The Authoritative Word
Apostles were commissioned and sent by God with authority to preach Jesus (Ephesians 1:5, 9, 11; 3:7-9; Acts 9:15). Apostles possessed, all of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 12:12). By the "laying on of hands", apostles could enable others to perform miracles (Acts 8:1; 5-7; 4-18).
The writings of the apostle Paul are reliable not only because they were inspired of God but also because they were informed by God. The Holy Spirit revealed "the mystery," God's veiled message to them (Ephesians 3:1-5). Through the Holy Spirit, God deposited ideas of truth directly into their minds. Many of those truths had never before been shared with any human being.
The Holy Spirit revealed the mystery to the apostle Paul while he was in Arabia (Galatians 1:11-24). After he was converted, he spent too little time with other apostles to have learned naturally that which he had come to know. Obviously, God had taught him supernaturally.
The apostle Peter referred to the writings of Paul as scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). By that, he equated Paul's writings with the Old Testament scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21).
The Bible is man's true creed and code of principles for living. Herein, God has given us all things necessary to life and godliness. The scriptures furnish us completely unto all good works (2 Timothy 3:15-17). We are commanded not to go beyond the things which are written (1 Corinthians 4:6).
The Bible is the Word of God, but our interpretations may be inconsistent with His Word. Many people use the Bible and claim to interpret it correctly. Often, their interpretations contradict. This does not mean that the Bible is a confusing document. Rather, the problem lies in those who interpret and the methods they use.
Occasionally, we will likely misinterpret the word of God. This does not mean that an accurate understanding of God's Word is impossible. But it does mean that we need to approach His Word with care, humility, and reason. After all, the Bible is inspired by God and is addressed to His people.
To improve the accuracy of our interpretations, we need to consider some basic biblical interpretive methods. Let us apply some interpretive methods to this passage, "Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left"(Matthew 24:40).
1. Who wrote/spoke the passage and to whom and why was it addressed? Was the speaker adequately informed on the subject matter? Was that individual favorable toward God and truth? Jesus spoke the words and they were recorded by Matthew. Jesus spoke them to His disciples in response to a question, which we will get to later. Jesus was fully informed and favorable to God and truth. We can trust his sayings.
2. What does the passage say? The passage simply says that one out of two men in a field will be taken. It doesn't say where, why, when, or how. It just says one will be taken. It doesn't define the field as belonging to someone or in a particular place.
3. Are there any words in the passage that need to be examined? No particular word in this verse really stands out as needing to be examined, but to follow this exercise, I will use the word "taken." By using a Concordance and a Dictionary of New Testament words, I can check the Greek word and learn about it. The word in Greek is "paralambano". It means 1) "to take to, to take with one's self, to join to one's self, 2) to receive something transmitted."
A point worth mentioning about word studies is that a word means what it means in context. However, by examining how a word is used in multiple contexts, the meaning of the word can take on a new dimension.
However, we must be careful not to insert a meaning of a word from one context into that of another. For example: 1) That new cadet is green. 2) That tree is green.
The first green means "new and inexperienced." The second one means the color green. Would we want to impose the contextual meaning of one into the other? It wouldn't be a good idea.
Considering word meanings will help us to understand what the passage says. Over time, many words have changed their meanings and usages. Often the biblical usage of a word will vary from Webster's definition. For example, the Bible always uses the term "church" to mean an assembly of people; but, Webster uses it to also mean a physical structure (Matthew 16:18, Acts 9:31).
The word "curse" has an interesting meaning. The Bible forbids profanity. However, curse as used in scripture has little or nothing to do with profanity. As a noun, a curse was God's divine sentence of destruction or punishment upon some one or some thing. Those whom God assigned to eternal punishment were cursed (Matthew 25:41). Jesus cursed a fig tree (Mark 11:12-21).
As a verb, to curse was to ask or want God to destroy or punish someone or some thing. They wanted to ask God to destroy the Samaritans (Luke 9:51-56).
4. What types of speech are employed by the writer?
The simile. Similes show comparison by stating the likeness using words "like" or "as" (Matthew 10:16).
The metaphor. Metaphors show comparison by implied or even suggested likenesses. Metaphors, unlike similes, never use the words "like" or "as" (John 6:48).
