Jesus continues the tail end of his journey on the way to Jerusalem; he has just healed the blind man (named Bartimaeus in Mark) on the roadside outside of Jericho (the one built by Herod), and all are glorifying God in response to the miraculous healing. The incident with Zacchaeus is unique to Luke’s Gospel.

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.

Jesus enters the city of Jericho and is “passing through” (dierchomai); this indicates the transient nature of his being there. This is important as it implies that Jesus wasn’t staying in Jericho but merely traveling through it, highlighting that His encounter with Zacchaeus is not coincidental but a purposeful detour.

2 And there was a man named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector, and rich.

Our attention is drawn to an individual man named Zacchaeus. The “there was” phrase is “Idou” (ἰδού); it means “behold” or “look.” This is a word used often to signal something significant or noteworthy, calling the listener’s attention, something that is lost with “and there was.” The term for man in Greek is “anēr” (ἀνὴρ), which does mean “man,” but it can also imply a person of some status or character. Zacchaeus is immediately introduced as someone notable, not just any man. Luke uses this word over the more common “anthrōpos” to mark out specific men. The name Zacchaeus comes from the Hebrew name Zakkai, which to all irony means “pure” or “innocent.” This is immediately juxtaposed with his occupation and material wealth. The term “chief tax collector” (Greek: architelōnēs) refers to someone who holds a high-ranking position in the Roman tax system, overseeing other tax collectors. Source .This further indicates the two Jericho’s hypothesis, as Herod’s Jericho was wealthy and modern by their standards, featuring a large palace and governing structure with Roman influence, whereas the old Jericho was historically significant but less sophisticated and was basically a town surrounded by ruins.

Tax collectors were often seen as collaborators with the Roman oppressors, and their profession generally led to negative perceptions within Jewish communities. The Jews were subject to taxation by the Romans, and tax collectors, who were often locals, were viewed as betrayers who worked for the occupying forces. Moreover, tax collectors were notorious for charging more than necessary to line their own pockets, further deepening their disdain within Jewish society.

(Craig Keener, New Testament Commentary)​

3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature.

Zacchaeus “sought” to see who Jesus was. “Ezētēi,” as it does in the English, suggests an active, intentional search; he is not casually looking at what the noise is about. He wants to perceive who he really is, an implication that he might be more than just a man. Jesus is surrounded by a crowd, and Zacchaeus is too short to see over them. This might just seem like a silly detail, but in the context of the New Testament canon, it is actually extremely unique for a few reasons. This story itself is unique to Luke; the physical description is unique to the New Testament, and Luke singles Zacchaeus out by name. Considering all these points and Luke’s statement of interviewing witnesses in Luke 1:2 it is very likely Luke actually encountered Zacchaeus in person and maybe even got this account from him directly.

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.

Little Zacchaeus runs on ahead of the people and climbs a sycamore tree, a desperate and admirable action from our stand point, but in the ancient context, and maybe even to some today, this is an extremely undignified action as it was considered a child’s activity, and Zacchaeus is not only not a child, but he is a man of high status, among Romans at least. This speaks to the humility of Zacchaeus, he is literally willing to become like a little child to see Jesus before He leaves the city.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”

Jesus seems to approach the exact tree that Zacchaeus has climbed in order to address him. Jesus calls Zacchaeus by name, even though He has never met him. This indicates Jesus’s divine knowledge and intimacy with Zacchaeus, reinforcing the idea that Jesus is not just passing through but seeking him personally. Jesus tells him that he “must” stay at his house. The use of the divine imperative (dei) further indicates the purposefulness of the actions of Jesus in this passage; this is not a random encounter; Jesus planned this from the start.

6 So he made haste and came down, and received him joyfully.

Zacchaeus “made haste” or “hurried” down the tree; this underscores the urgency and joy he feels at the invitation extended by Jesus. He then “received him joyfully” further expressing the positive nature of the interaction. To receive someone is to take them into your home as a guest, which is what happens here; perhaps Zacchaeus’ home was near the tree, or Luke does not feel the need to describe the walk from the tree to the home as it is not important. To receive someone is also an expression of covenant; to enter the home is to say, “We are family.” It is not something extended to strangers.

