Matthew 24:38

ἦσαν with the following participles is not an instance of the periphrastic imperfect. It rather stands by itself, and the particles are descriptive predicates. Some charge these with sinister meaning: τρώγοντες, hinting at gluttony because often used of beasts, though also, in the sense of eating, of men (John 6:58; John 13:18). So Beza and Grotius; γαμοῦντες καὶ γαμίζοντες, cuphemistically pointing at sexual licences on both sides (Wolf, “omnia vagis libidinibus miscebantur”). The idea rather seems to be that all things went on as usual, as if nothing were going to happen. In the N. T., and especially in the fourth Gospel, τρώγω seems to be used simply as a synonym for ἐσθίω. In like manner all distinction between ἐσθίειν and χορτάζεσθαι (= to feed cattle in classics) has disappeared. Vide Mark 7:27-28, and consult Kennedy, Sources of New Testament Greek, p. 82.