Luke 3:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Enosh, descended from the fourth Cainan, who was a descendant of Cainal Maleel, who in turn was from Maleel Jared, who fathered a son named Enoch, who was translated to heaven without experiencing death. From Enoch came Methuselah. (Gen. 5:9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24)

What can be said about Methuselah, whose lifespan is counted beyond the deluge? (See Luke 3:37. Cf. Gen. 5:25-27.) Unlike His forebears, the life of Christ remained untouched by the trials of time and was not influenced by the flood. In the case of Enoch, does he not exemplify the goodness and divine essence of the Lord? Like His ascended ancestor, the Lord did not experience death and ascended to heaven. This demonstrates that while the Lord could have avoided death, He chose not to in order to bring us salvation through His sacrifice. Enoch was taken up so that the wickedness of the world would not corrupt his heart (cf. Prem. 4:11), and the Lord, who is impervious to the evils of this world, returned to His exalted origin in the greatness of His divine nature.