7 And when they saw it they all murmured, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

The crowds may be amazed at what Jesus can do, but as is highlighted elsewhere, they do not fully understand who he is. A lot of the common crowds preoccupation with him seems almost like they perceive him as a traveling magician who is there to entertain. These at least witnessed his healing of the blind man and praised God, but one positive interaction with someone they think of as undeserving, and they “murmured” against him. This is reminiscent of the tribes murmuring against Moses in the Exodus. One minute they are glorifying God for the great signs he has done for them, thrashing Pharoah and his chariots; the next they are looking towards other gods. This flippancy is deeply rooted in all people and is especially recorded in the psyche of the Hebrews. They murmer against Jesus, saying he has gone to be the guest of a sinner. Sinners were cut off from covenental relationships, and a tax collector’s dealings with the Romans made him both unclean and a traitor in their eyes, so for Jesus to enter his home, a covenental act, they perceive him to be contaminating the covenant itself.

8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have defrauded any one of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Zacchaeus stands up, implying they were reclining in his home, which is typical of a covenental gathering. Zacchaeus’ act of standing in Luke 19:8 holds significant cultural and social implications. In the Jewish context, standing during a meal or gathering typically signified a formal or public action. It could mark a shift from casual conversation to a serious statement, often used for declarations, vows, or addressing an assembly. Zacchaeus’ standing could symbolize his sincerity and the public nature of his commitment to repentance and restitution.

Joel Green, in his The Gospel of Luke commentary, emphasizes how Luke portrays Zacchaeus as using this moment to make a transformative declaration of generosity and justice, publicly responding to Jesus’ acceptance. The act of standing also reinforces Zacchaeus’ initiative to align with the kingdom values Jesus embodies, highlighting a break from his prior life and practices. ​

Zacchaeus calls Jesus “Lord” (Kyrios), a title reserved for God, and announces his pledge to give half of his wealth to the poor. Almsgiving was a fundamental aspect of ancient Hebrew ethics rooted in Deut 15:7–11, and his declaration to do it in verse 8 implies he has notbeene doing this, but his encounter with Jesus has transformed him into being a Jew who abides by the Law given by Moses. He also says if he has “defrauded” anyone (which in substance would be stealing), he will restore to those effected “fourfold.” This echoes Exodus 22:1, where a man who steals or kills a sheep must restore it fourfold. Again, Zacchaeus’ interaction with Jesus has caused him to obediently follow the Law of Moses.

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham.

Jesus tells him that salvation (Sōtēria), which can also mean deliverance, has come to this house. Jesus says this in response to Zacchaeus’ act of repentance. To repent is to turn away from what you are doing, and he is turning away from his life to live in accordance with the Law that was prescribed to the Israelites through Moses. Jesus then declares him to also be a son of Abraham. Until this point, Zacchaeus had been failing to live according to the Law and although by heritage he was of Abraham, he was not by his actions; living according to the Law was a part of the covenant, which was emblematic of the promise God made to Abraham. It echoes the parable of the prodigal son, with Zacchaeus being the son that takes the inheritance and leaves for pagan lands and Abraham being the father waiting for his return.

10 For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The final verse of today’s readings encaspulates Jesus’ mission to his people before he is to die. He must redeem those who are willing first. Zacchaeus is one of the lost sheep Jesus mentions in Matthew 15:24, and to send this point home that this is his work as the messiah, he uses the Son of Man title prophesied by Daniel. He, as the Son of Man, must fulfill the old covenant first before reinstituting the new covenant.

Seekein” (ζητεῖν) and “sōsai” (σῴσαι) both emphasize action: to seek out and to save. Jesus clarifies that His mission is not just to come for the righteous or the expected, but to actively search for and save those who are lost, just as Zacchaeus was.

“Thus Jesus is provided with his reply to the grumblers: Zachaeus, sinner and renegade Jew though he be, has not forfeited his right to the promise made to Abraham; and in receiving Jesus into his house, he has welcomed the one in whom the promise to Abraham is fulfilled.”

