(Mt 24:37–44) 

Matthew 24:37 As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be at the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,

Matthew 24:39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew 24:40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

Matthew 24:41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and the other left.

Matthew 24:42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

Matthew 24:43 For this, consider: if the homeowner knew at what time of night the thief was coming, he would stay awake and not let his house be broken into.

Matthew 24:44 Therefore, you also must be ready, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

The theme of this passage is the uncertainty of the time of the "parousia" and the accompanying end of time. The return of Christ (= the Son of Man) is certain, but at the same time it is completely unexpected. Since the time of his coming is unknown, Christians are called to be in a state of constant readiness.

The theme of judgement is clear. Jesus compares those who live in the final phase of history (which can happen in any generation) to the generation of Noah's time, which was overwhelmed by the flood. No one expected it, so everyone was suddenly caught up in a cataclysm that left no escape. 

In v. 38, in Greek, we have a nice euphony, pleasing to the ear: 

                    trōgontes kai pinontes gamountes kai gamizontes, 

lit., "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage."

No special meaning should be read into these participles. They simply stand as indicators of living daily life (eating and drinking) and planning for the future (marriages). In Noah's day, people were unaware of anything other than their own life of pleasure; and they had no idea of the judgement that was coming upon them: "and they did not realise anything (i.e. the imminent danger) until the flood ("kataklysmòs") came and swallowed them all up". The parousia of the Son of Man, similarly, will come suddenly upon an unsuspecting generation, which is going about its ordinary activities. This triggers a comparison between the times of Noah and the last days.

The insistent emphasis on eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage gives the idea of a humanity entirely intent on organising its own time, rooted in its own affairs, without paying attention to the signs that are sent to it; there is no room for anything but its own interests. People, in the normality of life, in the routine of eating and marrying, lived as if the world would never end, unprepared for the disaster that was about to come, with no expectation that things could change. Men, unaware of the tragic fate that awaited them, neglected what was essential for their survival: instead of preparing means of salvation like Noah, they were absorbed in their daily affairs and intent on blissfully enjoying life.

In the same way that humanity ignored the impending judgement, so the people of Jesus' time rejected Him and His message, and were overwhelmed by the devastation that struck Jerusalem and the temple. The same scenario will also occur in the last days. The parousia and the end times will come suddenly, and the story of Noah is used as a warning about the suddenness of disaster for those who are unprepared. They are unprepared because they do not take the gospel message into consideration and consequently believe the lie and reject the truth.

On that day, there will be a division among humanity. This is described very vividly in the reference to two men working in a field and two women grinding at the mill. They are going about their normal activities, unaware of what is about to happen, when suddenly one of them is taken and the other is left, where 'being taken' means being saved, and 'being left' means perishing in the impending destruction. This taking has the meaning of safeguarding, of placing under one's protection and, therefore, of election; while being left has the meaning of being abandoned to one's fate.

The fact that there are always two people involved does not indicate a quantitative percentage, but rather two conditions, two states of life: those who are faithful and those who are not; while the use of two characters, male and female, indicates the generality of humanity. The fact that they are caught in the field and at the mill indicates how the coming of the Lord will surprise them as they go about their daily business, suddenly and unexpectedly, just as in Noah's time people were caught up in the cataclysm while engaged in the ordinary activities of life.

One lives superficially: he eats, marries, works, but everything slips away; another eats, marries, works and on Sundays, instead of going to the beach, goes to listen to the Gospel. Everyone works during the week, but there is a way of living life with a different awareness instead of thinking only about eating and having fun.

Christians must not allow themselves to be surprised by such an unexpected event. They know very well what awaits them and that the rapidity of the final events does not allow them to think about conversion at the last moment. The things of God happen suddenly. Everything is sudden when the Lord acts, hence the urgent need to be always vigilant. When the Lord comes, and he will come suddenly, he must find us ready. It is our duty to prepare for the parousia without calculating its date, but by living ready and attentive to God's warnings. Being prepared does not mean sitting back and waiting, it means being engaged in faithful service to the One who is coming.  

 Argentino Quintavalle, author of the books 

- Apocalypse – exegetical commentary 

- The Apostle Paul and the Judaizers – Law or Gospel?

Jesus Christ, true God and true Man in the Trinitarian mystery

The prophetic discourse of Jesus (Matthew 24-25)

All generations will call me blessed

 Catholics and Protestants in comparison – In defence of the faith

 The Church and Israel according to St Paul – Romans 9-11

(Available on Amazon)