Matthew 24:39
and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse highlights that the people of Noah's day "knew not" until the flood arrived, emphasizing their voluntary ignorance. They weren't simply unaware; they actively ignored the warnings, just as many will be caught off guard by the Son of Man's coming because they've chosen not to see the signs.
Jesus is explaining how His return will be unexpected, likening it to the days of Noah. Just as people were caught up in everyday life—eating, drinking, marrying—and were completely unaware of the coming flood until it swept them away, so too will His coming catch most people by surprise, engrossed in their ordinary routines.
The days of Noah are used as a stark comparison to the coming of the Son of Man. What does their ignorance reveal about our own potential blind spots?
Jesus compares His coming to the days of Noah, specifically highlighting the unawareness of the people before the flood.
A World Lost in Distraction
Before the flood, people were caught up in the daily routines of life – eating, drinking, marrying. They weren't necessarily evil in every action, but their focus was entirely on the present, on worldly pursuits and pleasures. This complete absorption in the mundane meant they missed the signs and warnings of the impending judgment.
Voluntary Ignorance
This wasn't just a lack of information; it was a willful ignorance. Noah's construction of the ark was a visible, ongoing warning for over a hundred years. Yet, the people chose not to believe or act. Their minds were blinded by their own desires and the perceived stability of their world.
The Parable of the Flood
Jesus uses this to show that His return will also catch many by surprise. Not because there are no signs, but because people, like those in Noah's day, will be too distracted by their own lives to notice or to take the warnings seriously.
The comparison to Noah isn't just about ignorance, but about the shocking and swift nature of divine judgment. How does this urgency apply to us today?
The core of Jesus' warning here is the suddenness and unexpectedness of His return, much like the flood that abruptly ended the world as they knew it.
A Day Like Any Other
Commentators note that the people were engaged in ordinary activities – farming, business, domestic life. This highlights that Christ's coming won't necessarily interrupt a period of crisis, but can occur during times of peace, prosperity, and routine. It will be a sudden interruption to normalcy.
The Finality of the Moment
Understand the original words
ginōskō · Greek Verb
To be ignorant or without knowledge; in this context, the lack of spiritual discernment regarding the impending judgment of God.
Jesus uses the sudden, unexpected destruction of the antediluvian world by the flood as a stark analogy for his own future return. The key takeaway is that just as people were consumed by their everyday lives and unaware until it was too late, many will be caught off guard by the Son of Man's coming, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance.
c. 2950 BC
Construction of Noah's Ark Begins
Following divine instruction, Noah begins constructing a massive ark, a visible warning to a world immersed in wickedness and violence.
c. 2349 BC— this verse
The Great Flood
A catastrophic flood, sent by God to cleanse the earth, overwhelms and destroys all living creatures outside the ark. The antediluvian world, unaware and unconcerned, is swept away.
c. 1776 BC
Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Similar to the flood, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed by fire and brimstone due to their extreme wickedness. This event serves as another example of sudden, divine judgment on a complacent populace.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
During his ministry, Jesus teaches extensively about his future coming, often using parables and warnings drawn from historical events like the flood and the destruction of Sodom.
This passage describes Noah and his family entering the ark, highlighting the contrast between their obedience and the world's ignorance just before the flood's destructive arrival, directly paralleling the ignorance mentioned in Matthew 24:39.
Luke 17:26-27Luke's parallel account emphasizes the everyday activities of people in Noah's day – eating, drinking, marrying – right up until the flood, reinforcing the theme of ordinary life being interrupted by sudden, unexpected judgment.
2 Peter 3:3-4Peter addresses the scoffers who, in the last days, will disregard the promise of Christ's coming, comparing their disbelief to the people of Noah's time who were also unaware and unconcerned until judgment fell.
Luke 12:39-40Jesus directly states, 'Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect,' directly linking the suddenness of his coming to the unpreparedness of those caught unaware, much like the flood victims.
Matthew 24:43The comparison of the Son of Man's coming to a thief in the night underscores the element of surprise and the lack of awareness for those who are not vigilant, echoing the ignorance of those swept away by the flood.
ellicottMatthew 24:39: "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
(39) So shall also the coming of the Son of man be. —The words justify the interpretation given above of Matthew 24:29-30 . If the “signs” of the Advent were to be phenomena visible to the eye of sense, there could not be this reckless apathy of nescience. If they are to be tokens, “signs of the times,” which can be discerned only by the illumined insight of the faithful, t…
clarkeMatthew 24:39: "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."
And knew not - They considered not - did not lay Noah's warning to heart, till it was too late to profit by it: so shall it be - and so it was in this coming of the Son of man.
The verse highlights that the people of Noah's day "knew not" until the flood arrived, emphasizing their voluntary ignorance. They weren't simply unaware; they actively ignored the warnings, just as many will be caught off guard by the Son of Man's coming because they've chosen not to see the signs.
Jesus is explaining how His return will be unexpected, likening it to the days of Noah. Just as people were caught up in everyday life—eating, drinking, marrying—and were completely unaware of the coming flood until it swept them away, so too will His coming catch most people by surprise, engrossed in their ordinary routines.
Jesus is explaining how His return will be unexpected, likening it to the days of Noah. Just as people were caught up in everyday life—eating, drinking, marrying—and were completely unaware of the coming flood until it swept them away, so too will His coming catch most people by surprise, engrossed in their ordinary routines.
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The flood 'took them all away.' There was no escape once it began. This underscores the finality of Christ's coming judgment. For those who are unprepared, the moment of His arrival is the moment of irrevocable decision.
The Call to Vigilance
Because the coming will be sudden and unexpected for the unwatchful, Jesus' repeated call is to 'Watch.' This isn't about knowing the exact time, but about living in a state of readiness, so that when He does come, we are not caught off guard in our sins and distractions.
"and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." — The verse highlights that the people of Noah's day "knew not" until the flood arrived, emphasizing their voluntary ignorance. They weren't simply unaware; they actively ignored the warnings, just a…