R. Ginns, “The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to St Luke,” in A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, ed. Bernard Orchard and Edmund F. Sutcliffe (Toronto; New York; Edinburgh: Thomas Nelson, 1953), 962.

Jesus is approaching Jericho, a prominent city in Hebrew history and is also the longest continuously inhabited city in human history. Jericho is located 15-18 miles northeast of Jerusalem depending on which route is taken. Ancient Roman roads connected the cities and took about 8 hours on foot to traverse on normal conditions. This particular episode in Jesus’ ministry is recounted in all three Synoptic Gospels with some minor and what some perceive to be as major discrepancies. In Matthew 20:29-34 it is two blind men, in Mark 10:46-52 it focuses on a single blind man named Bartimaeus and here in Luke 18:35-43 we have a singular blind man who is not named. These variations could be explained by the particular theological highlights and themes particular to each author.

The majorly perceived discrepancy is that of Luke’s use of “drew near to Jericho” and both Mark and Matthew say Jesus was leaving. Some suggest theological distinctions are being implied here but that is a rather large stretch without much reason behind it. What is more likely is that there were two Jericho’s which at the time of Jesus in the first century, there were. The ancient Jericho of the Old Testament and a newer Jericho built by Herod and they were rather close to each other, with the Herodian Jericho only a few kilometers from the Old city, likely with a connecting road or common route between them. And it is on that route that we begin.

35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging;

As Jesus approaches Jericho a blind man sitting by the roadside begging. In ancient Jewish thought being blind was considered a result of divine judgement (Deut 28:28 ) meaning those afflicted with it were considered cursed by God therefore deserving of it, their families would typically abandon them. This is why blind people had to resort to begging, an activity considered shameful but permissible under Jewish Law (Deut 15:7-8). καθήμενος παρὰ τὴν ὁδόν (“sitting by the road”): This imagery evokes a marginalized figure, excluded from full participation in society. The family home represented covenant as did inclusion within the city, by being outside on the road the blind man’s separation from the covenant community is emphasized.

36 and hearing a multitude going by, he inquired what this meant.

This verse illustrates that Jesus is not alone in his journey. The Greek word ochlos implies a large gathering of groups of common people, well beyond that of his disciples, and they are not particularly organized. It can be imagined that everyone is attempting to get Jesus’ attention as they follow him around. ἐπυνθάνετο τί εἴη τοῦτο (“he inquired what this meant”): The verb ἐπυνθάνετο suggests persistent questioning, reflecting the blind man’s determination. In a Hebrew mindset, hearing (as opposed to seeing) often symbolizes faith and perception (e.g., Deut. 6:4, “Hear, O Israel”), so his reliance on sound hints at spiritual attunement, a key theme in messianic expectations (Isa. 29:18).

37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

The blind man is told Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, this implies it was not the multitudes answering his inquiry but someone there with him gave him the answer as it would not make sense for people walking with Jesus to say he is “passing by” so although the story is thought of as “one blind man” he is not necessarily alone, this could help reconcile the minor supposed discrepancies between the Synoptic accounts. The person who tells the blind man this also uses the earthly title “Jesus of Nazareth” indicating a less messianic eye for who Jesus is and if Nathanael’s perspective is common “Can anything good come Nazareth?”(John 1:46) this could have been said with some denigration, this is contrasted with how the blind man “sees” Jesus in the next verse.

38 And he cried, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The blind man “cried” (boaō ) this word indicates a prolonged or desperate shout for help when in deep distress. The same word is used in the Septuagint to describe Abel’s blood in Genesis 4:10. It is a desperate cry and the words that he cries out are in stark contrast to the earthly title given in the previous verse, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”. A desperate cry and messianic declaration. “Son of David” is a messianic title rooted in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 and Isaiah 9:7, the messiah who will deliver Israel, give sight to the blind and free the captives will be a Son of David. The request for mercy is a central theme of the Psalms of David and has divine implications as it is God that delivers mercy yet here the blind man is requesting it of Jesus.

