"Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather."?

Question

Matthew 24:28
In context, what does this mean? It has always made me wonder.

Answer 1

One of the things Jesus tells them about the end time is that false messiahs will be proclaimed, and that his disciples are not to go to where they say he is because when he returns all will see him. He likens his return to two things:
1. When the lightening streaks across the sky because all see it.
2. The way the corpse of an animal is readily visible to the eyes of the vultures.

The "eagle" translation is a misinterpretation that has been corrected to read, "vulture." The Roman/Jew interpretation is unlikely because that section of scripture has to do with the Final Coming of Christ and is not political or for that time.

Another variation of the interpretation above (#2) is that just as vultures "know" about corpses, the elect will gather only around Jesus (whom the know) while the lost will gather around the false prophets and false messiahs because falsehood is all they "know."

Good question.

Answer 2

A difficult verse to interpret because of our limited grammatical hermeneutic ... ie we limit our interpretation to symbolism, literal, metaphor.
This verse is an idiomatic expression and cannot be interpreted in a literal or symbolic manner.
" idiomatic expression - an expression whose meanings cannot be inferred from the meanings of the words that make it up
phrasal idiom, set phrase, phrase, idiom
locution, saying, expression - a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations; "pardon the expression"
ruralism, rusticism - a rural idiom or expression
in the lurch - in a difficult or vulnerable position; "he resigned and left me in the lurch"
like clockwork - with regularity and precision; "the rocket launch went off like clockwork""
"An idiom is a phrase where the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words, which can make idioms hard for ESL students and learners to understand." and ... difficult near impossible for anyone from another culture to learn other cultural idoms.

OK then so what is the meaning of this Middle East Idiom ? ... Driving down the road i see a flock of crows about 1 km ahead ... some in the trees .... some jumping up and down on the road ... what do I know .... for sure there is a carcass there on the side of the road. I cant see that carcass ... but i know for sure IT IS THERE ... so .... what does this tell us about this Idiom ... The crows are a proxy or sign for the carcass ... so this idiom means PROXY ... and has nothing to do about meaning either eagles or dead bodies ...
SO then what is the meaning in the context of this verse ... what is Jesus saying here ...
Well in the very next verse he tells us that his coming will be a spectacular highly visible event ... so that visible event is like the vultures ... they can be seen for miles circling a dead body ... so the visible revelation of Jesus is the PROXY for other events not seen ...
What did the disciples ask Jesus ... what is the end of the age ... when will all these events come to pass .... so Jesus answers their question ... Jesus apocalypse will mark the end of the age and the end of the reign of Satan on earth ... and reading the verse following that will mark the rapture ... the gathering together unto Him ...
for what its worth .... Rob

Answer 3

In the context of the Chapter Jesus is talking about the signs of the End. This can also be seen in Luke 17:37. It is the same discourse given by Jesus.

This teaches against the concept of a secret rapture. It shows that when Jesus comes back for the church that no one else survives, they do not live on for 7 more yrs, they die and the vultures gather to eat there flesh.

Answer 4

The gathering of vultures around a carcass is meant as a parable, i.e. How misled mankind will gather around the dead (spiritually) things in this world. It is trying to educate us that Jesus is the only true messiah and that many will try to imitate him and uninformed men will follow them but they are all dead spiritually.

We can see several examples of these things in modern times, e.g. gathering at concerts, sports, political rallies and even many so-called religious gatherings where man is glorified instead of God.

Answer 5

The translation I have says,"Wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together." The preceding speaks of the coming of the Son of man. So, could it mean that all the world will gather around the Son of man?

Answer 6

This is from an interpretation by Family Bible Notes.

Mt 24:28
Wheresoever the carcass is, there will the eagles be; wherever the Jews are, the Romans will be upon them, as eagles are upon their prey; the eagle being the ordinary standard of the Roman armies.

This is from the People's New Testament Commentary

Mt 24:28
The carcase is, there will be the eagles. The term "carcase" well represents the utterly corrupted Jewish state; the "eagles" is a fit symbol of the Roman army, every legion of which bore the eagle as its standard.

Here's a real biggie, this is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary. It interprets Mt. 24:4-28. This ought to help you see the whole picture.

Mt 24:28
v4-28 The disciples had asked concerning the times, When these things should be? Christ gave them no answer to that; but they had also asked, What shall be the sign? This question he answers fully. The prophecy first respects events near at hand, the destruction of Jerusalem, the end of the Jewish church and state, the calling of the Gentiles, and the setting up of Christ's kingdom in the world; but it also looks to the general judgment; and toward the close, points more particularly to the latter. What Christ here said to his disciples, tended more to promote caution than to satisfy their curiosity; more to prepare them for the events that should happen, than to give a distinct idea of the events. This is that good understanding of the times which all should covet, thence to infer what Israel ought to do. Our Saviour cautions his disciples to stand on their guard against false teachers. And he foretells wars and great commotions among nations. From the time that the Jews rejected Christ, and he left their house desolate, the sword never departed from them. See what comes of refusing the gospel. Those who will not hear the messengers of peace, shall be made to hear the messengers of war. But where the heart is fixed, trusting in God, it is kept in peace, and is not afraid. It is against the mind of Christ, that his people should have troubled hearts, even in troublous times. When we looked forward to the eternity of misery that is before the obstinate refusers of Christ and his gospel, we may truly say, The greatest earthly judgments are but the beginning of sorrows. It is comforting that some shall endure even to the end. Our Lord foretells the preaching of the gospel in all the world. The end of the world shall not be till the gospel has done its work. Christ foretells the ruin coming upon the people of the Jews; and what he said here, would be of use to his disciples, for their conduct and for their comfort. If God opens a door of escape, we ought to make our escape, otherwise we do not trust God, but tempt him. It becomes Christ's disciples, in times of public trouble, to be much in prayer: that is never out of season, but in a special manner seasonable when we are distressed on every side. Though we must take what God sends, yet we may pray against sufferings; and it is very trying to a good man, to be taken by any work of necessity from the solemn service and worship of God on the sabbath day. But here is one word of comfort, that for the elect's sake these days shall be made shorter than their enemies designed, who would have cut all off, if God, who used these foes to serve his own purpose, had not set bounds to their wrath. Christ foretells the rapid spreading of the gospel in the world. It is plainly seen as the lightning. Christ preached his gospel openly. The Romans were like an eagle, and the ensign of their armies was an eagle. When a people, by their sin, make themselves as loathsome carcasses, nothing can be expected but that God should send enemies to destroy them. It is very applicable to the day of judgment, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in that day, 2Th 2:1. Let us give diligence to make our calling and election sure; then may we know that no enemy or deceiver shall ever prevail against us.

