36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 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, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 24:36-51 KJV)
No One Knows That Day and Hour
Because the day of Christ’s second coming is unknown, we must prepare by guarding against complacency (Mt 24:37-41). The final day will come suddenly and will divide people. It will be a surprising day, like the flood in Noah’s time (Mt 24:37-39). Noah warned them, but they continued in pleasure until the flood took them away. Likewise, the world at Christ’s return will be unprepared.
This applies to temporal judgments, like Jerusalem’s destruction. Though warnings were given, the people ignored them, as did Babylon before its fall (Isa 47:7-9; Re 18:7). Similarly, the final judgment has been foretold since Enoch’s time, yet many will be unprepared (Heb 6:2). The last days will bring scoffers (2Pe 3:3-4). Just as the old world perished by water, this present world will perish by fire (2Pe 3:6-7).
Christ describes the people of Noah’s day: They were consumed by worldly concerns—eating, drinking, and marrying—ignoring God’s warnings. Neglecting God is more dangerous than occasional acts of wickedness. When they should have been repenting, they continued in pleasure. “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (James 5:1, 5). They were careless—”They knew not until the flood came” (Mt 24:39). Knowledge without faith and action is as useless as ignorance. The flood came despite their disbelief, and judgment is most terrifying to those who mocked it. “So shall the coming of the Son of Man be.”
It will be a separating day (Mt 24:40-41). “Two will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.” This may refer to the gospel’s effect—dividing people based on their response to Christ. During Jerusalem’s destruction, Christians were preserved. Similarly, the final separation will come at Christ’s return. Some will meet the Lord, while others face eternal punishment (Da 12:2). Those overlooked in this world will be honored in the next.
We must be watchful and ready because the time of our Lord’s coming is uncertain (Mt 24:42-44). “We do not know what hour he will come.” We do not know the day of our death (Ge 27:2). We may know our time is short, but not how short. Much less do we know the time of the final judgment. This uncertainty keeps us always prepared.
“If the master of a house knew a thief would come, he would stay awake” (Mt 24:43). Likewise, since Christ’s coming is sudden, we must always watch. The day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. If he finds us unready, we will lose all. Therefore, we must always be prepared, armed with the armor of God.
The result of Christ’s coming will be joyful for the ready but dreadful for the unprepared (Mt 24:45-51). The good servant is faithful and wise, diligently providing for his Master’s household. He perseveres until the Lord comes and is rewarded: “He shall make him ruler over all his goods” (Mt 24:47). Those who faithfully serve Christ now will be glorified.
The evil servant, however, is wicked because he does not believe in Christ’s coming: “My Lord delays his coming.” He abuses fellow servants, indulges in excess, and lives carelessly. His doom is severe: “His Lord will come when he does not expect him” (Mt 24:50). He will be cut off and assigned a place with hypocrites, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Those who live like hypocrites will perish with them. Let us therefore watch and be ready, that we may be found faithful when our Lord comes.