39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Verse 39 begins with telling us of individuals that rebuke the blind man for his request but depending on how it is translated it can give of a slightly different context. The RSVCE translates it as “and those who were in front” but a more literal interpretation of the word proagō would actually be “who led the way”. The previous translation could give off the impression of people in front of the blind man whereas the more literal translation gives clearer context, Jesus is in center of a crowd of people as he walks, some trailing behind and others, likely the apostles or more trusted disciples were leading the caravan, it is these who “rebuke” the blind man for his cries. The word for “rebuke” is epitimaō which means to admonish, charge or forbid and he is then told to be silent. He is essentially chastised for even attempting to get Jesus’ attention before being told to be silent, implying that he is especially unworthy, because of his state in society, for trying to talk to Jesus. The blind man does not give up and persists in his cries, exclaiming the messianic title to an even greater degree.

40 And Jesus stopped, and commanded him to be brought to him; and when he came near, he asked him,

Jesus in response to the persistent cries of the blind man, stops walking, halting the entire multitude of people including those who just admonished the blind man. He then “commands” keleuō , orders for the blind man to be brought to him. When the blind man has gotten close enough, Jesus asks him a simple question.

41 “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me receive my sight.”

Jesus asks “What do you want me to do for you?” (emphasis mine). The same individual exiled to the fringes of society, forced to beg for money and admonished for recognizing the Messiah without even being able to see has just been offered the greatest opportunity in response to his literally blind faith. The man begins his answer with “Lord” Kyrios in Greek, this title has divine implications as it is used for God. From the roadside the blind man recognized Jesus as the messiah, as he drew near he has recognized him as God himself. The blind man then says let me “receive my sight” the Greek is actually a single word, anablepō, it has two meanings, one is to look up and the other to recover sight. It is the same word used to describe Jesus looking up to heaven when multiplying the fish and loaves in Matthew 14:19 and Mark 6:41. The man might appear to just be asking for his sight but what he receives is more than that as is implied in the following verse.

42 And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”

Jesus does no physical actions to heal the man, he demonstrates his ability to heal and save by word alone by saying “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well”. Jesus responds with the Greek word meaning to “look up” the same the man said to him in his request then says his faith has made him “well”. The Greek here says sōzō which actually means saved. Jesus has fulfilled the blind mans two meaning request with a two meaning response. He is healed, he is saved.

43 And immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God; and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

The man is instantaneously healed of his blindness, a miracle has occurred. The man then “followed him” but the Greek word here akoloutheō has a much deeper meaning that just walking after him physically into the city with the crowds. It means to accompany and follow as a disciple. With this he also “glorifies God” which is a typical Jewish response to divine acts. He considers what has happened to be an act of God and all the people there in multitudes give praise to God in response to this miracle.

In Jesus’ healing of the blind man, we witness not just an act of mercy but a profound revelation of His divine authority. Unlike the Old Testament prophets, who called upon God to perform miracles, Jesus heals by His own word, underscoring His identity as the Son of God and the embodiment of God’s presence on Earth. This healing is both a sign of the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy and a demonstration of the inbreaking Kingdom of God—a kingdom where restoration and salvation are intertwined. Through this act, Jesus not only opens physical eyes but also reveals the ultimate truth: the One who heals is the same One who saves.

1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Continuing the last stage of Jesus’s ministry before his final week in Jerusalem before his death, Jesus in Luke 18 begins the parable of the Unjust Judge which is unique to Luke’s collection of parables. Luke also gives us the meaning of the parable in the second part of the verse, it is to explain to them to always pray and not lose heart. To be persistent in prayer. Not all parable characters are to have divine counterparts like the prodigal son’s father being God. This parable as we will see is using the ‘from the lesser to the greater rhetorical method’. Another example of this teaching style is Luke 11:11-13 where Jesus points out that earthly flawed fathers can give gifts to their child so how much more could a heavenly father do?