Answer 7

Christ is talking about when He will be returning. Jesus is trying to
explain in parable, that when he returns those that are not saved
Will be left for dead. Christ wants us to be prepared, ever-ready, ever watching for his return. Simply put, we need to be the good and faithful servant. going forth each day in service to him and him alone. Also look up Luke 17:20-37 this might be more helpful.
Also to gain a better understanding of the Bible, say a short prayer for the Lord to open his word to you, to allow you to understand His awesome word the way he intends for you to understand it. If you pray and meditate after the prayer. In other words seek an answer from God and you will gain better understanding, and you shall be blessed!

Answer 8

Mat 24:28 - For wheresoever the carcass is,.... Not Christ, as he is held forth in the Gospel, crucified and slain, through whose death is the savour of life, and by whom salvation is, and to whom sensible sinners flock, encouraged by the ministry of the word; and much less Christ considered as risen, exalted, and coming in great glory to judgment, to whom the word "carcass" will by no means agree, and but very poorly under the former consideration: but the people of the Jews are designed by it, in their fallen, deplorable, miserable, and lifeless state, who were like to the body of a man, or any other creature, struck dead with lightning from heaven; being destroyed by the breath of the mouth, and brightness of the coming of the son of man, like lightning, just as antichrist will be at the last day:

there will the eagles be gathered together: not particular believers here, or all the saints at the day of judgment; though these may be, as they are, compared to eagles for many things; as their swiftness in flying to Christ, their sagacity and the sharpness of their spiritual sight, soaring on high, and renewing their spiritual strength and youth: but here the Roman armies are intended, whose ensigns were eagles; and the eagle still is, to this day, the ensign of the Roman empire: formerly other creatures, with the eagle, were used for ensigns; but C. Marius, in his second consulship, banished them, and appropriated the eagle only to the legions: nor was it a single eagle that was carried before the army, but every legion had an eagle went before it, made of gold or silver, and carried upon the top of a spear (z): and the sense of this passage is this, that wherever the Jews were, whether at Jerusalem, where the body and carcass of them was, in a most forlorn and desperate condition; or in any other parts of the country, the Roman eagles, or legions, would find them out, and make an utter destruction of them. The Persic version, contrary to others, and to all copies, renders it "vultures". Though this creature is of the same nature with the eagle, with respect to feeding on carcasses: hence the proverb,

"cujus vulturis hoe erit cadaver?''

"what vulture shall have this carcass?" It has a very sharp sight, and quick smell, and will, by both, discern carcasses at almost incredible distance: it will diligently watch a man that is near death; and will follow armies going to battle, as historians relate (a): and it is the eagle which is of the vulture kind, as Aristotle (b) observes, that takes up dead bodies, and carries them to its nest. And Pliny (c) says, it is that sort of eagles only which does so; and some have affirmed that eagles will by no means touch dead carcasses: but this is contrary not only to this passage of Scripture, but to others; particularly to Job_39:30 "her young ones also suck up blood, and where the slain are, there is she": an expression much the same with this in the text, and to which it seems to refer; see also Pro_30:17. Though Chrysostom (d) says, both the passage in Job, and this in Matthew, are to be understood of vultures; he doubtless means the eagles that are of the vulture kind, the Gypaeetos, or vulture eagle. There is one kind of eagles, naturalists say (e), will not feed on flesh, which is called the bird of Jupiter; but, in common, the eagle is represented as a very rapacious creature, seizing, and feeding upon the flesh of hares, fawns, geese, &c. and the rather this creature is designed here; since, of all birds, this is the only one that is not hurt with lightning (f), and so can immediately seize carcasses killed thereby; to which there seems to be an allusion here, by comparing it with the preceding verse: however, the Persic version, though it is literally a proper one, yet from the several things observed, it is not to be overlooked and slighted.

Answer 9

according to the commentary:verse 28 of Matt.the dead carcass( The Jewish Nation, which was morally and judicially dead) there will be eagles. (the Roman armies) called so partly from their strength and fierceness,etc.) in other words,they the Jewish nation, were a dead carcass doomed to be devoured,and the Roman eagles were the commissioned devourers

Answer 10

Ok, if something is dead vultures will find it, no matter how far away they are, to come and eat it. If you are running a whore house, men who want whores will find it somehow, and come to use them. If you flaunt what you have, surely thievs will hear about it and come to steal it. if you throw bait overboard, surely sharks will find it. any sort of bait will draw its corresponding carion eater. So you should keep your mouth shut about whatever sort of bait you have or the ones who want it will surely find you.