November 23, 2025
Luke 17:22-25 ESV
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. And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 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. But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.”
Discussion Questions:
As we continue in this section, Jesus now speaks to the disciples.
1) What time period is he speaking of (day of the Son of Man)?
2) In verse 24 does the word “astrape” refer to lightning or sunrise and how does this describe the Son of Man in his day?
Discussion Summary:
Question 1: One view sees this time period as being equivalent to verses 20,21 “the Kingdom of God.” From Mark 1:15 we see this began to be preached at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The days of the Son of Man refer to the call for repentance that takes place until the return of Christ. Verses 20-37 are to be read as all referring to this period.
Another view sees this time period as being different from verses 20,21 “the Kingdom of God.” Verses 22-25 have a different audience (Pharisees/disciples), a different environment (no one will say ‘Look’/people will say, ‘Look’), and a different starting point (beginning of Jesus’ ministry/after Jesus’ death, verse 25).
In this viewpoint the idea is to contrast and compare the two time periods. Just like the time of the Kingdom of God, the Days of the Son of Man are not discernible through outward observation. God operates the same throughout the ages. His works are only discernible by those with spiritual enlightenment which is given to those in the right attitude of heart.
Question 2: The revealing of the Lord’s return is likened to sunlight primarily from the parallel scripture in Matthew 24:27 which speaks of the light moving from east to west and filling the sky. This idea is referred to in Old Testament prophecies such as Malachi 4:2. The main characteristic of this word picture is a protracted discernment. This is also seen in the three ways in which Jesus’ return is spoken of: a Parousia or presence, an Epiphania or gradual dawning, an Apokalupsis or revealing.
The revealing of the Lord’s return is also likened to lightning which is the word’s primary meaning. This idea is referred to in Old Testament prophecies such as Psalm 77:4-6 and Psalm 97:18-20. The main characteristic of this word picture is that there are brief flashes that reveal what is happening behind the scenes. For those with discernment we see the Lord by the effect he is having in the heavens and earth (1 Thessalonians 5:3-5). This is parallel to the Apostle Paul’s conversion which was a bright light (Acts 9:3) but to Paul was a revealing of the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:8).
We also note Luke’s use of this word “astrape” to refer to the rays of a lamp in chapter 11:36 where it denotes the spiritual illumination of the believer.
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