2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor regarded man;

Jesus begins with establishing the main character of the parable, a judge who did not fear God and did not care about the people he presided over. In first-century Jewish society, judges were expected to serve as administrators of justice, often resolving disputes, addressing community grievances, and interpreting the Torah to guide their decisions. Judges were particularly responsible for protecting the rights of the vulnerable, such as widows and orphans, in accordance with biblical principles (Deuteronomy 16:18-20). So already this judge is off to a bad start.

3 and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Vindicate me against my adversary.’

A widow in the same city repeatedly approaches this judge requesting he vindicates her against her adversary, meaning her legal opponent or accuser. Widows in first-century Jewish society were among the most vulnerable. Without a male guardian (husband or son), they had little means to protect themselves legally or socially so she is entirely dependent on the judge to justify her.

4 For a while he refused; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor regard man,

He refuses her repeated requests but eventual gives in despite the fact he does not fear or or care about people.

5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.’ ”

The judge is explicitly justifying her because selfish motives and although the text says “she will wear me out” it could be translating as “she will strike me” but either way the meaning is the same. He is ruling in her favour because of his own self interest in not be irritated by her persistence.

6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says

Luke then introduces Jesus’ next phrase by calling him Lord “and the Lord said” the greek word used here is kyrios, it means supreme in authority and is typically only used for God. Luke’s word choice indicates the divinity of Jesus. This divine labeling of Jesus adds to the gravity of authority his next words hold and also introduces the lesser to greater rhetorical method, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says” is to be contrasted with the following verses about God.

7 And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

From the lesser to the greater, if an unrighteous judge who does not fear God and does not regard man vindicates someone in the persistent requests, will not God who is completely righteous and loving vindicate those who cry to him both day and night? Is he likely to delay by his own standards? These are rhetorical questions but illustrate Jesus’ point but he still clarifies in the following verse.

8 I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

After clarifying that God will vindicate those who are persistent in their pleading to him speedily, Jesus put’s out another question that eludes to his previous eschatological statements in chapter 17. Jesus has just described the ideal persistent prayer framework required for his disciples but he questions whether or not he will find that type of faith on earth when he “comes”. What is not clear is whether or not the arrival of the son of man is about Jesus earthly life or the eschatological era of the son of man that he spoke about in the chapter previous. If it is not about the future day of the son of man, it seems like a pointless question but in the context of it being in the future it makes more sense. Especially when we remember this time of the son of man is one of judgement and is reminiscent of the flood during the time of Noah. Now the legal component of the parable and God be relayed as a just judge would be more coherent. The people who are vindicated through persistent prayer might be the same people who escape the incoming judgement of the era of the son of man.

Jesus has just corrected the Pharisees perception about the Kingdom of God, saying it is already here but they cannot see it with their senses, that it already dwells among them, Jesus most likely referring to himself as the Kingdom as he has elsewhere said he is the Temple also. He then turned to his disciples and prophesied of the coming days of the Son of Man, the divine Messianic figure spoken of by the prophet Daniel. These days will be divinely orchestrated, obvious to the senses and sudden. It is following this that Jesus begins in verse 26.

26 As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of man.

Jesus compares the future he is speaking about to past events. The days of Noah referencing Genesis 5:28 – 9:29 which tells the story of Noah, a prophet whom God makes a covenant, instructs to build an ark to protect his family from a divinely orchestrated flood. This flood was to cleanse the earth of it’s sin which had be made manifest by the free will of creatures. We can see the elements of both purifying and saving but also destruction and judgement in the days of Noah.

27 They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Here Jesus illustrates how it will be like the days of Noah. People will go on about their lives ignoring the warnings of prophets continuing to eat, drink and marry, essentially living like a future of the land they are in will exist and not be destroyed. So will the people of Israel until 70 AD when God uses the Roman empire to destroy the Temple scatter his people throughout the world.

28 Likewise as it was in the days of Lot—they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built,

Jesus compares the event in his prophecy to another well known divine orchestrated destruction event, in the days of Lot, Abraham’s Nephew, once again people living for a future that will not exist and if they paid attention to the warnings they would leave these lives of theirs in order to save them.

