As we take a look at another portion of misunderstood scripture in Luke, we start to recognize the problem that we have when people try to preach without sufficient knowledge. We simply have to learn to read from a broader context than our local newspapers provide. If Twitter only gives us 140 characters to make a point, we somehow think we only need one or two verses to understand an entire chapter. That is not possible as what we have recorded from Jesus was spoken conversation. Conversations do not follow certain grammatical rules. If Jesus had wanted to write us a letter he would have condensed much of what he said, but because there were people asking questions like the disciples or the Pharisees, we have to learn to follow the context and the questions being asked. We also have to consider that many times Jesus is able to refer to people within events and the people listening at the time understood who he was speaking of, while we, reading nearly two thousand years later, have to learn to look back to who is being spoken of.
What we want to focus on in this section of Luke 17 are the questions that the Pharisees have. Luke did a very specific and accurate job notating exact conversation and he made sure he used correct words in the Greek.
Luke 17:20 (KJV)
20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with [3907]observation:
3907LSJ Gloss:παρατήρησις observation
Dodson: παρατήρησις observation observation, careful watching.
Strong’s: παρατήρησις inspection, i.e. ocular evidence Derivation: from G3906; KJV Usage: obervation.
Thayer:
1) observation
παρατήρησις
paratērēsis par-at-ay'-ray-sis From G3906; inspection, that is, ocular evidence KJV Usage: observation.
The first thing that we should take notice of is the Pharisees demanding to know something from Jesus. What made them think that they had the right to demand anything of Jesus? Because they didn’t believe he was the Son of the Living God they were asking in an abhorrent manner. They were snide and arrogant. So Jesus throws them a curve ball by telling them that they are looking in the wrong place for the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God does not come with careful watching. It does not come with inspection, or by using our eyes. I would guess that they did not know what to say when he told them that the kingdom of God was within them.
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
There is not going to be a location for the kingdom of God that we can see. For example, the kingdom is not on a certain continent or a particular nation. The kingdom of God is inside of the people who believe on Jesus. It will be everywhere during the millennial reign. The entire earth will be the kingdom of God, and those who enter into the kingdom of God are sons of the living God. The birthright or adoption is the token of the Holy Spirit. Therefore the kingdom of God is within us.
Jesus knew his disciples would be anxious for his return after his death and resurrection. He warned them not to listen to people who would tell them that they heard that Jesus was “here or there”.
Luke 17:22 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.
There will be no missing the Day of the Lord, it will come like lightning that lights up the entire earth. Think of the earths magnetosphere and the way the magnetic field circles the earth. Now imagine the entire magnetosphere lit up. Think Aurora Borealis everywhere. Everyone will see it, everyone will know at that time that something is happening. That will be the Day of the Lord.
Jesus tells them that he will have to suffer and be rejected by the nation. How long will he have to be rejected by Israel? Until he returns.
Luke 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this [1074] generation.
1074LSJ Gloss: γενεά race, stock, family
Dodson: γενεά a generation a generation; if repeated twice or with another time word, practically indicates infinity of time.
Strong’s: γενεά a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons) Derivation: from (a presumed derivative of) G1085; KJV Usage: age, generation, nation, time. G1085
Thayer:
1) fathered, birth, nativity
2) that which has been begotten, men of the same stock, a family
2a) the several ranks of natural descent, the successive members of a genealogy
2b) metaph. a group of men very like each other in endowments, pursuits, character
2b1) esp. in a bad sense, a perverse nation
3) the whole multitude of men living at the same time
4) an age (i.e. the time ordinarily occupied be each successive generation), a space of 30 - 33 years
γενεά
genea ghen-eh-ah' From (a presumed derivative of) G1085; a generation; by implication an age (the period or the persons) KJV Usage: age, generation, nation, time.
We looked at this word translated generation last week when we looked at Luke 21. In our time we think of a generation as a group of people living during a certain time period. However, that is not how this word is communicated. This translation should be “stock or people”. In other words, Jesus must be rejected by Israel or the heirs of Jacob. How many years can Jesus be rejected by the heirs of Jacob? As many years as it takes until the Day of the Lord. The Israeli people will always be on the earth rejecting Jesus until the Day of the Lord when lightning lights up the entire globe.