The metonymy. A metonymy uses one word for another or uses a part for the whole (Matthew 10:34-36). In this passage, the word "sword" stands for division.
The figurative and literal. Figurative speech makes use of imaginative expressions for the sake of emphasis. We would understand the figurative statement, "he is a hog" to emphasize how a person behaved.
When should we consider speech to be literal? Generally, we interpret commands and rules literally. We should consider the speech to be figurative only when a literal meaning would involve a contradiction or an impossibility.
Speech is either literal or figurative. Let us consider a literal usage of the word "fox" (Luke 9:58). Also consider a figurative usage of the word fox (Luke 13:31-32).
5. What is the immediate context? This is where this particular verse will come alive. The immediate context is as follows, "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left" (Matthew 24:37-42).
Immediately we can see that the person taken in verse 40 is paralleled by people being taken in verse 39. That is, the "being taken" are of the same kind.
A further question needs to be asked. Who was taken in verse 39? Was it Noah and his family or was it the people who were eating and drinking? The answer to that question might help us understand the original passage better. Therefore, the next interpretive step will help us greatly.
6. What is the broader context in the chapter and/or book? A passage should always be looked at in context, not only in its immediate context of the verses directly before and after it, but also in the context of the chapter it is in and the book in which it is written. Jesus' discourse from which our verse was taken, began with a question. Jesus had just left the temple and in Matthew chapter 24 verse 2 told His disciples that "...not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down." Then in verse 3, the disciples asked Jesus, "... Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?". Jesus then goes on to prophesy about things to come at the end of the age. He speaks of false Christs, of tribulation, of the sun being darkened, of His return, and of two men in a field where one will be taken and the other left.
The context then is eschatological. That means that it deals with the last things, or the time shortly before Jesus' return. Many people think that this verse in Matthew 24:40 refers to the rapture spoken of in 1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17. But it is interesting to note that the context of the verse seems to suggest that the wicked are taken, not the good.
Now, about this time you might be thinking that this method of interpreting passages isn't that good. After all, the "one taken, one left" verse is obviously about the rapture.
You see, we all come to the Bible with preconceived ideas. Sometimes they are right, sometimes wrong. We should always be ready to have our understanding of the Bible challenged by what it says.
7. What are the related verses to the passage's subject and how do they affect the understanding of this passage? It just so happens that there are related verses, in fact, a parallel passage found in (Luke 17:26‑27). "And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all".
Immediately, we discover that related verses do indeed affect how we understand our initial verse. It is clear from this passage in Luke that the ones taken by the flood are those who were eating and drinking and being given in marriage. In other words, it wasn't the godly people who were taken, it was the wicked.
As you can see, this has a profound impact on how we understand our passage in Matthew 24:40. Does the context suggest that the one in the field who is taken is the one who is wicked? Also, how does this context affect my preconceived ideas about this verse? Let's read the verse again in context. "For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left" (Matthew 24:37‑41).
What do you think now? Of related interest is a passage in Matthew 13:24‑30 where Jesus gives the parable of the sower who sows good seed in his field and someone sows tares. The servants asked if they should go immediately and gather up the wheat. But, in verse 30, Jesus says, "Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather up the wheat into my barn"
The point worth noting here is that the first ones gathered are the weeds, not the wheat. This is most interesting since Jesus explains the parable in Matthew 13:36‑43 and states that they will be cast into the furnace.
Additionally, when we turn to Luke 17, which is the parallel passage of Matthew 24, we discover that the disciples ask Jesus a question in response to Jesus' statement that "Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other will be left". In verse 37 they ask, "Where, Lord?" Jesus replied, "Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered." They are taken to a place of death.
8. What is the historical and cultural background? This is a more difficult question to answer. It requires a bit more research. Commentary are worth examining here since they usually provide the historic and cultural backgrounds that help to unravel the text.
In this context, Israel was under Roman rule. They had been denied the right of capital punishment, of self‑rule, and the ability to wage war. Rome had dominated the small nation. Judaism was tolerated among the Roman leadership. After all, Israel was a small far away country with a people that were fanatical about their religion. So, Rome allowed Israel to be ruled by Jewish political puppets.
