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Explanation for:
Matthew
24
:
38
For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark,
11
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"For further affirmation that Christ was not unaware of the timing of His death (Matt. 24:36), consider that He adds another sign of His return: “For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark; and they did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matt. 24:38-39). Christ stated this to illustrate that His return would occur suddenly and without warning, while many were indulging in earthly pleasures. Paul conveys a similar message: “For when they say, ‘Peace and safety,’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman” (1 Thess. 5:3). This analogy serves to explain their lack of awareness regarding impending judgment. How, then, can Christ speak of events occurring “after the tribulation of those days” (Matt. 24:29)? If there is a time of enjoyment, “peace and safety,” according to Paul, how can Christ also reference “tribulation”? Here, He indicates that the pleasures and false security belong to those who are spiritually insensitive. The apostle does not assert, “When there will be peace,” but states, “when they say, Peace and safety,” thereby highlighting their spiritual dullness, reminiscent of the people in Noah's time. Despite facing severe calamities, they led lives of enjoyment, while the righteous endured sorrow and mourning.\\n\\nThus, it becomes clear that with the rise of the Antichrist, shameful indulgences will proliferate among the wicked as they despair of their salvation—leading to vices such as gluttony and drunkenness. Christ’s example is strikingly relevant to these circumstances; at the time the ark was being constructed, people remained disbelieving, even when warned of impending disaster. They approached their lives with a sense of tranquility and self-indulgence, as if no disaster would occur. Similarly, after the emergence of the Antichrist, there will be a culmination, which will usher in punishments and profound suffering, yet those indulging in excess will be oblivious to the looming threat of calamity. Thus, “just as labor pains come upon a woman with child,” as stated by the apostle, these terrible and unavoidable calamities will also befall them.\\n\\nWhy did Christ choose not to mention the destruction of Sodom? He aimed to illustrate a global catastrophe that was largely disregarded when foretold. Because many do not accept the reality of future events, He validates His message using historical occurrences, stirring their hearts in the process. He simultaneously indicates His involvement in those earlier situations."},{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"One might wonder how it is written, \\"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there shall be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places; yet this is the beginning of sorrows,\\" and now it is prophesied that those events which indicate a forthcoming era of peace will occur. To clarify this, we should consider the Apostle's words, recognizing that following wars, disputes, harmful diseases, famines, and earthquakes—along with other calamities that devastate humanity—there will emerge a temporary peace that holds within it the promise of lasting tranquility. This will reinforce the faith of believers, or in light of the relief from misfortunes, they may find hope that the Divine Judge is near. Indeed, as the Apostle Paul has stated, \\"When they say, 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape\\" (1 Thessalonians 5:3)."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"When Christ mentions that in the days prior to the flood people were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage, He does not prohibit these activities. Instead, He upholds what He has instituted. He urges us to engage in these actions with a spiritual mindset, honoring God in everything we do with our physical bodies, allowing our flesh to be transformed in accordance with the divine purpose for which it was created. In the time leading up to the flood, humanity had lost its reverence for God and acted solely to gratify their own desires. Their eating and drinking were self-serving, lacking the intent to glorify God, as the apostle reminds us (See 1 Cor. 10:3-4). The final days of the world will mirror this scenario. When the end comes, the judgment will be both swift and total. Just as the flood claimed all earthly creatures except for those in the ark, at the end of time, all heresy will be eradicated, leaving only one sanctuary—the Church of Christ—composed of the righteous. All outside this ark faced destruction in the flood, and similarly, anyone outside the one true Church will face perishing at the close of the age."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In illustrating His point, He indicated that His return would occur when many were living in comfort and happiness. The Apostle Paul elaborates on this by stating, \\"When they say, 'Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction will come upon them\\" (1 Thess. 5:3). However, if there is celebration during that time, how can it be said, \\"Immediately after the tribulation of those days\\" (Matthew 24:29)? The righteous will grieve, while the wicked and indifferent will find joy. To provide an example, just as those in Noah's time who observed the construction of the ark, which signified impending judgment, remained oblivious, so too will those witnessing the workings of the Antichrist and the signs heralding the conclusion of the age continue in their carefree existence."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Just as in the days prior to the Deluge, when people were leading ordinary lives as if nothing significant was about to unfold, indulging in eating, drinking, and celebrating marriages, they remained unaware until the moment Noah boarded the ark. No one considered the future or envisioned any peril, even though they should have recognized it. Noah had warned them of impending divine judgment through the very act of constructing the ark, yet their indifference was palpable: many dismissed his preparations with ridicule, unaware that the flood would soon come to engulf them all. Likewise, the arrival of the Son of Man will reflect this same disregard, the same lavishness, the same lack of faith, and the same indulgence."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"\\"They indulged in eating, drinking, and marrying, living an everyday existence as if nothing extraordinary would occur. This reflects a sense of indifference and lack of faith, since the flood had been prophesied, just as the return of Christ was foretold.\\""},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The exact timing of this event, whether day or hour, remains known only to the Father, not even the angels in heaven. People will continue to live with the same indifference as they do now, reminiscent of the times of Noah. They will partake in daily activities such as eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, oblivious to the impending end. Just as those in Noah's era were unaware of the impending destruction until Noah entered the ark, leading to their demise in the flood, so it will be at the arrival of the Son of Man. Many will be unprepared, failing to recognize that the hour has come to answer to God for their lives. Therefore, take heed and guard against your hearts being burdened with excess, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, so that this day does not unexpectedly come upon you. It will arrive suddenly, like a snare, upon all the inhabitants of the earth (Luke 21:34-35)."