How does Matthew 24:37 compare to the days of Noah in Genesis 6? Setting the Context • Matthew 24 records Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, where He describes events preceding His return. • Verse 37: “As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man.” • To grasp the comparison, we look back to Genesis 6, the historical record of Noah’s day. What Were the Days of Noah Like? Genesis 6 provides four primary descriptors: • Rampant wickedness—“The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth” (Genesis 6:5). • Corrupt thoughts—“Every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was altogether evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5). • Widespread corruption—“Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight and filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11). • Divine patience and a set limit—God granted humanity 120 years (Genesis 6:3), during which Noah “preached righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). Jesus’ Point in Matthew 24:37 • Just as judgment came suddenly by the Flood, final judgment will arrive suddenly at Christ’s return (Matthew 24:38-39). • Everyday life will appear normal—eating, drinking, marrying—right up to the moment of divine intervention. • The comparison emphasizes surprise, not ignorance: people will ignore warning signs despite clear revelation (cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3). Parallel Conditions: Then and Now • Moral decay: increasing celebration of sin mirrors Genesis 6’s “great wickedness.” • Spiritual indifference: broad dismissal of God’s Word recalls the antediluvian mockery of Noah’s message. • Violence and corruption: global conflict and injustice echo the “earth … filled with violence.” • Divine longsuffering: God still offers grace (2 Peter 3:9), yet a fixed day of reckoning stands (Acts 17:31). Implications for Believers Today • Vigilance—not apathy—marks faithful disciples (Matthew 24:42-44). • Holiness distinguishes us from a corrupt culture (Philippians 2:15). • Proclamation mirrors Noah’s witness—calling others to repentance before the door shuts (2 Corinthians 5:20). • Confidence rests in God’s covenant faithfulness; as He saved Noah through judgment, He preserves those in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Caution and Comfort from Scripture • Caution: the same God who judged the ancient world “has reserved the present heavens and earth for fire” (2 Peter 3:7). • Comfort: “By faith Noah… became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7); likewise, all who trust Christ are secured. • Conclusion drawn by Peter: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:11). |
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