December 7, 2025
Luke 17:31-37 ESV
On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife. Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”
Discussion Questions:
Question 1: In verses 31 to 36 we see that there is a division made by the revealing of the Son of Man.
· What causes the division?
· What is the result of the division?
Question 2: Explain verse 37.
Discussion Summary:
Question 1: The context of these verses show us that the division is not arbitrary. The key to who is taken, whether figuratively or physically, is in verse 33. The faithful are those who are following in Christ’s footsteps to leave all, even life itself. This same idea is shown in the picture of Job’s wife. The Christian is not to look back on their former life, but to deny self, take up their cross and follow Christ.
There are other divisions mentioned in the scriptures which bear upon this subject. In Revelation 18:4, Christians are called to come out of false religious systems. In Hebrews 4:12, the Word of God is the standard that shows the true heart from the false.
There are also warnings mentioned in the scriptures which bear upon this subject. In Matthew 24:36 we are warned that the Lord’s return will take all unaware. In Luke 12:34,35 we are warned that our hearts must be in the right condition to be able to “see.”
Question 2: In Luke 17:37 the picture of the vulture/eagle is taken from Job 39:27-30. This describes the faithful Christians who are watching and seeking and journeying far to acquire their sustenance (Psalm 103:5). Perhaps a reference to how Christians are like the vultures/eagles being gathered around a body can be found in John 6:53-58.
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