Church Fathers Commentary Luke 17:26-30

"And as it came to pass in the days of Noah, even so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all: after the same manner shall it be in the day that the Son of man is revealed." — Luke 17:26-30 (ASV)

The Venerable Bede: The coming of our Lord, which He had compared to lightning flying swiftly across the heavens, He now compares to the days of Noah and Lot, when a sudden destruction came upon humanity.

St. John Chrysostom: Because they refused to believe the words of warning, they were suddenly visited with a real punishment from God. Their unbelief, however, proceeded from self-indulgence and weakness of mind, for a person's expectations will always match their desires and inclinations. Therefore, it follows: they were eating and drinking.

St. Ambrose of Milan: He rightly declares the flood to have been caused by our sins, for God did not create evil; rather, our own deeds brought it about. Let it not be supposed, however, that marriage or food and drink are condemned, since the human race is continued by the one and nature is sustained by the other. Instead, moderation must be sought in all things, for whatever is more than this comes from evil.

The Venerable Bede: Noah builds the ark mystically. The Lord builds His Church from Christ’s faithful servants, uniting them as one, like smooth pieces of wood. When it is perfectly finished, He enters it. Likewise, at the Day of Judgment, He who always dwells within His Church will enlighten it with His visible presence. But while the ark is being built, the wicked flourish; when it is entered, they perish. Just as those who revile the saints in their spiritual warfare here will be struck with eternal condemnation when the saints are crowned in the life to come.

Eusebius of Caesarea: Having used the example of the flood so that no one would expect another flood of water, our Lord then cites the example of Lot. He does this to show the manner of the wicked's destruction: that the wrath of God would descend upon them as fire from heaven.

The Venerable Bede: Passing by the unspeakable wickedness of the Sodomites, He mentions only those offenses which may be thought trivial, or no offense at all. This is so you may understand how terribly unlawful pleasures are punished, when even lawful pleasures, taken to excess, receive fire and brimstone as their reward.

Eusebius of Caesarea: He notes that fire did not come down from heaven on the wicked Sodomites until after Lot had left them, just as the flood did not swallow up the earth's inhabitants until after Noah had entered the ark. As long as Noah and Lot lived with the wicked, God suspended His anger so that they would not perish together with the sinners. But when He was about to destroy the wicked, He withdrew the righteous. So also at the end of the world, the final consummation will not come until all the just are separated from the wicked.

The Venerable Bede: For He who, in the meantime, though we do not see Him, yet sees all things, will then appear to judge all things. And He will come especially at that time when He sees all who are forgetful of His judgments are in bondage to this world.

Theophylact of Ohrid: For when the Antichrist has come, people will become wanton, given up to abominable vices, as the Apostle says, Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. For if the Antichrist is the dwelling-place of every sin, what else will he then implant in the miserable human race but what belongs to himself? Our Lord implies this through the examples of the flood and the people of Sodom.

The Venerable Bede: Now mystically, Lot (which is interpreted as "one who turns aside") represents the elect people. While in Sodom—that is, among the wicked—they live as strangers, turning aside from all wicked ways with all their ability. But when Lot went out, Sodom was destroyed, for at the end of the world, the angels shall go forth and separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into a furnace of fire. However, the fire and brimstone that He says rained from heaven does not represent the actual flame of eternal punishment, but rather the suddenness of that day's arrival.