Luke 17:22

Then He said to the disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples immediately after declaring that the kingdom of God is not confined to a specific location. He speaks this warning just before instructing them not to chase false reports of His physical presence.

The words — The Greek phrase ἐλεύσονται ἡμέραι (eleusontai hēmerai) literally translates to "days will come," indicating a future period of waiting. This future tense verb emphasizes the inevitable arrival of that time rather than a mere possibility.

The thread — This prediction parallels Jesus’ earlier teaching that a time will come when the bridegroom is taken away and His followers will fast (Matthew 9:15; Luke 5:35; Mark 2:20). The same future expectation appears in the immediate context where He warns against responding to claims that He is located in specific places (Luke 17:23).

Why it lands — The text requires readers to stop searching for visible signs or geographical markers to verify His return. It demands a posture of patient endurance while acknowledging that the future manifestation will remain hidden until its appointed moment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.

Cross-references

Matthew 9:15 Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
Luke 5:35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
Mark 2:20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
John 7:33 So Jesus said, “I am with you only a little while longer, and then I am going to the One who sent Me.
John 8:21 Again He said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for Me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.”
John 13:33 Little children, I am with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I said to the Jews, so now I say to you: ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’
John 16:5 Now, however, I am going to Him who sent Me; yet none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
John 16:16 In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me.”
Luke 13:35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
John 17:11 I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by Your name, the name You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one.