Luke 17:27 - They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Generated Verse: Luke 17:27

What does "Luke 17:27" mean?


Luke 17:27, "They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and the flood came, and destroyed them all," is part of a larger discourse where Jesus is warning his disciples about the sudden and unexpected nature of his return. He uses the story of Noah and the flood as an example. Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:

"They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage...": This describes the normal, everyday activities of life. The people in Noah's time were living their lives, occupied with routine and pleasures. There's nothing inherently wrong with these activities themselves, but the verse highlights that they were consumed by them, to the exclusion of recognizing and responding to the impending judgment.
"...until the day that Noah entered into the ship...": This indicates that the people were oblivious to the warnings God had given through Noah. They continued their normal lives right up until the very moment Noah entered the ark. They didn't take the threat seriously.
"...and the flood came, and destroyed them all.": This emphasizes the suddenness and totality of the destruction. Because they ignored the warnings and didn't prepare, they were all caught unawares and perished.

In essence, the verse is a warning about:

Complacency and Distraction: Being so absorbed in the routines and pleasures of life that one becomes blind to spiritual realities and impending judgment.
Ignoring Warnings: Disregarding divine warnings and failing to take necessary precautions.
The Suddenness of Judgment: The unexpected nature of God's judgment, which can come swiftly and decisively.
Preparation: Highlighting the importance of being prepared for Jesus's return.

The verse is not condemning eating, drinking, or marriage. These are normal and good aspects of life. The condemnation is directed towards the attitude of being so engrossed in worldly affairs that one ignores God's warnings and misses the opportunity for salvation.

In the context of Jesus's discourse in Luke 17, the verse serves as a parallel to the time of Jesus's second coming. Just as the people of Noah's day were caught unprepared, so too will people be caught unprepared at the time of Jesus's return if they are not vigilant and responsive to the Gospel.