29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom fire and sulphur rained from heaven and destroyed them all—

The moment Lot leaves, because he listened to the warnings,the condemned city of Sodom received divine judgement from the skies as fire and sulphur destroy it. It is also important once again to note the events being initiated by God are acts of judgement of an unclean people rife with sin.

30 so will it be on the day when the Son of man is revealed.

When the son of man is revealed, the word of revealed is “apokalyptō” this is the root of our word apocalypse and as it is used here, its meaning is unveiling something that is hidden. This speaks to the full nature of Christ, to many during his ministry he was a healer, a prophet and even a nuisance but no earthly individual has yet to comprehend his full identity except maybe for Peter but even he did not figure that out on his own and also it was really only in name only. The full substance of Christ was yet to be revealed. This would happen in the future era that would come after his death, resurrection and ascension.

31 On that day, let him who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away; and likewise let him who is in the field not turn back.

In this moment of divine judgement people on their rooftops should not retrieve their possessions on the way out of escaping the city as is related to Lot escape Sodom. This phrase might come of as unusual because of how modern western housing is considered but houses where Jesus lives were different in layout. Possessions would be inside the house (obviously) there would be an external staircase or ladder to a flat roof that people would relax on, kind of the equivalent to a garden seating area so he is saying those on the roof should leave by the staircase, not go back into their home and just leave.

“In Jesus’ day, houses often had flat roofs, accessed by ladders or external stairs. The urgency of Jesus’ message is emphasized by the imagery: when judgment comes, there is no time to go down and retrieve anything, not even to descend to safety from the roof” (Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God, p. 432).

Those who are out in the fields should not turn back to the doomed city. Fields were located outside of the city limits which were limited to trade, governance and temple activities. Keener also comments on the geographic layout: “Fields were typically located outside the walled cities, and the instruction to not return reflects the suddenness and finality of the judgment about to fall” (Keener, Bible Background Commentary, p. 156).

32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.

As a warning Jesus refers back to Lot’s wife who is killed because she turns and looks back at the city. This emphasizes the graveness of these warnings. He is firmly establishing those who look back will die. He then follows it with a teaching that elsewhere has been left in a state of interpretive mystery but here in this placement gives clarification to its literal meaning. “Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it”. In this context we can clearly see the literal meaning being “your life as you know it is coming to an end, if you cling to it you will lose it but if you leave and embrace a new life you will not die, for example, refuse to leave the condemned city you live in? you will die, you cannot stop what is coming you will simply be taken up in the destruction but if you abandon this life, move somewhere else, you will not suffer in that particular event.

34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

Jesus begins with “I tell you”, he is prophesying a future event. The text itself is referring to a domestic setting where two are in one “bed” but the greek word used is klinē. First century hebrews did not have the same family conventions as we do. John Nolland (in his commentary on Luke) points out that klinē was not just a bed for sleeping but a space for reclining during meals in a communal setting, and it was typical for such furniture to be placed in the main room of the house ​Bible Backgrounds. With this in mind we can go back a few verses to those “eating” up until judgement and we can see that Jesus is referring to those common life activities but something happens, one is “taken” and another is left. The greek word is paralambanō which based on it’s biblical usage is perceived as something positive not negative. For example when Jesus is “receiving” his disciples or when Jesus “takes” people to himself (John 14:3). Another within this same family home will be left (aphiēmi) . Considering the previous statements by Jesus, the context is about getting away from a city that is going to be destroyed so combining the positive use elsewhere of paralambano with that, those who are taken are the ones preserved from the punishment and those that are left are not. This connects very coherently with Jesus’ earlier teaching about a family house being divided Luke 12:51-53, with some who are loyal to Jesus’s kingdom and others who are not.

Keener (Bible Background Commentary): Keener explains that while the Mosaic covenant was national in scope, Jesus’ kingdom is universal but individual in its application. The shift from a corporate to a personal response means that not all members of a family will necessarily enter the kingdom of God, as the decision to follow Jesus is one that must be made individually, regardless of familial ties.

