Matius 21:3

21:3 If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ ¹  and he will send them at once.”

Matius 24:40-41

24:40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. ²  24:41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; ³  one will be taken and one left.

[21:3]  ¹ sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.

[24:40]  ² sn There is debate among commentators and scholars over the phrase one will be taken and one left about whether one is taken for judgment or for salvation. If the imagery is patterned after the rescue of Noah from the flood, as some suggest, the ones taken are the saved (as Noah was) andthose left behind are judged. The imagery, however, is not directly tied to theidentification of the two groups. Its primary purposein context is topicture the sudden, surprisingseparation of the righteous and the judged (i.e., condemned) at the return of the Son of Man.

[24:41]  ³ tn According to L&N 46.16, this refers to a hand mill normally operated by two women.