Jesus then gives some examples that many have taken wildly out of context. Jesus says that people will behave normally before the Day of the Lord. Sometimes we try to read into Jesus’ words with our own ideas, but it is much safer for us to simply read what Jesus says in context.
Luke 17:26 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.
Noah has one hundred and twenty years to build an ark and witness to the people of that time period. Meanwhile, the people were doing normal things right up to the time that the flood came. It was the same situation with Lot.
Luke 17:28 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.
Every one in the five cities of the plains of Sodom were living just like normal. Luke takes the guessing out of what Jesus was communicating. Everyone was behaving quite naturally doing what they usually do. The people were not worried, scared or hoarding food supplies. They themselves were not building boats or bomb shelters attempting to escape impending doom. Instead, they were living life as they always had, and this is the way it will be when the Son of man is revealed.
Luke 17:30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is [601] revealed.
601LSJ Gloss: ἀποκαλύπτω to uncover
Dodson: ἀποκαλύπτω I uncover, bring to light, reveal.
Strong’s: ἀποκαλύπτω to take off the cover, i.e. disclose Derivation: from G575 and G2572; KJV Usage: reveal.
Thayer:
1) to uncover, lay open what has been veiled or covered up
1a) disclose, make bare
2) to make known, make manifest, disclose what before was unknown
For Synonyms see entry G5812
Trench's New Testament Synonyms
Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
ἀποκαλύπτω
apokaluptō ap-ok-al-oop'-to From G575 and G2572; to take off the cover, that is, disclose KJV Usage: reveal.
Remembering our timing, at the end of the tribulation when Jesus comes back with his armies, this is the day of the Apocalypse. This is the day of the revealing. In that day… what day? In the day of the Apocalypse. Think, who will be on earth in that day? What will the people be doing in that day? What will the political leaders be doing in that day? Now Jesus has some advice.
Luke 17:31 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.
When Jesus is revealed on the day of the Apocalypse, the Day of the Lord, do not turn away. Do not look back. Do not do what Lot’s wife did. Do not look anywhere else but at Jesus. Do not go get coats, purses, guns, or other belongings, just look at Jesus. If one is scared, if one seeks to hide or seeks to somehow save his own life, he will lose it. Who are the people on the earth at this time? Who are the political leaders at this time? Who will be trying to save their own life?
Luke 17:33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
Luke 17:33G3739Who G1437ever G2212should seek G3588 G5590[his soul G1473 G4982 to preserve] G622shall lose G1473it; G2532and G3739whoG1437ever G622should lose G1473it G2225brings it forth alive. G1473
2212 LSJ Gloss: ζητέω to seek, seek for
Dodson: ζητέω I seek, search for, desire I seek, search for, desire, require, demand.
Strong’s: ζητέω to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life) Derivation: of uncertain affinity; KJV Usage: be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means). Compare G4441. G4441
Thayer:
1) to seek in order to find
1a) to seek a thing
1b) to seek [in order to find out] by thinking, meditating, reasoning, to enquire into
1c) to seek after, seek for, aim at, strive after
2) to seek i.e. require, demand
2a) to crave, demand something from someone
ζητέω
zēteō dzay-teh'-o Of uncertain affinity; to seek (literally or figuratively); specifically (by Hebraism) to worship (God), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life) KJV Usage: be (go) about, desire, endeavour, enquire (for), require, (X will) seek (after, for, means).
5590 LSJ Gloss:ψυχήbreath
Dodson: ψυχή the soul, life, self (a) the vital breath, breath of life, (b) the human soul, (c) the soul as the seat of affections and will, (d) the self, (e) a human person, an individual.
Strong’s: ψυχή breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H5315, H7307 and H2416)
Derivation: from G5594; KJV Usage: heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you. G5594 G4151 G2222 H5315 H7307 H2416
Thayer:
1) breath
1a) the breath of life
1a1) the vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing
1a1a) of animals
1a12) of men
1b) life
1c) that in which there is life
1c1) a living being, a living soul
2) the soul
2a) the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions (our heart, soul etc.)
