Verses 40-41 contain two illustrations which show that life will continue as usual until the time when the Son of man comes. In the words of one scholar, the emphasis is upon “the sharp cleavage caused by the coming of the Son of Man, rather than the unexpectedness of the event.”

The expression two men does not refer to two specific men but is really just an example of how things will be. Translators may say “At that time, if there are two men working in the field, one will be taken and one will be left.”

One is taken and one is left may require restructuring in the active: “The Son of man will take one of them away, but he will leave the other” or “… one of them with him, but he will not take the other one.”

The use of the present tense (is taken … is left) in verses 40-41 reflects narrative style and simultaneously emphasizes the absolute certainty of Jesus’ words. Luke (17.34-35) prefers the future, as in fact do most translations. See the examples in the discussion of these verses.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .