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Explanation for:
Matthew
24
:
40
Then two shall be in the field: one shall be taken, and one shall be left.
13
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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":"Subsequently, the Saviour provides a fresh indication of His return, making it clear through all these signs that He was aware of this day (Matt. 24:36). What is the sign? “Then there shall be two in the field: one shall be taken and the other left; two grinding at the millstones: one shall be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come” (Matt. 24:40-42). This serves as evidence that He was knowledgeable about this day, yet He specifically instructed His disciples not to inquire about it. He also brought to their attention the days of Noah, emphasizing that “there will be two in the field,” illustrating that His arrival will occur unexpectedly, at a time when they least anticipate it. The mention of the two who are milling further signifies their lack of expectancy concerning His return. Both diligent workers and those who are idle—a representation of every possible circumstance—are addressed, much like the declaration in the Old Testament, from the firstborn of Pharaoh seated on his throne to the firstborn of the maidservant at the millstone (Ex. 11:5). While Christ pointed out the difficulty for the wealthy to attain salvation, He reassures us that not all will be lost among them, nor will all the poor be condemned; rather, from both groups, some will find salvation while others will be lost. I also perceive a suggestion here that His return will happen at night. This is affirmed by Luke the evangelist (See Luke 17:34). Do you recognize how thoroughly Christ understands all circumstances?"},{"author-name":"Ephraem the Syrian","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b589fc3e99eb7bb1839_Ephraem%20the%20Syrian.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"There will be two individuals in the field and two on a bed, as it is written, “There shall be two in the field; one shall be taken and the other left” (cf. Matt. 24:40). This occurs at the time of Jerusalem's desolation, akin to the fate described when “if there are... ten men” (cf. Gen. 18:32). Some interpret this to pertain to the distinction between body and soul. \\n\\nThis reference evokes the destruction similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, while others relate it to the end times, a moment when all will experience fear and trepidation, urging individuals to prepare themselves, as indicated in Scripture, “Let your loins be girded” (Luke 12:35). This may also illustrate the contrasts between the just and the unjust, both of whom remain unredeemed. \\n\\nRegarding those grinding grain, as mentioned in Matthew 24:41, they signify the state of the world. The two on the roof symbolize those in positions of authority—judges, rulers, and leaders. There exists both a just and an unjust judge; the righteous will be delivered from adversity, whereas the wicked will be left behind. \\n\\nIn the fields are the common folk—working men and women from varied backgrounds, with some being righteous and others not. The just may endure trials, while the unjust are set aside in judgment. The act of grinding symbolizes the multitude of individuals, particularly women, who carry burdens and may conclude their lives in frailty. Among them are both virtuous and unvirtuous wives, as well as righteous and unrighteous servants. Illustrations of the righteous include Job and Lazarus, while Cain and Gehazi epitomize the unrighteous.\\n\\nThus, when it states, “There shall be two on the bed” (Luke 17:34), it refers to their vulnerability, where the righteous meet their end while the unrighteous remain abandoned. The fate of the righteous is described by Paul, who says, “He that dwelleth in the Lord shall be caught up in the clouds... and shall be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess. 4:17). The fate of the unrighteous is different, as angels will gather the chosen from the four corners of the earth (Matt. 24:31), while the wicked face judgment by eternal fire (Matt. 3:12).\\n\\nIt should not be assumed that this eternal torment is akin to physical fire ignited by earthly agents, as some misguided souls might think. Instead, consider Sodom’s destruction and the furnace devoid of wood. Reflect on the transformation of Lot’s wife, witnessing the severe judgment. During that time, Lot and his daughters were spared from devastation, while his wife faced the consequences. The divine judgement allocated to each individual their respective destiny. In the final judgment, the righteous may suffer loss similar to Lot, while the unrighteous, like his wife, will be condemned. Thus, as the Scripture explains, “There shall be two in the village…”"},{"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":"Then He declares, there will be two individuals working in the field; this occurs on the day of ultimate judgment, where two men will be seen engaged in the same task, sowing as if they shared the same seed, yet they will not equally reap the outcome of their efforts. Likewise, there will be two women grinding side by side; one will be taken, while the other is left behind. Through the imagery of the two men laboring in the field and the two women milling together, one can interpret either the Synagogue or the Church, for they both seem to share the same toil under the law and draw from the same Scriptures the nourishment of God’s commandments. Alternatively, one might view other heresies that superficially draw their teachings from either the Old or New Testament. Despite all claiming the title of Christian, they do not receive equivalent rewards; some are chosen while others are abandoned."},{"author-name":"Antonius the Great","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88927f4d84651d9faae71_Antonius%20the%20Great.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Question. Since we deeply value your enlightening discourse, we ask that you help us comprehend the parable concerning the grinders, the millstones, and the field with the two individuals. The Lord states in the Gospels, \\"Then two will be in the field: one will be taken, and the other will remain. Two grinding at the millstones: one will be taken, and the other will be left behind.\\" Response. The division into two illustrates the reality that will unfold at the resurrection and the second coming. The entire world is likened to the field, as the Lord proclaimed in another part of the Gospel that the field represents the whole world, and the reapers are angels. The reapers symbolize the relentless cycle of life and its inherent chaos, just as the millstones perpetually turn. We are in a constant state of transformation; various images emerge within us, but we grind through them. Some are taken away, while others are left, as is evidently the case. From Adam until now, people have been vanishing, with some being taken by death and others remaining. At the end times, it will happen that some will die up to that moment and others will remain, and in an instant, they will all transition to incorruption. As the esteemed Apostle declared, \\"I tell you this mystery: we shall not all die, but we shall all be changed in an instant, at the last trumpet's sound.\\" Therefore, those who die now are, as it were, taken away by the millstones, while the others remain. For the call goes out to all, through God's trumpet, summoning everyone who has fallen asleep throughout all time. The faithful and unwavering Lord will then preside and judge, rewarding each according to his deeds. As the divine Apostle wrote, \\"For patience, good works...\\""},{"author-name":"Caesarius of Nazianzus","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88a176e0f4c3aeca7aee3_Caesarius%20of%20Nazianzus.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Question. Since we are eager to engage further in your enlightening dialogue, we ask that you help us grasp the meaning behind the parable of the grinders, the millstones, and the field containing two individuals. For the Lord states in the Gospels, ‘Then two will be in the field: one will be taken, and the other will remain. Two grinding on the millstones - one will be taken and the other will be left behind.’ Response. The separation into two illustrates the reality to be experienced at the resurrection and the second coming. The entire world is likened to the field. The Lord Himself declared elsewhere in the Gospel that the field is the whole world, and the reapers are angels. The reapers signify the relentless cycle of life and its tumultuous activities, much like the continual motion of the millstones. We experience constant transformation, and within us various images are constantly shifting; yet we are grinding within them. Indeed, some are taken, and others are left, as is clearly evident. From Adam until now, there have been those who are taken by death and those who remain. At the end, some will die at this very moment, while others will remain, and in an instant, all will experience a change into incorruption. As the esteemed Apostle expressed, ‘I tell you this mystery, we shall not all die, but we shall all be indivisibly changed in a moment, when the last trumpet is blown.’ Thus, those who die now are, in a sense, taken away by the millstones, while the others are left. Everyone is summoned by the trumpet of God, all who have fallen asleep throughout all time. Promptly, the truthful and faithful Lord will preside and judge, rewarding each according to the deeds each has accomplished. As the divine Apostle reminded us, ‘For patience, good works...’"},{"author-name":"Hilarius of Poitiers","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88cb92f12b3278598f946_Hilarius%20of%20Poitiers.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"Christ illustrates the certainty of judgment, stating that there will be two individuals in the field: one will be taken and the other left; two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left; two will be lying in bed: one will be taken and the other left. In this, He conveys the separation between the faithful and the faithless, where one is embraced and the other shunned. When God's wrath flares, the righteous, as the prophet tells us, will find refuge in the shelter of God, while the unrepentant will stand exposed to the divine fire. The pair in the field symbolizes both believers and nonbelievers, each caught up in the day-to-day concerns of life. A division will occur: some will be taken, while others will be abandoned. This holds true for those grinding at the mill, representative of the works of the law. Only a fraction of the Jewish people, like Elijah, accepted through the apostles that righteousness comes by faith. Some will be taken due to their faith leading to good deeds, whereas others will be left behind for their unfruitful works of the law; those laboring in vain at the millstones will never attain the bread of heaven. The two reclining in bed symbolize the Lord's rest following His suffering, a truth acknowledged by both the faithful and the heretics. However, when the doctrine of the true faith proclaims the unity of the Father and the Son, known as their divine nature, the erroneous teachings of heretics disrupt this unity through various slanders. Consequently, one of those reclining will be taken, and the other will be left. In affirming one and denying the other, God's judgment will make known the worth of both."},{"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":"When referring to those in the field, the wealthy are indicated, while those at the millstones represent the impoverished. The teaching conveys that both the affluent and the destitute will experience salvation or condemnation. The wealthy are described in the masculine form, suggesting their pride and authority, whereas the impoverished are referred to in the feminine form, symbolizing their degradation and helplessness. Individuals who have justly earned their riches and shown generosity in their poverty will be gathered to meet the Lord as His companions, while those who have acted contrary to this, deemed unworthy, will remain behind awaiting the Judge. In Luke 17:34, it is expressed differently: \\"There shall be two on the bed: one shall be taken, and the other shall be left behind; there shall be two grinding together: one shall be taken, and the other shall be left,\\" illustrating those on the bed as leading a tranquil existence and those grinding as enduring hardship. This concept has been articulated in various ways, first in Luke, then in Matthew. The \\"field\\" symbolizes the world, which separates the saved from the condemned. It is vital to recognize that both the rich and the poor, along with servants and masters, are subject to being chosen or left behind. Christ has emphasized that not all the wealthy face ruin, nor do all the poor experience salvation. Therefore, He urges, \\"Watch ye therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord cometh.