2b) the (human) soul in so far as it is constituted that by the right use of the aids offered it by God it can attain its highest end and secure eternal blessedness, the soul regarded as a moral being designed for everlasting life
2c) the soul as an essence which differs from the body and is not dissolved by death (distinguished from other parts of the body)
ψυχή
psuchē psoo-khay' From G5594; breath, that is, (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151, which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222, which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew [H5315], [H7307] and [H2416] KJV Usage: heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you.
4982LSJ Gloss: σώζωto save, keep
Dodson: σῴζω I save, heal I save, heal, preserve, rescue.
Strong’s: σώζω to save, i.e. deliver or protect (literally or figuratively)
Derivation: from a primary σῶς (contraction for obsolete σάος, "safe");
KJV Usage: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
Thayer:
1) to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction
1a) one (from injury or peril)
1a1) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health
1b1) to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
1b) to save in the technical biblical sense
1b1) negatively
1b1a) to deliver from the penalties of the Messianic judgment
1b1b) to save from the evils which obstruct the reception of the Messianic deliverance
σώζω
sōzō sode'-zo From a primary word σῶς sōs̄ (contraction for the obsolete σάος saos , “safe”); to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively) KJV Usage: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole.
622LSJ Gloss: ἀπόλλυμι to destroy utterly, kill, slay
Dodson: ἀπόλλυμι I destroy, lose, am perishing (a) I kill, destroy, (b) I lose, mid: I am perishing (the resultant death being viewed as certain).
Strong’s: ἀπόλλυμι to destroy fully (reflexively, to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively Derivation: from G575 and the base of G3639; KJV Usage: destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
Thayer:
1) to destroy
1a) to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin
1b) render useless
1c) to kill
1d) to declare that one must be put to death
1e) metaph. to devote or give over to eternal misery in hell
1f) to perish, to be lost, ruined, destroyed
2) to destroy
2a) to lose
ἀπόλλυμι
apollumi ap-ol'-loo-mee From G575 and the base of G3639; to destroy fully (reflexively to perish, or lose), literally or figuratively KJV Usage: destroy, die, lose, mar, perish.
Those people who strive to save or preserve their own breath life will destroy themselves. This is interesting. What will people be doing when Jesus is revealed? They will try to hide from Jesus. They will fear Him. They will be in awe of Him. They will be scared and they will try to hide. They might try to keep themselves alive because they fear that they will die. Why are people so frightened? Because they rejected Him. They didn’t believe that he was who he says he was. They didn’t want to make Him Lord of their lives. They wanted to be lord of their own lives.
The next section is interesting as well. Whoever destroys his life actually makes it alive.
2225 Dodson: ζωογονέω I preserve alive I preserve alive (lit: bring to birth), save.
Strong’s: ζωογονέω to engender alive, i.e. (by analogy) to rescue (passively, be saved) from death Derivation: from the same as G2226 and a derivative of G1096; KJV Usage: live, preserve.
Thayer:
1) to bring forth alive
2) to give life
3) to preserve alive
ζωογονέω
zōogoneō dzo-og-on-eh'-o From the same as G2226 and a derivative of G1096; to engender alive that is, (by analogy) to rescue (passively be saved) from death KJV Usage: live, preserve.
People have an innate response to try and save their lives. Most people would not stand in the middle of the road when a bus is coming down the street. People generally get out of the way of danger. What does this seem to refer to? It seems that when Jesus is revealed, those who stand and look at Him will seem to be destroyed. Therefore those who rejected Jesus will hide to try and save themselves. Then those who look like they are being destroyed or perishing, will actually be made alive into their real and true nature. Do you understand what Jesus is trying to tell the people of the tribulation time period? He is saying to the people alive at his revealing, the Apocalypse, not to try and save your own life, instead look on Him. This is something only the wise people of that time period will understand. Now, bear in mind that the Jewish people have rejected Jesus, but they do have Bibles and they will be searching the scriptures to find out what time period they are in.
When the revealing occurs, there will be people that are received and people that will be sent away. Just like in Matthew 24, the very same words are used. These are the words that have been mistranslated and misappropriated as taken and left behind. This is simply the opposite of the actual translation.