The Temple was the place of worship for the Israelite community. It was there that the blood sacrifices were made by the high priest for the atonement of the nation. It had taken 46 years to build (John 2:20). Jesus said the temple would be destroyed which prompted the question which led to His discourse which contains the passage we are examining.
Culturally, the Jewish people were dedicated to the Old Testament. Within those pages were prophecies of the Messiah, of the end of the age.
9. What is the content of the scripture? Observe carefully the past, present and future tense of statements.
Focus on the facts that each scripture contains. Write and remember the facts; for, we must learn them.
Concentrate on the commands that each scripture contains. Write and remember the commands; for, we must obey them. Ponder on the promises that each scripture contains. Write and remember the promises; for, we can enjoy them.
10. What do I conclude about the passage? Since the context of the passage suggests that it is the wicked that are taken, I am going to conclude that the one taken in the field is not the good, but the bad. I also conclude that the wicked are taken to a place of judgment.
11. Do my conclusions agree or disagree with related areas of scripture and others who have studied the passage? I've already presented other verses which seem to agree with my conclusion.
By consulting with others, by examining the word again, and by seeking God, I can hope to arrive at the best possible conclusion about a passage.
12. What have I learned and what must I apply to my life? Interpretation of scripture is for a purpose: To understand God's Word more accurately. With a better understanding of His Word, we can then more accurately apply it to the area that it addresses. In this case, the passage deals with an area of the future, an area of judgment. It is information that Jesus has revealed and that He wants us to know about. The application, then, would be that God will execute judgment upon the unrighteous at the end of the age.
We must get knowledge. We need to learn and understand clearly. In other words, mentally see it and be sure that we see it. At this phase, we accumulate and assimilate information. First, we get knowledge into our head. We increase the quantity and improve the quality of our understanding. This is mental (Ephesians 4:20-21). Second, we get knowledge into our heart. We increase the quantity and enrich the quality of our thinking. This is meditation (Ephesians 4:23). Third, we get knowledge into our hands. We increase the quantity and enhance the quality of our behavior. This is mechanical (Ephesians 4:25-29). Learn all Biblical information well enough to teach it.
An unwillingness to learn is symptomatic of an unwillingness to commit. An unwillingness to live according to learning is symptomatic of an unwillingness to commit. An unwillingness to leave the word of God is symptomatic of an unwillingness to commit.
Written Review for Lesson Eleven
Write within the blank the letter of the term that is related within the lesson and then transfer answers to the ANSWER SHEET. Five points each.
1. ___ Bless a. Divine destruction
2. ___ Knowledge in the hand b. Speak well
3. ___ Curse c. Quality of thinking
4. ___ Knowledge in the heart d. Quality of behavior
5. ___ Live the word e. Hand
Fill in the blanks. Five points each.
1. An unwillingness to learn is symptomatic of an unwillingness to _____________.
2. The content of scripture contains facts, commands and ____________________.
3. The fig tree died because it had been _____________________________.
4. According to the Bible, the term church means an assembly of ______________.
5. When we get knowledge into our hearts we ___________________upon it.
True or False. Five points each.
1. ______ God depends upon us to teach others.
2. ______ Church attendance alone indicates complete commitment to the word.
3. ______ Webster's definition of terms and the Biblical usages is always identical.
4. ______ Complete commitment requires learning well enough to teach.
5. ______ To bless means to curse or to speak harshly to a person.
Circle the one answer that best answers the question or completes the statement and transfer answers to ANSWER SHEET. Five points each.
1. To examine the context we should
a. Discover who the author or the person who made the statement is.
b. Discover who is the audience is.
c. Discover why the audience was addressed.
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
2. An unwillingness to commit is indicated by an unwillingness to
a. Live according to the word
b. Learn the word
c. Leave the word in the heart of others
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
3. To fully commit we must get knowledge in our
a. Head
b. Heart
c. Hand
d. All of the above
e. A & B only
4. Knowledge in our hand is
a. Mental
b. Meditation
c. Mechanical
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
5. Knowledge in our heart is
a. Mental
b. Meditation
c. Mechanical
d. All of the above
e. None of the above