\\" However, He did not specify a day, intending for them to remain perpetually prepared for battle."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He states that at a time when everyone is preoccupied and indifferent, one righteous person will be lifted up to the Lord for refreshment, while another, specifically the wicked, will be left behind. Others will be engaged in labor, serving as those in bondage; among them, some who are deemed worthy will be taken, while others who are unworthy will be abandoned. Therefore, it is evident that neither those in servitude nor women are excluded from God's grace."},{"author-name":"Theophan the Recluse","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8983a6e0f4c3aecaae3fc_Theophan%20the%20Recluse.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"There will be two individuals in the field: one will be taken, while the other will be left behind. How should we understand these words? This scenario will occur at the culmination of time, and it can be difficult to discern the fate of the one who is taken versus the one who remains. Currently, the workings of divine grace manifest as follows: in identical situations, grace liberates one from the shackles of sin while the other, who stands beside him, remains bound. Consider the case of Athens and the preaching by the Apostle Paul. Paul’s message leads Dionysius to faith (Acts 17:34), while others dismiss him, voicing skepticism: “What does this idle babbler want to say?” (Acts 17:18). When we apply these concepts to the end of the age, it suggests that one will be ushered into the kingdom, whereas the other is left to face his destiny. In a broader sense, it illustrates that this will happen to everyone in ways that are unforeseen and beyond expectation."},{"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":"He states that due to the profound abruptness of that day, it is possible that two individuals will be laboring in the field; unexpectedly, one will be taken—either seized by death or caught up by the angels that Christ will dispatch to gather His chosen ones—while the other remains."},{"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":"“Two individuals are working in the field, engaged in their daily tasks. One is taken.” This phrase can be understood in various ways: it may indicate a person removed from imminent danger, much like Lot (see Luke 17:28-29); or it might refer to a life being cut short by death; alternatively, it could signify one being gathered by the angels sent by the Messiah to bring together the chosen ones (refer to Matt. 24:31). Regardless, the phrase highlights the suddenness and unexpected nature of the occurrence. “The other is left behind” conveys the opposite idea of being ‘taken.’"},{"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":"In reference to the abruptness of His return, Jesus indicated that among two individuals in a field, one would be taken while the other remains, and similarly, of the two women milling grain, one would be taken and the other left behind. To grasp the significance of these statements, we must recognize that at His Second Advent, Christ will instruct His angels to collect His chosen ones from every direction (Matt. 24:31). While the angels will ultimately gather all for Judgment, their primary focus initially will be on the elect, those deemed worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. This gathering will occur with such swiftness that if, for instance, two individuals are working in the field and one, as part of the elect, is taken, the other left behind will be so astonished by the immediacy of the event that he will be unable to comprehend what has transpired. The same astonishment will be experienced by the woman who remains at the grinding stone when her companion is taken from her."},{"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 precise moment of the Son of Man's return remains a mystery, it is vital for the faithful to remain spiritually vigilant: constantly watchful and in prayer, for the timing is unknown. To deepen the call for spiritual alertness in His disciples, the Lord shared a parable, portraying Himself as the master of a household who departs, representing the Church, to be with His Father in heaven, only to return later to evaluate the work entrusted to His servants. Just as a man leaves his home, granting authority and tasks to his servants, the gatekeeper is instructed to remain watchful. This command for vigilance is a universal directive for all Christ's followers throughout the ages until the end of time, as He states: I say unto you, I say unto all, watch. - This stands as the authoritative message of the Lord. Be cautious, for if your hearts become burdened with gluttony, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life, that day may unexpectedly arrive upon you, much like a snare to all who dwell on the earth: therefore, be watchful at all times and pray, so that you may be able to escape all that is to come and to stand before the Son of Man. The Lord made it clear what is crucial for understanding, so as not to be swept away by the tide of careless indulgence. Just as in the days of Noah, so too will be the arrival of the Son of Man: for, in those days before the flood, people were eating, drinking, marrying, and being given in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark—they remained unaware until the deluge came and swept them all away. Likewise, the coming of the Son of Man will be. At that time, two will be in the field: one will be taken, and the other left behind; two will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken, and one will remain. Earlier, the Lord cautioned His disciples about the suddenness of His return for the final judgment, indicating both the timing of the night and the importance of preparation. Reiterating the prediction, He encouraged His devoted followers to maintain a steadfast and continual watchfulness for the culmination of the age: ‘Watch ye, for ye know not what hour your Lord will come.’ To emphasize the need for vigilance in anticipation of His return and the dire consequences of neglecting the essential duty of the soul's salvation, the Lord recalled His teaching about servants awaiting their master’s return, which He had shared previously."}]}
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