Luke 17:22, commentary and pictures

The saying was addressed to the disciples as part of lessons given to a large crowd, lessons that press hearers beyond merely agreeing with what is good and righteous to the difficult work of denying self. It foretells that days would come when the disciples would desire to see again one of the days when the Son of man was present among them, and they would not see it. That longed-for day included the opportunity to walk and talk with Him while He was with them. The days of the Son of man are a desirable time to live in, and to live in those days is a special honor and privilege.

They did not then recognize the greatness of their present privilege, because the glory of His mission was veiled in humanity and lacked worldly pomp. They therefore failed to grasp its spiritual glory and were in danger of not discerning that the life and light of humanity was among them. After His ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit they understood His character and mission more fully, remembered His words, and recognized the meaning of His works and of the prophecies about Him, and this made them long for those days.

The longing belongs to teaching about His coming revelation, when the Son of man will be revealed suddenly as in the days of Noah and Lot. Followers must therefore be ready, because the time for preparation will not remain open indefinitely. The warning about judgment is illustrated by Noah's time, when warnings came for many years but most people did not turn to the Lord, and some who at first heeded them were mocked into abandoning them. The verse warns to be watchful, prayerful, and working and to follow faithfully while there is opportunity. For the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night to all who are not watching and praying and working. Those who have the light must walk in His footsteps and work out their own salvation with fear and trembling, seeing their own defects of character and doing the work to be done for this perilous time.