night, two individuals will be in the field, at the mill, and even sharing a bed, yet one will be taken while the other remains. Through this, Jesus Christ intends to illustrate the abruptness of His return and the fairness of the Judge, who, despite their outward closeness, will effortlessly discern the differing inner qualities and inclinations of individuals.