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Matthew 24:38
ESV For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,
NIV For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;
NASB For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
CSB For in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah boarded the ark.
NLT In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.
KJV For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
NKJV For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,

What does Matthew 24:38 mean?

The people in Noah's day (Genesis 6:5–8) were leading their normal lives, day after day. Everyone was doing what people do: eating, drinking, getting married, giving their children in marriage. They did not realize that absolute catastrophe was upon them until it was there. By the time they recognized what was happening, it was far too late. Jesus has just said that His second coming, the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:29), will be similar in that way. "Normal life" will not be paused or extraordinary. Everyone will just be going about their business as if life will go on as normal forever.

Those who were living on earth moments before the flood learned the hard way that God's judgment could bring normal lives to a quick and unexpected end. The same will be true when Christ returns in judgment. He will interrupt a world full of people expecting the next day to unspool just as all the days before it did (2 Peter 3:3–7; James 4:13–14).

Jesus tells His followers not to make this mistake. Rather, they should live in readiness for His return.
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Context Summary
Matthew 24:36–51 contains an explicit warning which has frequently been ignored by false teachers. Nobody will know the precise time of His return to earth. Only God the Father knows when it will happen. Everyone will be caught by surprise at the sudden appearance of those signs, just as the people swept away in Noah's flood. Jesus' followers must live in constant readiness for His return. He uses a parable to illustrate this, describing the choices of two servants while their master was away. One was faithful and wise, the other wicked. When the master returned, the faithful one was rewarded, and the wicked one was cut into pieces.
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Chapter Summary
Jesus makes a dire prediction about the destruction of the temple. Immediately after this, while seated on the Mount of Olives, Jesus responds to a question from the disciples. They ask when judgment will come and what signs will signal His return. Christ describes a season of unimaginable world turmoil and persecution. He points to a specific moment of defilement of the temple, at which point people should run for their lives. Jesus speaks of world-threatening tribulation which will be cut short right before He returns as King and Judge. Since nobody can possibly know when He will return, His followers must live in readiness.
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