Matthew 24:38

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

For {G1063} as {G5618} in {G1722} the days {G2250} that were {G2258} before {G4253} the flood {G2627} they were eating {G5176} and {G2532} drinking {G4095}, marrying {G1060} and {G2532} giving in marriage {G1547}, until {G891} the day {G2250} that {G3739} Noe {G3575} entered {G1525} into {G1519} the ark {G2787},

Back then, before the Flood, people went on eating and drinking, taking wives and becoming wives, right up till the day Noach entered the ark;

For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark.

For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

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Commentary

Matthew 24:38 (KJV) is part of Jesus' prophetic discourse on the Mount of Olives, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse. In this verse, Jesus draws a vivid parallel between the state of the world before the great flood in Noah's time and the conditions that will precede His own second coming.

Context

Following His disciples' questions about the signs of His coming and the end of the age, Jesus begins to describe a period of tribulation and then shifts to emphasizing the suddenness and unexpected nature of His return. Verse 38 directly builds upon the comparison made in Matthew 24:37, stating that "as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." This analogy serves as a powerful warning about the world's spiritual state, highlighting how people were engrossed in their daily routines, oblivious to impending divine judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Complacency and Unpreparedness: The phrase "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" highlights the normal, everyday activities that consumed people's lives before the flood. These activities are not inherently sinful, but their exclusive focus signifies a profound spiritual apathy and unawareness of impending divine judgment. People were engrossed in their routines, oblivious to the momentous event approaching.
  • Suddenness of Judgment: Just as the flood came unexpectedly and swiftly, catching the unprepared off guard, so too will the return of Christ be sudden and decisive for those not ready. The "day that Noe entered into the ark" marked a definitive point of no return for the rest of humanity, emphasizing the finality and immediacy of divine intervention.
  • Divine Warning Ignored: Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader narrative of Noah's time (see Genesis 6-9) includes Noah's faithful preaching and building of the ark, which served as a visible warning. The people's continued indulgence in worldly affairs demonstrated their rejection of God's call to repentance and readiness for the coming judgment.

Linguistic Insights

The name "Noe" is the King James Version's transliteration of the Greek Noe (ΝῢΡ), which itself comes from the Hebrew Noach (Χ ΦΉΧ—Φ·), meaning "rest" or "comfort." The activities listed – "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage" – emphasize the mundane aspects of life. The Greek phrasing suggests a continuous, ongoing state of affairs, implying that people were fully immersed in their daily lives without any thought of eternity or accountability, highlighting their spiritual blindness.

Practical Application

Jesus' comparison serves as a timeless warning for all generations. It urges believers to avoid spiritual complacency and to live with an eternal perspective, rather than being solely consumed by worldly pursuits. We are called to be watchful, spiritually discerning, and prepared for the return of the Lord. This readiness involves living righteously, growing in faith, and sharing the hope of the gospel, so that we are not found unprepared when He comes again, just as those in Noah's day were not ready for the flood.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Luke 17:26

    And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

  • Luke 17:28

    Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

  • Romans 13:13

    Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

  • Romans 13:14

    But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].

  • Luke 14:18

    And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

  • Luke 14:20

    And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

  • Genesis 6:2

    That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
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