Ed Walsh
Puritan Board Senior
Greetings Scholars, and my fellow wannabe Scholars,
In Matthew 24:28 & Luke 17:37, these two uses of the phrase, "Where the 'corpse' is, there, the vultures will gather," have puzzled me for 50 years.
Is there harmony between the two places? Or are they different sayings with different meanings altogether? I lean toward them being the same event, but it's a stretch. A big one.
It seems like the ESV translators decided that the Matt and Luke sayings were identical. Thus they translated them word-for-word the same. But I wonder.
*translated as 'corpse' only two additional places, both referring to the dead body of Jesus,
KJV - translated more accurately (in my opinion-I am not a scholar)
Here is Matthew Poole's comment regarding Luke 17: 37 –
Thanks,
Ed
In Matthew 24:28 & Luke 17:37, these two uses of the phrase, "Where the 'corpse' is, there, the vultures will gather," have puzzled me for 50 years.
Is there harmony between the two places? Or are they different sayings with different meanings altogether? I lean toward them being the same event, but it's a stretch. A big one.
Matthew 24:27-28 ESV
For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Wherever the *'corpse' is, there the vultures will gather.
*[πτῶμα (always means dead body)] It seems like the ESV translators decided that the Matt and Luke sayings were identical. Thus they translated them word-for-word the same. But I wonder.
Luke 17:34-35, 37 ESV
I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left.
There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left. And they said to him,
"Where, Lord?" He said to them, "Where the *'corpse' is, there, the vultures will gather."
*[σῶμα – body, occurs 142 times in ESV and almost always refers to a living body, *'corpse' used only here plus two verses referring to Jesus' dead body)] *translated as 'corpse' only two additional places, both referring to the dead body of Jesus,
KJV - translated more accurately (in my opinion-I am not a scholar)
Wheresoever the 'body' is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.
Here is Matthew Poole's comment regarding Luke 17: 37 –
Concerning the sense of this proverbial expression, and the various application of it by interpreters, see the notes on Matt. 24:28. In our evangelist (where it is σῶμα, not πτῶμα, as in Matthew, the word there properly signifying a dead body, the word here a living body) it seems to be applied to Christ's glorious coming to judgment: Where I shall be, who am to be the Judge both of the quick and the dead, thither shall all the world be gathered before me, but my saints especially, who have eagles' eyes, senses exercised to discern betwixt good and evil, to discern me as their Redeemer, and the true Messiah; according to that, Psal. 50:5, 6, Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself.
Help will be appreciated.Thanks,
Ed