Matthew 24:40
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
All verses
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Matthew 24:40
Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The verse highlights a moment of sudden and stark separation, not based on outward appearance or close companionship, but on an unseen reality of one's spiritual state. What's easy to miss is that the present tense verbs ("is taken," "is left") convey not just a future event, but its absolute certainty, as if it's happening right now. This emphasizes that this division will occur in the midst of ordinary life, catching everyone, even those working side-by-side, completely unaware until it's too late for some.
Jesus is describing the suddenness and unexpectedness of His return, likening it to the days of Noah when people were going about their normal lives, unaware of the impending flood. This leads into specific, everyday scenarios where people will be separated – one taken and one left – highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this future event.
Imagine you're working side-by-side with your closest friend, sharing the same field, the same sun. Then, in an instant, one is gone, and the other remains. How can such a stark separation happen so unexpectedly?
Jesus paints a picture of His return that’s both ordinary and extraordinary. He uses everyday scenes—two men in a field, two women grinding at a mill—to illustrate a profound truth:
The Unseen Divide
These scenarios highlight that even in the closest human fellowship, an invisible line exists. People who share the same space, the same work, and even the same immediate circumstances will face different eternal destinies. This wasn't just about a future event; the present tense Jesus uses (
When Jesus says 'one will be taken,' does that mean taken away from danger, or taken by danger? This crucial question has puzzled many, but the surrounding context offers clarity.
The verse itself leaves a deliberate ambiguity, forcing us to look at Jesus’ broader message.
The Noahic Parallel
Jesus has just compared His coming to the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). In Noah’s day, who was 'taken'? The wicked were swept away by the flood. Noah and his family were 'left'—but left in the ark, safe and sound.
Divine Separation
While the specific phrasing can be debated, the overall context points to a divine separation. Some are 'taken' to be with Christ, gathered by angels as the elect (as alluded to in Matthew 24:31). Others are 'left' behind to face judgment. The key isn't the physical act of being removed, but the eternal consequence of that removal.
It’s a stark reminder that outward appearances—two people working side-by-side—do not reveal the heart's true condition or its ultimate destination.
Understand the original words
paralambanō · Greek Verb
To remove, receive, or take away; in the context of judgment, it signifies being seized or swept away by the catastrophic wrath of God.
aphiēmi · Greek Verb
To permit to remain or leave behind; in this context, it refers to those not removed by the judgment, left to face the consequences of the coming of the Son of Man.
The context of Matthew 24 includes both Jesus' warnings about the impending destruction of Jerusalem and his broader teachings about his ultimate return, creating a layered understanding of separation and judgment that applies to both immediate historical crises and the final day.
c. 30 AD
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus teaches extensively about the Kingdom of God, often using parables and direct warnings about future judgment and the need for watchfulness.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
The pivotal events of Jesus' death and resurrection occur, forming the core of Christian belief and the basis for future hope and judgment.
c. 45-60 AD
Early Christian Missions
Apostles like Paul travel widely, establishing churches and teaching about Christ's return and the readiness required of believers.
c. 62 AD— this verse
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Roman army lays siege to Jerusalem, leading to widespread devastation, famine, and the destruction of the Second Temple, fulfilling Jesus' earlier prophecies.
This passage directly parallels Matthew 24:40, stating 'I tell you, in that night two men will be in one bed; one will be taken and the other left,' highlighting the sudden separation that will occur.
Genesis 7:7This account of Noah and his family entering the ark before the flood shows a separation where those chosen (Noah's family) were 'taken' into safety, while others were 'left' to face destruction, mirroring the principle of separation in Matthew 24:40.
Genesis 19:26The story of Lot's wife looking back and being turned into a pillar of salt illustrates the danger of not being fully separated from the world and its ties when judgment comes, reinforcing the idea of who is 'left' behind.
1 Thessalonians 4:17This passage describes believers being 'taken up' to meet the Lord in the air, which offers a hopeful interpretation for those who are 'taken' in the Matthew 24:40 context, suggesting it can mean being rescued rather than destroyed.
Matthew 13:49The parable of the weeds being separated from the wheat at the end of the age directly illustrates the principle of judgment and separation described in Matthew 24:40, where 'wicked people will be separated from the righteous.'
vincentMatthew 24:40: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."
Shall be taken - leftBoth verbs are in the present tense, which makes the saying more lively. One is taken and one is left. So Rev.
barnesMatthew 24:40: "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left."
Then shall two be in the field ... - The calamity will come suddenly. There will be no escape for those whom it overtakes. One shall be taken - The word "taken" may mean either to be taken away from the danger - that is, rescued, as Lot was Luke 17:28-29, or to be taken away "by death." Probably the latter is the meaning.
The verse highlights a moment of sudden and stark separation, not based on outward appearance or close companionship, but on an unseen reality of one's spiritual state. What's easy to miss is that the present tense verbs ("is taken," "is left") convey not just a future event, but its absolute certainty, as if it's happening right now. This emphasizes that this division will occur in the midst of ordinary life, catching everyone, even those working side-by-side, completely unaware until it's too late for some.
Jesus is describing the suddenness and unexpectedness of His return, likening it to the days of Noah when people were going about their normal lives, unaware of the impending flood. This leads into specific, everyday scenarios where people will be separated – one taken and one left – highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this future event.
Jesus is describing the suddenness and unexpectedness of His return, likening it to the days of Noah when people were going about their normal lives, unaware of the impending flood. This leads into specific, everyday scenarios where people will be separated – one taken and one left – highlighting the indiscriminate nature of this future event.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Matthew 24:40 is available in the Sola app.
We live in a world that often tries to blur the lines, to suggest that everyone is heading in the same general direction. But Scripture warns of a day when the truth of that separation will be undeniable.
This verse, along with its parallel in Luke, serves as a powerful wake-up call.
Certainty of Separation
The core message isn't just about who gets taken or left, but that a definitive separation will occur. This isn't a maybe; it's a certainty.
The Call to Watchfulness
Jesus emphasizes this separation to spur us to action. The world will be caught up in its normal routines—eating, drinking, building, marrying—just as it was in Noah's day. But this normality will be shattered by a sudden, decisive judgment.
The ultimate application is a call to constant vigilance. We are to live in a way that reflects our readiness for that moment of separation, ensuring we are among those who are taken into God's eternal presence, not left behind.
c. 70 AD
Gospel of Matthew Written
The Gospel of Matthew is written, compiling Jesus' teachings, including his discourse on the end times and the parables of preparedness.
"Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left." — The verse highlights a moment of sudden and stark separation, not based on outward appearance or close companionship, but on an unseen reality of one's spiritual state. What's easy to miss is that th…