The Gospel of Luke
The Coming of the Kingdom: Lk 17,20-37
The theme is opened up as we saw in the overview by the question of the Pharisees concerning the coming of the kingdom (17,20-21). It is then developed with Jesus teaching his disciples (17,22-37). The Son of Man is mentioned several times, verses 22, 24, 26, 30,and then 18,8. This binds the passage together as we saw in the overview.
Comparing this passage with the similar teachings of chapter 21, we can see how Jesus is focussing there more on the events leading up to the coming of the Son of Man. Here, he is speaking rather about the suddenness of the coming and then the lack of preparation for it by the people.
That gives us the two halves of this teaching. Verses 22-25 intorduce the day of the Son of Man while from verse 26 that day is then discussed.
Thus in 17,22-25, it is the suddenness of the coming which is the point. This is then followed in 17,26-37, by the lack of preparedness for the coming, with examples taken from the book of Genesis, Noah and Lot - and Lot's wife.
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The Day of the Son of Man
17,20-21 concern the Pharisees and their inability to see the kingdom of God present in Jesus' ministry and that of his followers as the two verses I gave from chapter 10 bring out. The kingdom is also present in the deeper healing of the one leper who returned to give thanks - "your faith has saved you" (17,19)
At the beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, the disciples are still expecting the restoration of the kingdom even as the risen Jesus is about to ascend into heaven (Acts 1,6-7). To this Jesus replies that it is not for them to know the time or season. There is then an echo of the prediction of the passion in 9,22 except for the comment that he must rise. This may be an indication of the suffering which will be undergone by the followers of Jesus.
Speaking to the disciples from verse 22, Jesus speaks of the day of the Son of Man rather than the coming of the kingdom, verses 22,24,26,30 as well as 18,8. The coming of the kingdom will be the day of the Son of Man.
Recalling the Noah and Lot stories in verses 26-30 indicate the typical human blindness even when catastrophe is looming - then as now.
Lot's wife in verse 32 may be a little unexpected as an example at this point but her attitude seems to be her reluctance to let go as she looks back.
As is typical of Luke, verses 34 and 35 provide male and female sayings. The point is the suddeness of the coming.
The saying in verse 37 is not clear. It reads literally "Where the body is, there also will the eagles be gathered together". In translation this is often rendered "Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather" (NRSV). That translation is itself an interpretation, vultures gather around carrion.
Keeping to the literal translation, Ex 19,4 refers to being carried on eagle's wings and brought to the Lord. The body as in 22,19 and 24,3 has the definite article and refers to Jesus' crucified and risen body. This might be read as where the righteous are going but to be gathered around the glorified body of the Lord.
We now return to the main page.