What is the meaning of Luke 17:23? Setting the scene Jesus is speaking privately to His disciples about “the days of the Son of Man” (Luke 17:22). He has just said they will “long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.” That longing makes them vulnerable to rumors. Similar warnings appear in Matthew 24:23 and Mark 13:21, emphasizing that the Lord foresaw an age of deception. People will tell you Rumors thrive when believers ache for Christ’s return. The apostles later repeat the caution: • 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 warns believers “not to be quickly unsettled” by any claim “that the day of the Lord has already come.” • 2 Peter 3:3-4 notes scoffers who manipulate expectations. The Lord’s words acknowledge how persuasive such voices can sound, yet He immediately undermines their credibility. ‘Look, there He is!’ These words mimic excited eyewitness testimony, as though someone has spotted Jesus in a hidden spot. False messiahs used that tactic in Acts 5:36-37 and will do so again, according to Revelation 13:13-14. Genuine appearances of Christ never need human promotion; when He truly comes, “every eye will see Him” (Revelation 1:7). ‘Look, here He is!’ The shift from “there” to “here” broadens the warning. Whether the claim places Christ far away or right next door, the instruction remains unchanged. Matthew 24:26 echoes this: “So if they tell you, ‘He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.” Geography cannot confine the glorified Son of Man. Do not go out Obedience sometimes means staying put. Chasing reports puts believers in danger of: • Physical harm—Acts-era zealots drew crowds into deadly uprisings. • Spiritual harm—Deuteronomy 13:1-3 forbids following any sign-working prophet who lures hearts away from the LORD. The safest course is steadfastness until Christ Himself appears (James 5:7-8). Do not chase after them The phrase sharpens the command. “Them” refers both to rumor-spreaders and the rumors themselves. Pursuing sensational claims saps focus from: • Daily faithfulness—Luke 19:13: “Engage in business until I come.” • Disciple-making—2 Timothy 4:2 urges preaching “in season and out of season,” not rumor hunting. The next verse, Luke 17:24, clinches the point: “For as the lightning flashes...so will the Son of Man be in His day.” His return will be sudden, unmistakable, and globally visible—no chase required. Why the warning matters • Protects doctrine: clings to the literal, bodily, sky-rending return promised in Acts 1:11. • Preserves unity: rumors fracture churches; truth unites (Ephesians 4:13-14). • Promotes vigilance over curiosity: Titus 2:13 calls us to “eagerly await” the blessed hope, not recklessly pursue every rumor. summary Luke 17:23 teaches that no rumor, headline, or charismatic voice can substitute for the true, glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. When He comes, the whole world will know—instantly and unmistakably. Until then, disciples remain steady, resist sensational claims, and devote themselves to faithful living in confident expectation. |
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