Vultures

Greetings.

Today, we will continue our examination of Luke 17.  We will be looking at verses 20-37.  What begins as a discussion about the coming of the kingdom, ends with talk end times, dead bodies and vultures.  Here is my translation:

20 One time, when the Pharisees asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come, he answered, “The coming of God’s kingdom is not something that you can observe. 21 No one will be able to say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘See, there it is!’, because God’s kingdom is among you.

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “The time will come when you long for one of the days of the Son of Man to come, but you will not see it.  23 Some will say, ‘Look over there!’ or ‘Look here!’ Do not chase after them. 24 Just like how lightning flashes in one place, but lights up the whole sky, so the Son of Man will be in his day.” 25 But first, it is necessary for him to suffer greatly and to be rejected by this generation. 26 Just like in the days of Noah, so it will be in the days of the Son of Man. 

27 They ate and drank.  They married and were being given away in marriage, until the time that Noah entered the ark.  But then, the flood came and destroyed everything. 28  It happened the same way in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 

29 But on the day that Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from Heaven and destroyed everything. 

30 That is what it will be like on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, someone on the housetop, who has belongings inside, must not go down to get them. Those who are in the field, must not return to what is left behind. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 The one who seeks to save his life will lose it, but the one who loses his will save it. 34 I tell you, on that night, two will be in a bed.  One will be taken, and the other will be left behind. 35 Two women will be grinding grain together.  One will be taken and the other left behind.* 

37 The disciples responded, “Where will this happen, Lord?” 

Jesus answered, “The vultures gather where the dead bodies are.” 

*Verse 36 is not found in the most reliable sources. (36 Two will be in the field.  One will be taken and the other left behind.)

It begins innocently enough. In verse 20, Jesus is asked by a Pharisee about when the kingdom would come.  The question seems to the one that many had on their mind.  When would the Messiah come in His kingdom?  The question doesn’t  seem to be asked with any ill intent.  However, the problem is that when Jesus spoke about the kingdom, and when almost everyone else spoke about the kingdom, they were talking about two different things.  

The overall perception of the kingdom in Israel was that the Messiah would come, sweep out the Romans and restore the Davidic kingdom.  So, the Pharisee was probably asking when that would all happen.  Jesus understands that this Pharisee and the rest of his audience don't really understand what the Kingdom actually is, and they are not really able to understand it if he were to explain, nor will they understand it when it comes. 

He responds that the coming of the kingdom is not some observable thing, with signs to watch out for, but rather that the kingdom of God is in their midst.  They were looking for the kingdom, and yet the most significant person in the kingdom of God was walking around among them and they were missing it.  Darrell Bock says about it, “They do not need to search for the kingdom, because the one who brings the kingdom and its program is before them.  They need only to respond to him to find its presence and benefits.” (Bock, 1418.)

Jesus addresses his disciples, next.  He talks to them about the days of the Son of Man.  He tells them that the time would come when they would long to see it, but would not be able to see it. This seems to indicate two things: First, they had some tough times ahead, so difficult that they would long for Jesus’ return.  And second, they would not live to see Jesus return. 

He warns them that they would hear rumors of those days’ coming, but they should not listen to them.  In verse 24 he tells that when that day does come, that it will be quick and obvious as to what is going on.  He compares it to lightning, which is quick and bright and lights up the whole sky.  The phrase 'the days of the Son of Man" indicates that will bring with it a time of judgment. 

In verse 26 and following Jesus compares that day to the days of Noah, another time of decisive judgment.  People were just living their lives, eating, drinking, getting married, doing normal things, but their judgment came on them swiftly.  It is going to be the same way in the days of the Son of Man. 

Jesus also compared it to the destruction of Sodom in Genesis 19.  God’s judgment on Sodom came quickly and destroyed everything. 

These references indicate that the end time, whenever that might be, will come without warning, as many people are going about their normal lives without giving much thought to God, and were then unprepared for when His judgment came on them. So like the Flood and the Destruction of Sodom, the Day of the Son of Man will bring judgment on those who are busy living their lives without giving thought to God, and are therefore unprepared.  

Jesus inserts into this, a statement about his own suffering and rejection by the people of the current generation. Jesus uses the Greek word δεῖ (dei), which means ‘it is necessary.’ His rejection and suffering were things that had to happen before the Day of the Son of Man.  

Jesus tells them to "Remember Lot’s wife."  She died because she looked back at her old life in Sodom.  Jesus has previously warned that we should not look back.  ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.’ Luke 9:62.

Judgment will come quickly, and some will be taken and others left behind.  Will those taken, be taken to judgment or to salvation?  It is not completely clear, but it seems that those taken are taken for salvation. However, what is clear is that there are two different outcomes, one positive and one negative. 

The disciples ask where this was going to happen.  Jesus responds, “The vultures gather where the dead bodies are.”  Jesus doesn’t give them an exact location.  Instead, he talks about vultures.  Vultures fly over dead and dying bodies. While the meaning of the statement is not completely clear, it seems that Jesus finishes off this talk of judgment that indicates that the Day of the Son of Man will be visible, universal and permanent.  When the judgment comes it will be too late to change one’s verdict, and the vultures will already be flying overhead.  

The wise person then not be like those who lived their lives without giving thought to God.  Instead, we will live our lives, do out eating, drinking, getting married and doing normal things, while very mindful of God and His presence, and acting accordingly.  Let's avoid the circling of the vultures. 

Tom