What is the meaning of Matthew 24:38? For in the days before the flood “For in the days before the flood” (Matthew 24:38) roots Jesus’ warning in literal history—an actual, global Flood recorded in Genesis 6–7. • Genesis 6:5–12 shows a world filled with violence and corruption, yet God delayed judgment while Noah built the ark (2 Peter 3:9). • Hebrews 11:7 says Noah “condemned the world” by his faith, demonstrating that God gave ample warning. • Luke 17:26–27 connects those days with the coming of the Son of Man: normal life went on right until judgment fell. Takeaway: just as pre-Flood society lived under looming judgment, so our generation moves toward Christ’s return, often oblivious to it (2 Peter 3:3–7). people were eating and drinking “People were eating and drinking”—ordinary, good activities that become dangerous when they dull spiritual alertness. • Genesis 6:3 shows the Spirit striving with humankind while daily life continued. • Isaiah 22:13 pictures people who respond to warning with “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die!”—a snapshot of careless indulgence. • Luke 21:34 cautions believers, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of life.” Points to notice: – The issue is not food and drink themselves but apathy toward God. – Everyday routines can camouflage imminent judgment. marrying and giving in marriage “Marrying and giving in marriage” adds another layer of normalcy. Family celebrations continued as though nothing were wrong. • Genesis 6:4 hints at marriages that ignored God’s boundaries. • 1 Corinthians 7:29 urges believers to hold earthly ties lightly “because the time is short.” • 1 Thessalonians 5:3 says, “While people are saying, ‘Peace and security,’ destruction will come upon them suddenly.” Key thoughts: – Marriage is God-ordained, yet even His good gifts can distract from urgent spiritual realities. – The phrase highlights how completely life seemed “business as usual.” up to the day Noah entered the ark The routine lasted “up to the day Noah entered the ark.” Once God shut the door (Genesis 7:16), grace gave way to judgment. • 1 Peter 3:20 notes that “only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water.” • 2 Peter 2:5 calls Noah “a preacher of righteousness,” indicating that warning preceded the cutoff. • Matthew 24:39 adds, “They were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away,” paralleling the suddenness of Christ’s return (Matthew 24:44). Lessons: – God’s deadlines are real but often unseen until they arrive. – Obedience, not popularity, preserved Noah; the same steadfastness is required of believers facing the end times (Hebrews 10:36–37). summary Matthew 24:38 uses the days of Noah to show that ordinary life can mask extraordinary danger. People ate, drank, married, and planned as if the world would always run on the same track, ignoring Noah’s warnings and God’s patience. When Noah entered the ark, the opportunity to repent vanished, and judgment fell without delay. Jesus applies that pattern to His return: normal routines will lull many into complacency, but a decisive, final moment is coming. The passage urges watchfulness, readiness, and unwavering trust in God’s Word, which proves true in every generation. |
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