THIS parable has a two-fold application.
The word of exhortation given by the Holy Ghost, through Paul, to Timothy (2 Tim. 2:1515Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)) runs thus: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth." True preparation for the ministry of the Word begins with first ascertaining the mind of God in the portion of Scripture under consideration in the presence of God, and in communion with Himself, and in so presenting it as to meet His approval. In order to this, a right division of the Word of truth is necessary; that is, so keeping distinct truths separate and in their proper places as to prevent confusion of thought and erroneous interpretation.
There are many beautiful examples of this, as in Luke 4:18-2018The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Luke 4:18‑20), when the Lord closed the book at the precise point. The parable before us presents another instance of the importance and beauty of this right division. The remembrance of the distinction which we have already noticed between the coming of our Lord to receive His Church and the coming of the Son of Man to execute judgment on the world, as indicated by the Scriptural use of the two distinct expressions, "Coming of the Lord," "the coming of the Son of Man," will enable us to make the right division here, otherwise we shall get into confusion.
Verses 37, 38. "But as the days of Noe [Noah] were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe [Noah] entered into the ark.”
Our Lord here divides the days before the flood into two periods. First, "Until the day that Noah entered into the ark," when Noah and his family were shut in. Secondly, "Until the flood came, and took them all away.”
The first period closes with an act of lovingkindness—receiving the eight souls and securing them from judgment to come, like the wheat gathered into the garner (Matt. 13:3030Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn. (Matthew 13:30)), and the good fish gathered into vessels (Matt. 13:4848Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. (Matthew 13:48)). We find from Genesis 7:4, 104For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth. (Genesis 7:4)
10And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. (Genesis 7:10) that Noah and his family entered into the ark seven days before the flood came. Doubtless this is significant—this week of days being symbolic of the week of years intervening between the coming of the Lord to receive His saints and the manifestation of the Son of Man in judgment.
Up to the time that Noah entered into the ark everything in the world went on as usual; there were no signs of any approaching change; so when the Son of God comes there will be nothing especial to indicate His near approach; the course of this world will go on as usual, and the saints will be pursuing their daily avocations.
Verse 39. "And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be.”
Mankind, generally, will not recognize that the fact of the sudden removal of all the Church from the earth is the prelude and warning of approaching judgment, for "The day of Jehovah so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety,' then sudden destruction cometh upon them"(1 Thess. 5:2, 32For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:2‑3)).
When Noah and his family entered into the ark, by the command of God, and were shut in by Him, the righteous were taken and the ungodly left. But when the flood came, the judgment came upon the entire world of the ungodly, and the righteous were safe. Even so, at the end of the age, the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, but the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father (Matt. 13:40-4340As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 13:40‑43)). For then: "The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire" (Matt. 13:4949So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, (Matthew 13:49)).
Verses 40, 41. "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken [received], and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
In these verses the Lord Jesus again refers to the time of His coming to receive His Church. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, both male and female, will be going on in their ordinary manner of life, until, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, they are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
Verse 42. "Watch, therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
How important and valuable, then, is this exhortation, given by the Lord to the waiting saints in the present dispensation. And how cheering the word of promise: "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown" (Rev. 3:10, 1110Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:10‑11)).
But His word to the faithful and persecuted ones, in the time of the Great Tribulation, will be: "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is He that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Rev. 16:1515Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. (Revelation 16:15)).