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Book of Luke - Chapter 3 - Verse 17

3:17
Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Meaning

In this verse, Jesus uses the analogy of a farmer separating wheat from chaff to illustrate the concept of judgment. The fan in his hand symbolizes the tool used to separate the wheat from the chaff, representing the process of separating the righteous from the wicked. The farmer will thoroughly purge his floor, symbolizing the thoroughness of the judgment that will take place. The wheat, representing the righteous people, will be gathered into his garner, or storage area, symbolizing the kingdom of heaven where they will reside for eternity. On the other hand, the chaff, representing the wicked, will be burned with unquenchable fire, symbolizing the eternal punishment that awaits those who do not follow God's commandments. This verse serves as a warning to ensure that one lives a righteous life and follows God's teachings to avoid the impending judgment and eternal damnation.

Theological Overview

In this verse, Jesus uses the imagery of a farmer separating wheat from chaff as a metaphor for the final judgment. The "fan" symbolizes a winnowing fork used to separate the wheat from the chaff. The wheat represents the righteous who will be gathered into heaven, while the chaff represents the wicked who will face eternal punishment. The act of purging the floor signifies the complete removal of anything undesirable, emphasizing the thoroughness of God's judgment. The phrase "burn with fire unquenchable" emphasizes the severity and eternity of the punishment awaiting the wicked. This verse underscores the importance of living a righteous life and warns against the consequences of rejecting God's salvation. It serves as a reminder that ultimate judgment rests in the hands of God, who sees and judges all.

American Standard Version

whose fan is in his hand, thoroughly to cleanse his threshing-floor, and to gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire.
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