Luke 17:37 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

NIV: Where, Lord?' they asked. He replied, 'Where there is a dead body, there the vultures will gather.'

NASB: And responding, they *said to Him, 'Where, Lord?' And He said to them, 'Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.'

CSB: "Where, Lord? " they asked him.He said to them, "Where the corpse is, there also the vultures will be gathered."

NLT: Where will this happen, Lord?' the disciples asked. Jesus replied, 'Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near.'

KJV: And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

NKJV: And they answered and said to Him, “Where, Lord?” So He said to them, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together.”

Scholars argue over the meaning of this brief interaction. Jesus is talking about His second coming: when He will judge the world. His arrival then will be as sudden and violent as the flood or the destruction of Sodom. His followers need to be completely focused on Him and His offer of eternal spiritual life even as the world descends into chaos—even as their closest friends and family members continue rejecting Him (Luke 17:22–35).

It's unclear what the disciples are asking and what Jesus means by His answer. Are the disciples asking where the "days of the Son of Man" will occur (Luke 17:22)? Where the judgment will be? Where the people will be taken (Luke 17:34–35)? It's not clearly explained here or in other passages.

Similarly, we don't know exactly what Jesus' answer means. Some say it refers not to the location of the events but to the finality of the death of judgment. Once vultures arrive, there's no hope for the corpse.

The Greek for vulture is elsewhere translated "eagle" (Revelation 4:7; 8:13; 12:14). Like the vulture, eagles are carrion birds. In the Bible and other literature, eagles are also representative of swiftness. Jesus may be saying that the end will come quickly. On the other hand, He may be alluding to the eagle as the symbol of the Roman army, known for bringing vengeance quickly and violently.

Conversely, Jesus could be telling the disciples to keep watch over the signs. He has described events which will make His followers think He is returning at once, but that doesn't mean He is (Luke 17:22–23). It won't be possible to miss the second coming of Jesus. His return will be unmistakable (Luke 17:24). The disciples know that if vultures are circling, there is something dead below. In a similar way, Jesus' return will be obvious to anyone paying attention.

This sentiment is also found in Matthew 24:28. In that passage, the meaning seems to be more that the disciples will know what is happening if they watch the signs.

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.