Jesus has corrected the perception on who will receive the kingdom (Matthew 5:1-11 the beatitudes) but now he is correcting the perception on who will escape future events of divine catastrophe and in both cases the jewish mainstream opinion is wrong.

35 There will be two women grinding together; one will be taken and the other left.”

Same division as before but now in the context of those who are working in the fields or elsewhere. Those who are obedient, who have faith will not question the warning they will just up and leave whereas the others will carry on eating, drinking and working until the judgement arrives

37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

When the disciples ask, “Where, Lord?” they may be inquiring about the location of the judgment or the gathering of the “taken” ones. Jesus’ cryptic reply about the body and eagles suggests that the location will be self-evident when the time comes. Ezekiel 39:17-20 describes birds and animals feasting on the flesh of fallen armies, symbolizing divine judgment on the wicked. Jesus’ use of similar imagery may evoke this apocalyptic picture for His audience.

The Greek word aetoi can mean either “eagles” or “vultures.” In this context, it likely refers to scavenging birds drawn to a corpse. This imagery conveys the idea that judgment follows sin as naturally and inevitably as vultures follow death.

N.T Wright interprets the saying in the historical context of the Roman destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The “body” represents the corrupt city, and the “eagles” signify the Roman legions ​Bible Backgrounds

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;

The phrase Kingdom of God reflects a central theme in Jesus’ teachings. Here, Jesus clarifies that the kingdom is not coming with “observation” (παρατηρήσεως) (par-at-ay’-ray-sis), a term implying outward spectacle or visible markers. Jesus counters the common Jewish expectation of a visible, nationalistic kingdom.

N.T. Wright states, “For the Pharisees, the kingdom would come when Israel’s God defeated her enemies and vindicated his people” (Jesus and the Victory of God, p. 205).

In The Jewish War, Josephus notes that the Pharisees saw the kingdom as a coming event involving divine signs and a future Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman rule (Josephus, Jewish War, 2.8.14)

21 nor will they say, ‘Lo, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Here Jesus uses negative conditional phrasing “nor will they say” which depends on the prior statement. They will not see conclusive material observable signs (verse 20, this is what the Pharisees expect) nor will they hear them. This clarifies that the material senses are blind to it, a possible conclusion is that revelation requires the eyes of faith.

This phrase at the end of verse 21 is often debated, as ἐντὸς ὑμῶν (entos hymon) could mean “within you” or “among you.” The latter is more plausible in context, with Jesus pointing to the kingdom as a present reality in his ministry rather than an inward spiritual state.

Craig Keener comments that this phrase indicates Jesus’ identity and presence as the Kingdom’s embodiment among the people, suggesting a profound shift from a future expectation to an immediate reality (Bible Background Commentary, p. 340).

22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and you will not see it.

Now Jesus turns to his disciples. Scholars suggest he is changing the subject to discuss eschatology but this isn’t necessarily true if the incarnation, prophecy and eschatology are intimately connected but events themselves being in time could happen separately. Hēmera is the word used for days and is used typically to define an era. The era of the son of man is coming, the divine messianic figure from Daniel and although connected to the Kingdom, that is already here the era of the son of man is not here yet. So this suggests certain future events will take place at a different time. The disciples in their lack of knowledge might want to see this era but they will not see it themselves.

23 And they will say to you, ‘Lo, there!’ or ‘Lo, here!’ Do not go, do not follow them.

The warning against following signs and wonders or physical locations speaks against both false messianic claimants and the desire for visual proof. This relates to Deuteronomy 13:1-3, where followers are warned against prophets or signs that may lead them astray.

Darrell Bock emphasizes this caution against “external verification” of the kingdom’s arrival, as Jesus redirects focus to himself and his mission (Bock, Luke, p. 1402).

24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of man be in his day.

The comparison to lightning highlights the sudden, unmistakable, and universal nature of the Son of Man’s coming. The use of ἀστραπὴ (lightning) conveys rapid visibility, emphasizing that although kingdom’s arrival is already here unbeknownst to them this oncoming era of the Son of man’s days will not be hidden or gradual. This aligns with Daniel 7:13-14, where the “Son of Man” arrives with authority. This link would resonate with a Jewish audience familiar with Daniel’s prophecy, reflecting Jesus’ eschatological role.