Luke 17:34 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.
Luke 17:34G3004I say G1473to you, G3778In this G3588 G3571night G1510.8.6there will be G1417two G1909upon G2825[2bed G15201one]; G3588the G1520one G3880will be taken, G2532and G3588theG2087other G863will be left.
3880 LSJ Gloss: παραλαμβάνω to receive from
Dodson: παραλαμβάνω I take, receive I take from, receive from, or: I take to, receive (apparently not used of money), admit, acknowledge; I take with me.
Strong’s: παραλαμβάνω to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn Derivation: from G3844 and G2983; KJV Usage: receive, take (unto, with).
Thayer:
1) to take to, to take with one's self, to join to one's self
1a) an associate, a companion
1b) metaph.
1b1) to accept or acknowledge one to be such as he professes to be
1b2) not to reject, not to withhold obedience
2) to receive something transmitted
2a) an office to be discharged
2b) to receive with the mind
2b1) by oral transmission: of the authors from whom the tradition proceeds
2b2) by the narrating to others, by instruction of teachers (used of disciples)
παραλαμβάνω
paralambanō par-al-am-ban'-o
From G3844 and G2983; to receive near, that is, associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy to assume an office; figuratively to learn KJV Usage: receive, take (unto, with).
863LSJ Gloss: ἀφίημι to send forth, discharge
Dodson: ἀφίημι I send away, release, remit, forgive, permit (a) I send away, (b) I let go, release, permit to depart, (c) I remit, forgive, (d) I permit, suffer.
Strong’s: ἀφίημι an intensive form of εἶμι, to go); to send forth, in various applications (as follow) Derivation: from G575 and ἵημι (to send;
KJV Usage: cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
Thayer:
1) to send away
1a) to bid going away or depart
1a1) of a husband divorcing his wife
1b) to send forth, yield up, to expire
1c) to let go, let alone, let be
1c1) to disregard
1c2) to leave, not to discuss now, (a topic)
1c21) of teachers, writers and speakers
1c3) to omit, neglect
1d) to let go, give up a debt, forgive, to remit
1e) to give up, keep no longer
2) to permit, allow, not to hinder, to give up a thing to a person
3) to leave, go way from one
3a) in order to go to another place
3b) to depart from any one
3c) to depart from one and leave him to himself so that all mutual claims are abandoned
3d) to desert wrongfully
3e) to go away leaving something behind
3f) to leave one by not taking him as a companion
3g) to leave on dying, leave behind one
3h) to leave so that what is left may remain, leave remaining
3i) abandon, leave destitute
ἀφίημι
aphiēmi af-ee'-ay-mee From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications
KJV Usage: cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
How did we get this idea so mixed up? It might be that the translators were trying to support their theories or religious ideas. Clearly, one will be received into the kingdom and one will be sent away from the kingdom. Those who will be received into the kingdom will look on Jesus at his revealing, those who are sent away are those who have tried to save their own lives.
Again, this is not the harpazo, the gathering or the rapture, but it is the Day of the Lord. This phrase as been used to describe the harpazo, but it is not the harpazo, it is the Day of the Lord. One person will be received into the kingdom and one person will be sent away from the kingdom.
Luke 17:35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke 17:35G1417Two womenG1510.8.6will beG229grindingG1909together;G3588 G1473 G1520oneG3880will be taken,G2532andG3588theG2087otherG863will be left.
What do we see from Jesus’ explanation? Two people will be in bed. One person will look on Jesus and it will look like that person is losing their life, but in reality that person is being received and made alive. The other person hides under the covers in an attempt to save his/her own life. In reality that person is being sent away and is being destroyed. Another idea is that two women will be working at the same job; when one is received into the kingdom by losing her life the other is sent away from the kingdom by attempting to preserve her life. Then there will be two men working at their job; one will be received into the kingdom and the other will be sent away from the kingdom.
Luke 17:36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Luke 17:36G1417Two men G1510.8.6shall be G1722in G3588the G68field; G3588the G1520one G3880will be taken G2532and G3588the G2087other G863will be left.
