Commentary

What does Luke 17:28 mean?

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;” — Luke 17:28

Commentary Devotional Prayer

The Bible verse Luke 17:28 in the King James Version reads, "Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded."

This verse is part of a larger passage in which Jesus is speaking to his disciples about the coming of the Kingdom of God. In this particular verse, Jesus is comparing the days of Lot to the times in which he and his disciples are living. He is pointing out that, just as people in the days of Lot carried on with their everyday activities without recognizing the impending judgment that was to come upon them, so too will people in the present time continue to live their lives without acknowledging the divine judgment that is approaching.

The story of Lot is found in the book of Genesis, specifically in chapters 18 and 19. Lot was the nephew of the patriarch Abraham, and he and his family lived in the city of Sodom. The city was known for its wickedness and sinfulness, and God sent two angels to rescue Lot and his family before destroying the city with fire and brimstone. However, Lot's wife, who had been instructed not to look back as they fled the city, disobeyed and was turned into a pillar of salt as a result.

When Jesus refers to "the days of Lot" in Luke 17:28, he is emphasizing the moral depravity and godlessness that characterized the people of Sodom. The indulgence in material pleasures, symbolized by the eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building mentioned in the verse, serves as a metaphor for the distraction and preoccupation with worldly pursuits that blinded the people of Sodom to the impending judgment of God.

Jesus uses the example of the days of Lot to warn his followers of the importance of being vigilant and spiritually aware in a world that is full of distractions and temptations. The verse serves as a reminder that, just as the people of Sodom were caught unawares by the destruction that befell them, those who are preoccupied with worldly pursuits and pleasures will also be unprepared for the coming judgment.

The themes present in Luke 17:28 include the importance of spiritual readiness and discernment, the consequences of moral depravity and godlessness, and the need to prioritize spiritual matters over material pursuits. The context of this verse is Jesus' teachings about the Kingdom of God and the end times, in which he underscores the need for his followers to be spiritually alert and mindful of the signs that indicate the coming judgment.

The symbolism in this verse lies in the contrast between the mundane, everyday activities of eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting, and building, and the weightier matters of spiritual readiness and discernment. The indulgence in material pleasures and the busyness of life serve as symbols of the distractions that can lead people away from God and blind them to the impending judgment.

In conclusion, Luke 17:28 serves as a sobering reminder to prioritize spiritual matters over worldly pursuits and to be vigilant and spiritually aware in a world that is full of distractions. The comparison to the days of Lot highlights the consequences of moral depravity and godlessness, and underscores the need for spiritual discernment and readiness in the face of the coming judgment. This verse challenges believers to live with an eternal perspective, recognizing that the things of this world are fleeting, and to be prepared for the return of Christ and the establishment of God's Kingdom.