Luke 17:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.

NIV: I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left.

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

CSB: I tell you, on that night two will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left.

NLT: That night two people will be asleep in one bed; one will be taken, the other left.

KJV: I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.

NKJV: I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.

Because of frequent misuse, the most frequent question regarding this verse has nothing to do with the actual context. Jesus has been warning His followers to be ready to abandon their earthly lives when He returns. Here He explains that some of those with whom they have close relationships will turn out to be nonbelievers. Yet the typical question is whether this verse is Jesus affirming homosexual relationships.

The answer is no, it clearly does not.

In Jesus' era, extended families often shared a single home. If the house was small and the family was big, the men slept in a large room on the lower level, and the women and young children slept on the floor above. As many people with large families can attest, sometimes family members must share beds. Absolutely nothing about the context, culture, or language used here implies sexuality.

Modern misinterpretations—often deliberate—distract from the actual point. When Jesus returns to judge the nations at the end of the seven-year tribulation, family members will be separated. Jesus brings division in households. Father and son could be so close that they sleep in the same bed, and yet one will follow Jesus and the other won't (Luke 12:53). For us, that's both a conviction and a consolation. We should be sharing the gospel with those who are closest to us. But, in the end, we cannot make anyone choose Jesus. Nor can we know, infallibly, who is or is not saved (1 Samuel 16:7).

"Taken" would seem to refer to the rapture. However, previous warnings are about "the days of the Son of Man:" the judgment at the end of the tribulation (Luke 17:22). The Greek root has to do with association, such as taking something or someone to oneself or receiving something. In context, one person is going to judgment and the other to dwell with Jesus. Since it's the end of the tribulation and the millennial kingdom is imminent, perhaps one is "taken" to judgment and the other is left to experience Jesus' reign on earth. On the other hand, one may be "taken" to salvation while the other is left to experience judgment on earth. The greater point is that they will experience different fates. And they will be separated for eternity.

Luke 17:22–37 may create confusion for two reasons. The first is where to place the events in relation to the end times. Are they before the rapture or at the end of the tribulation? The second complication is the placement of Jesus' teaching. Did He deliver this message while traveling through Galilee and Samaria, or outside of Jerusalem during the final week prior to His crucifixion? Ultimately, neither question is as important as the clear message: Jesus' return will be unmistakable, and those who are not ready will suffer greatly. This passage covers similar material to Matthew 24 and Mark 13.

In his gospel, Luke has often arranged events by theme rather than by strict time order. That seems likely here with a series of teachings about living as Christ followers and ambassadors of God. Christians ought to be careful not to poison the faith of others. Faith is powerful. God's servants should not demand extravagant treatment in return. After healing ten lepers—only one of whom offers thanks—Jesus discusses the state of the world at His future second coming.

Luke 17 continues Jesus' teaching about how to live as citizens and ambassadors of the kingdom of God. Luke 15 describes God's love for the lost. Chapter 16 teaches earthly blessings are far inferior to heavenly rewards. Here, He exhorts His followers to lead well, serve humbly, give thanks, and watch for His second coming. In Luke 18, Jesus gives a series of comparisons to show how we are to approach God—as He approaches Jerusalem and the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.