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When the timing of the arrival of the Son of Man remains a mystery, believers are called to maintain spiritual vigilance: watch, watch, and pray, for the hour of His coming is unknown. To impress upon His disciples the importance of this watchfulness, the Lord shared a parable, portraying Himself as a master who departs from His house, symbolizing the Church, to return to His Father in heaven, only to come back to His servants to assess their entrusted duties. Just as a man leaves his home, giving authority to his servants and assigning each their task, he also instructed the gatekeeper to remain alert. This invitation to spiritual vigilance is an enduring command for all disciples of Christ throughout time until the end of days: \\"I say unto you, I say unto all, watch.\\" This command from the Lord emphasizes the need for caution; we must be wary of letting our hearts become burdened with excess and worldly distractions, for that day may creep upon us unexpectedly, like a trap that ensnares all who dwell on the earth. Therefore, we must remain watchful at all times, engaged in prayer, that we might escape all the calamities that aim to confront us and stand before the Son of Man. The Lord has disclosed what is important for us to understand to act wisely and not be swept away by the tide of reckless indulgence. Just as in the days of Noah, the coming of the Son of Man will unfold similarly: before the flood, they were eating, drinking, marrying, and living carelessly, right up until the moment Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the waters swept all away. Likewise, the return of the Son of Man will be sudden and decisive. At that time, there will be two in the field: one will be taken, and the other left; two women grinding at the mill: one will be taken, and one will be left. The Lord cautioned His disciples earlier about the unexpected nature of His return at the final judgment, alerting them not only to the time of the night but also to the state of their readiness. Reiterating this prophecy, He urged His faithful followers to remain persistently watchful for the day of reckoning, saying, “Watch ye, for ye know not what hour your Lord will come.” To further clarify the importance of this vigilance and the severe repercussions of neglecting the salvation of one's soul, the Lord reminded them of the teaching regarding servants awaiting their master's return, which He had previously shared."},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The inquiry posed by the disciples revolved around two matters: the timing and signs of the end of Jerusalem and the world, alongside the return of Christ. The Lord had so far addressed the latter part of their question. From this point, He begins to clarify the timing of the prophesied events. He teaches them that they will recognize the proximity of the end by the forthcoming signs, similar to how they understand that summer approaches when the branches of the fig tree become tender and full of leaves. Furthermore, He specifies when His prophecy will be realized: \\"This generation shall not pass away, saith He, till all these things be fulfilled,\\" indicating that the events would indeed commence soon, which came to pass with the destruction of Jerusalem approximately 40 years later, in the year 70 A.D. Ultimately, the Lord assures them of the certainty of His words by stating that heaven and earth could be destroyed rather than His promises go unfulfilled. After outlining the general initiation of fulfillment of His predictions, He cautions, \\"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.\\" Moreover, He warns that the arrival of this final moment will catch people by surprise, just as the flood unexpectedly swept away those in Noah’s time, akin to how an enemy attack can suddenly seize one of two workers, leaving the other behind."},{"author-name":"Innocentius of Kherson","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88d18072d36d1a976dd2c_Innocentius%20of%20Kherson.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"An incomprehensible divine grandeur was evident in the words of Jesus. Each listener sensed that they were receiving more than just a mere warning, perceiving that even heaven and earth were poised to shift from their places in order to fulfill those declarations. The God-Man continued, speaking of the final day and hour of the world, as noted in Matthew 24:36, stating that no one possesses this knowledge—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son Himself as mentioned in Mark 13:32; it is known only to the Father. He explained that when the Son of Man arrives, it will mirror the days of Noah: people were eating, drinking, and marrying right up until the day Noah entered the ark. No one contemplated the future or anticipated any peril until the flood arrived and brought destruction to all; similarly, the coming of the Son of Man will reflect that same ignorance, indulgence, disbelief, and moral decay. \\n\\nThe Lord elaborated on the abruptness of that day, saying that there may be two men working in the fields: one will be taken while the other is left; two women grinding grain will also find the same: one will be chosen and the other left behind. Amid such uncertainty, each individual must remain vigilant, ensuring that their hearts do not become overburdened by excess or indulgence or distracted by worldly worries. For that day will come unexpectedly, like a trap ensnaring all who inhabit the earth, as stated in Luke 21:35. Therefore, one should behave like a homeowner who, aware of a thief planning to break in at an unpredictable hour, would remain alert and not allow their home to be compromised. We, too, must remain attentive; for the Son of Man will arrive on a day when it is least expected."},{"author-name":"Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896ffb7a2ebaf99e46539_Philaret%20of%20Moscow%20(Drosdow).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Let us turn to God in repentance, dear brethren, and produce fruits that demonstrate our repentance, in anticipation of that final hour, which is crucial for us all, both collectively and individually. This is the hour of Christ’s awaited return and the great judgment, or the moment of our own passing, after which only judgment remains—until that significant hour arrives, we must not be careless, like those in Noah’s time or the citizens of Lot. Let us repent, not just for the occasion when we seek to clear our consciences before the altar, but for the entirety of the life that follows. \\n\\nLet us turn away from our wrongdoings—not merely to avoid condemnation from others, a practice even those without faith might employ—but let us also cleanse our hearts from desires and cravings, and set our minds right, striving to be pleasing to Him who examines our hearts and innermost being. We must not find solace in our sins by noting the multitude of others who fall short, nor should we assume that those who seem similar in their transgressions are not earnestly repenting within or cultivating virtues in secret. Indeed, regardless of their numbers, ‘the Lord will consume... The Lord will consume all those who do iniquity’ (Psalm 100:8)! \\n\\nLet us implore Him to shield us from such a fate, and may true repentance lead us into the everlasting kingdom of heaven, where we will find joy in Him and offer our praise for eternity. Amen."}]}
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