I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
I tell.
Luke 13:3,5,24 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish…
Isaiah 42:9 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
Matthew 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
in.
Matthew 24:40,41 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left…
two.
Psalm 26:9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:
Psalm 28:3 Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Jeremiah 45:5 And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
on that night
The reference to "night" suggests a time of unexpectedness and suddenness, often associated with judgment or significant events in biblical literature. Nighttime in the ancient world was a period of vulnerability and uncertainty, symbolizing spiritual darkness or the end times. This aligns with other scriptural references to the Day of the Lord coming like a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
two people will be in one bed
This imagery of two people in one bed suggests intimacy and normalcy, highlighting the sudden and personal nature of the event. In the cultural context, sharing a bed was common among family members or married couples, indicating close relationships. The mention of "two people" underscores the indiscriminate nature of the coming separation, affecting individuals regardless of their personal connections.
one will be taken
The phrase "one will be taken" can be interpreted as being taken to safety or salvation, possibly alluding to the rapture or divine deliverance. This concept is echoed in Matthew 24:40-41, where one is taken and the other left, suggesting a selective gathering by God. The idea of being "taken" can also be seen as a fulfillment of prophetic themes of God gathering His people.
and the other left
Being "left" implies a state of judgment or being outside of God's protection. This separation serves as a warning of the consequences of unbelief or lack of readiness for Christ's return. The imagery of separation is consistent with other biblical teachings on the final judgment, such as the parable of the sheep and the goats (Matthew 25:31-46), where individuals are divided based on their relationship with Christ.
Jesus prefaces His words with a personal declaration—“I tell you.” This underscores:
• His absolute authority (Matthew 24:35).
• The certainty of the prophecy—no “maybe,” only divine certainty (John 14:2).
Because Scripture is infallible, we receive these words as an unshakable fact, just as sure as every past promise God has already kept.
The event is tied to a specific but undisclosed night. Key ideas:
• Suddenness: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2).
• Universality: Darkness often pictures a world caught unaware (Luke 12:40).
• Immediacy: No warning sirens, just one ordinary evening turning extraordinary—exactly how Noah’s neighbors felt the night before the flood (Luke 17:27).
Jesus chooses a scene of everyday intimacy and routine:
• Normal life continues right up to the moment (Matthew 24:38).
• Physical closeness does not guarantee shared destiny; salvation is personal.
• It reminds us of households divided by belief and unbelief (Luke 12:51–53).
Even the safest, most familiar spaces won’t shield anyone from God’s timetable.
“To be taken” points to a gracious rescue, echoing:
• “Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together…to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
• Jesus’ promise, “I will come again and receive you to Myself” (John 14:3).
• Historical precedents: Noah taken into the ark, Lot escorted out of Sodom (Luke 17:26, 29).
In each case, the righteous are removed before judgment strikes.
Remaining behind is not neutral; it signifies exposure to judgment:
• “Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left” (Matthew 24:40).
• Just as the flood “swept them all away” (Matthew 24:39), those left face the Day of the Lord’s wrath (2 Peter 3:10).
• Eternal separation becomes tragically final (Revelation 20:11–15).
Proximity to a believer cannot substitute for personal faith in Christ.
Luke 17:34 paints a vivid snapshot of the moment Christ intervenes in human history. In one ordinary night:
• Jesus’ authoritative word proves true.
• Sudden, unannounced separation occurs.
• Everyday settings afford no safety except personal faith.
The righteous are gathered to Him; the unrepentant remain for judgment. The verse urges every listener to ensure they are counted among those “taken”—secure in Christ—before that night arrives.
(34, 35) Two men in one bed.--See Notes on Matthew 24:40-41. The one to be "taken" is probably here, as there, the man who is rescued from destruction. Here there is a variation enough to prove independence, the "two in one bed" being prefixed to the examples given in St. Matthew as an instance of even closer companionship.Verses 34, 35. - I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, the other left. How taken? Not, as some scholars have supposed, taken only to perish, but taken away by the Lord in the way described by St. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:17, where he paints how the faithful servant who is living when the Lord returns in glory, will be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. The other will be left. Thus, as it has been strikingly observed, "the beings who have been most closely connected here below shall, in the twinkling of an eye, be parted for ever."