Luke 17 36

Luke 17:36 kjv

Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Luke 17:36 nkjv

Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left."

Luke 17 verses

Luke 17 36 Meaning

Luke 17:36 speaks of a profound and sudden separation that will occur at the coming of the Son of Man. In an ordinary scene, individuals engaged in common activities—implied to be men in the field—will experience an immediate divine segregation: one will be removed, and the other will remain. This division signifies a coming judgment where some are "taken" in destruction, while others are "left" for preservation, underscoring the themes of unexpectedness, finality, and the critical importance of spiritual preparedness.

Luke 17 36 Context

Luke 17:36 is found within Jesus’ discourse about the coming of the Kingdom of God and, more specifically, the sudden and unexpected revelation of the Son of Man (Lk 17:20-37). Jesus initially corrects the Pharisees’ expectation of an outwardly observable kingdom, stating it is "within" or "among" them (Lk 17:20-21). He then turns to His disciples, warning them of difficult times to come and emphasizing that His second coming will not be announced by human signs, but will be as sudden and obvious as lightning (Lk 17:22-24).

The preceding verses (Lk 17:26-33) parallel the days of Noah and Lot, where life carried on normally until judgment suddenly consumed the unprepared. In Noah’s day, "they were eating, they were drinking..." until "the flood came and destroyed them all." Similarly, in Lot's day, "they bought, they sold..." until "fire and brimstone came from heaven and destroyed them all." The call is to remember Lot’s wife – not to look back or cling to worldly possessions when the moment of escape/separation arrives. Verses 34-35 introduce the concept of simultaneous but differential treatment, picturing individuals in bed or women grinding at a mill, with one "taken" and one "left." Verse 36 extends this imagery to men in a field, making it clear that no place or activity will prevent this sudden division.

Historically, this passage would have addressed Jewish eschatological expectations, which often envisioned a literal, political kingdom. Jesus reorients their understanding towards a divine, sovereign, and ultimately separating event. It stands in direct contrast to beliefs that salvation or judgment would be based solely on lineage or ritual observance, emphasizing instead an individual's state of spiritual readiness.

Note on Luke 17:36 Authenticity: It is important to acknowledge that Luke 17:36 is absent from some of the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts of the New Testament (such as Codex Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, and Papyrus 75). It appears to have been an early scribal addition to harmonize Luke's text with its direct parallel in Matthew 24:40. While not part of the earliest preserved Luke manuscript tradition, the content perfectly aligns with Jesus' teaching on the sudden separation at His return as expressed in the preceding and succeeding verses and in Matthew’s Gospel.

Luke 17 36 Word Analysis

"Two men" (δύο ἄνδρες - duo andres):

• Indicates a specific scenario involving common, ordinary activity. The preceding verses mention people "in bed" and "women grinding," completing a picture of various everyday settings.
• Significance: The divine separation will intrude into the most mundane aspects of daily life. No one is exempt due to location or occupation.

"will be in the field" (ἔσονται ἐν τῷ ἀγρῷ - esontai en tō agrō):

• Describes a common occupational setting, emphasizing the suddenness and pervasive nature of the Son of Man's coming. Life goes on as normal until that instant.
• Significance: It reinforces the theme of the unexpected judgment, arriving while people are engaged in their routine activities, just as in the days of Noah and Lot.

"one will be taken" (εἷς παραλημφθήσεται - heis paralēmphthēsetai):

• παραλημφθήσεται (paralēmphthēsetai): From paralambanō (παραλαμβάνω). This verb can mean "to take along," "receive," "accompany," or "take away." In the immediate context of Luke 17:26-30 (Noah and Lot) and the parallel in Matthew 24, where those "taken" are the ones destroyed by the flood or fire, the consistent meaning is to be "taken away" in judgment or destruction.
• Significance: This challenges common interpretations that suggest "taken" means being "raptured" to safety or heaven. Contextually, those taken are removed for destruction, akin to the wicked consumed by the flood or fire. This signifies the sudden removal for judgment.

"and the other left" (καὶ ὁ ἕτερος ἀφεθήσεται - kai ho heteros aphethēsetai):

• ἀφεθήσεται (aphethēsetai): From aphiēmi (ἀφίημι). This verb typically means "to send away," "leave," "permit," "forgive." In this context, it signifies being left behind or allowed to remain.
• Significance: If "taken" means removed for judgment, then "left" implies being spared, remaining alive, or being preserved to enter the new era of the Kingdom of God. This interpretation aligns with the Lot narrative, where Lot and his daughters were "left" to survive.

Words-group analysis:

• "Two men will be... one will be taken and the other left": This phrase starkly highlights the immediate, personal, and dichotomous nature of the separation at the Lord's coming. It’s not a group judgment in the sense of a nation being judged as one, but rather a sifting within every relationship and every activity. It implies that proximity and shared life activities do not guarantee a shared destiny.

Luke 17 36 Bonus Section

The omission of Luke 17:36 from the most ancient Greek manuscripts (like P75, Sinaiticus, Vaticanus) and its inclusion in later manuscripts primarily reflects a phenomenon known as scribal harmonization. Early scribes, encountering slight variations or omissions between Gospel accounts, sometimes "corrected" one Gospel by inserting text from another to make them perfectly align. In this case, Matthew 24:40-41 contains this exact imagery. While scholars generally conclude it was likely not part of Luke’s original writing, its thematic alignment with Jesus' broader teachings on His second coming and the principle of separation remains undisputed across the Gospels. Therefore, even if an interpolation, its message is consistent with the New Testament's eschatological framework.

Luke 17 36 Commentary

Luke 17:36, though textually debated in its authenticity within Luke's original writings, powerfully encapsulates Jesus' teaching on the decisive separation accompanying His glorious return. The vivid imagery of men in a field, instantly divided, serves as a direct, personal application of the preceding parables of Noah and Lot. Just as those going about their daily lives were suddenly consumed by divine judgment, so too will humanity be unexpectedly sorted.

The crucial interpretation rests on the meaning of "taken" and "left." Given the context of the flood (Lk 17:27) where those "taken" were destroyed, and Lot’s destruction by fire (Lk 17:29), those "taken" are consumed by the divine judgment, while those "left" are preserved. This stands in contrast to common eschatological views where "taken" implies a rescue or removal to safety (often associated with a pre-tribulation rapture). Jesus' emphasis is not on a selective removal for glory before trouble, but on a clear, irreversible judgment upon the unready while the righteous remain.

This verse serves as a sober warning, urging continuous vigilance and spiritual preparedness. It's not about being ready for specific signs, as the Son of Man's coming is without warning, but about maintaining a constant state of faith, obedience, and readiness, lest one be found among those taken by judgment. It underscores that personal destiny is determined not by physical location or relationship, but by one's spiritual standing before God.

Examples:

• For Practical Usage: A community living side-by-side, sharing resources, attending the same events. When the Lord returns, their physical proximity means nothing; their individual hearts and choices determine whether they are "taken" in judgment or "left" for eternal life.
• In Family: Two siblings might grow up in the same household, receive the same teaching, and participate in similar activities, yet their personal faith and response to Christ's call will lead to vastly different ultimate destinies at His coming.