This lightning imagery to us might just appear as a reference to its visibility and instantaneousness of future signs but the old testament context which second temple judaism lived and breathed would not be able to ignore the divine threads these descriptors are woven with. These are explicitly used in theophanies.

Exodus 19:16 “On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.”

Psalm 18:12-14 “Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them.”

Psalm 97:4 “His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees and trembles.” Ezekiel 1:13-14 “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches moving to and fro among the living creatures. And the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.”

25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Here, δεῖ (must) denotes divine necessity, emphasizing that suffering is integral to Jesus’ messianic mission. This counters prevailing messianic expectations of a triumphant, warrior-like deliverer.

Scholars like Joachim Jeremias interpret this as Jesus redefining messiahship through suffering, consistent with the Servant songs of Isaiah (Jeremias, New Testament Theology, p. 290).

Craig A. Evans notes that Jesus’ teachings in this passage, especially his warnings about not following false messiahs or searching for signs, may have been intended to protect his followers from the violent movements that ultimately led to the Jewish-Roman War and the destruction of the Temple. Evans writes, “Jesus’ teachings here anticipate the coming crisis in Jerusalem, urging his followers to remain focused on his words and mission rather than being drawn into nationalistic hopes that would ultimately end in tragedy” (Luke, New Cambridge Bible Commentary, p. 264).

N.T. Wright interprets Jesus’ warnings in Luke 17 as a broader critique of Jewish expectations for a triumphant messianic age centered around the Temple and Jerusalem’s political fortunes. He suggests that Jesus was signaling that God’s kingdom would arrive in unexpected ways— through his ministry and suffering, not through a political or military revolt centered in Jerusalem. Wright states, “The destruction of the Temple would be seen as both a judgment on Israel’s misguided hopes and a redefinition of God’s kingdom as something not tied to the Temple’s physical presence” (Jesus and the Victory of God, p. 338).

Joel B. Green highlights how Jesus’ eschatological teachings prepare his disciples to avoid the fate that would befall Jerusalem. He explains that “the kingdom’s coming is not tied to the survival or destruction of the Temple but to the person and mission of Jesus himself.” Green argues that Jesus’ message reorients his followers’ focus away from the Temple as the epicenter of God’s activity and toward the revelation of the Son of Man in his return (The Gospel of Luke, p. 633).

Darrell Bock also sees an implicit connection to the Temple’s eventual destruction, interpreting Jesus’ words as a caution against associating the kingdom of God with earthly institutions or political power, like the Temple in Jerusalem. Bock writes, “Jesus’ followers are being encouraged to understand that God’s work will not hinge on the Temple or Jewish political sovereignty; instead, the kingdom would manifest through a new community centered on Jesus’ teachings and presence” (Luke, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, p. 1411).

A quick summary, the Kingdom is already here but those present cannot perceive it through their natural senses. Some period of time is coming after the Son of Man suffers where visible signs will be visible to the senses but his disciples will not see them, implying those who are not his disciples will see these signs.

Is there an event that was completely visible that the Christians did not witness?

According to Essebius’ Ecclesiastical History

“The people of the church in Jerusalem were commanded by an oracle given by revelation before the war to those in the city who were worthy of it to depart and dwell in one of the cities of Perea which they called Pella. To it those who believed on Christ migrated from Jerusalem…” (Ecclesiastical History 3.5.3).

Josephsus the Jewish historian wrote this of the events in 70 AD

“Thus there was a star resembling a sword, which stood over the city, and a comet that continued a whole year. … So these publicly declared that this signal foreshowed the desolation that was coming upon them. Besides these, a few days after that feast, on the one-and twentieth day of the month Artemisius, a certain prodigious and incredible phenomenon appeared … which I suppose would seem a fable, were it not related by those that saw it … before sun-setting, chariots and troops of soldiers in their armor were seen running about among the clouds, and surrounding of cities.” Citation: Josephus, The Jewish War, 6.300-30