Notice Jesus’ example of people. Normal people. Working people. They sleep, they grind in a mill, and they work in the fields. Ordinary people who are going along with life as normal, just like in Noah’s time, and just like in Lot’s time.
The disciples ask the question where the people are going. Now this differs from Matthew 24 where Jesus says that the eagles will gather the dead bodies. In Matthew, the disciples are not asking a question, Jesus is telling them about the dead bodies. Here the disciples ask the question regarding the living bodies.
Luke 17:37 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: 37G2532And G611responding G3004they say G1473to him, G4226Where, G2962O Lord? G3588And G1161 G2036he said G1473to them, G3699Where G3588the G4983body, G1563there G4863[3will be gathered G35881the G1052eagles].
4983LSJ Gloss: σῶμα the body
Dodson: σῶμα body, flesh body, flesh; the body of the Church.
Strong’s: σῶμα the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively Derivation: from G4982; KJV Usage: bodily, body, slave.
Thayer:
1) the body both of men or animals
1a) a dead body or corpse
1b) the living body
1b1) of animals
2) the bodies of planets and of stars (heavenly bodies)
3) is used of a (large or small) number of men closely united into one society, or family as it were; a social, ethical, mystical body
3a) so in the NT of the church
4) that which casts a shadow as distinguished from the shadow itself
σῶμα
sōma so'-mah From G4982; the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively KJV Usage: bodily, body, slave.
4863LSJ Gloss: συνάγω to bring together, gather together, collect, convene
Dodson: συνάγω I gather together I gather together, collect, assemble, receive with hospitality, entertain.
Strong’s: συνάγω to lead together, i.e. collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably) Derivation: from G4862 and G71; KJV Usage: + accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.
Thayer:
1) to gather together, to gather
1a) to draw together, collect
1a1) of fishes
1a2) of a net in which they are caught
2) to bring together, assemble, collect
2a) to join together, join in one (those previously separated)
2b) to gather together by convoking
2c) to be gathered i.e. come together, gather, meet
3) to lead with one's self
3a) into one's home, i.e. to receive hospitably, to entertain
συνάγω
sunagō soon-ag'-o From G4862 and G71; to lead together, that is, collect or convene; specifically to entertain (hospitably) KJV Usage: + accompany, assemble (selves, together), bestow, come together, gather (selves together, up, together), lead into, resort, take in.
105 LSJ Gloss: ἀετός an eagle
Dodson: ἀετός an eagle, bird of prey.
Strong’s: ἀετός an eagle (from its wind-like flight) Derivation: from the same as G109; KJV Usage: eagle.
Thayer:
1) an eagle: since eagles do not usually go in quest of carrion, this may to a vulture that resembles an eagle
2) an eagle as a standard (Roman Military)
ἀετός
aetos ah-et-os' From the same as G109; an eagle (from its wind like flight)
KJV Usage: eagle.
Eagles are gathering the living and the dead. Those who preserved their lives by destroying their lives are being gathered and received into the kingdom of God. Those who tried to save their lives by hiding or going back to get something will lose their lives and the eagles will gather those dead bodies and send them away according to Matthew.
Let’s think about what Jesus said to the Pharisees. He told them that the kingdom of God doesn’t come by observing, looking, or by visual evidence. He told them that the kingdom of God is inside of them. That is not to say that it is an allegorical kingdom, that is to say that for the one who’s heart is right, who looks at Jesus on the Day of the Lord, the day that He is revealed along with the Sons of God, the one who does not try to preserve his life but instead destroys his life will be received into the kingdom. The kingdom is within because he who loses his life for the kingdom will be made alive.
This is all about that great and terrible Day of the Lord. It is not about the harpazo. It is not about the end of the old earth and the new heaven and new earth. It is about the Apocalypse of Jesus. So let’s ask the question, who will be on the earth? All those who have thus far rejected Jesus. It is important for us to teach this to our Jewish friends. What we must communicate to them is that they will be on the earth waiting for the Messiah. This is a message to all Jews. On the Day of the Lord, do not try and save your own life. Instead look at Him being revealed. The kingdom of God is within you. You will not see the kingdom with your eyes if you do not receive Him in your heart at His revealing.
