Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 24:40

"Then shall two man be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:" — Matthew 24:40 (ASV)

These two vignettes stress the unexpectedness of the event by means of the sudden cleavage between two people. Two men are working in a field; one is taken, the other left. Two women work their hand mill—one normally operated by two women squatting opposite each other with the mill between them, each woman in turn pulling the stone around 180 degrees. The two are apt to be sisters, mother and daughter, or two household slaves. Yet no matter how close their relationship, at the Parousia one is taken, the other left (cf. 10:35–36).