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Matthew 24:36-51 (No one knows the day)

INTRODUCTION: Our message series is called Jesus in Jerusalem, and we are currently in a section of Scripture that focuses on the return of Christ. Last week we looked at the signs of Christ’s return. Today we look at what it means to be ready for Christ’s return. (Read Matthew 24:42-44 and pray.)

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How many of you have had the check engine light come on in your vehicle? How many of you have ignored the check engine light when it came on in your vehicle? When that light first comes on, we think, “Oh, I better get that checked out.” But then a couple days go by, and the car is still running, and then the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months. And after awhile we begin to ignore that little light, even though it faces us every time we turn on the car.

We can be like that with the signs of Christ’s return. When we first hear about the signs of Christ’s return, we say to ourselves, “Christ is coming back, I better get ready.” But then the days turn into weeks and the weeks turn into months, and after a while we begin to ignore the signs that are all around us.

But here’s the truth of the matter. Jesus could come back at any time, and therefore we need to get ready now. It’s like that check engine light. Assuming the light isn’t faulty, you really should get your car checked out right away. Otherwise, you’re just riding on borrowed time. Well, when it comes to this thing called life, we are all riding on borrowed time. The signs of Christ’s return are all around us. Will you ignore them, or will you be ready when Christ returns?

That’s what today’s passage is all about. Jesus has just taught his disciples the signs of his return. And now he teaches us how we need to be ready for his return.

I. Not everyone will be ready (36-41)

The first thing Jesus tells us is that not everyone will be ready when he comes. We learned last week that no one will miss out on Christ’s return. His return will be visible to all. However, that doesn’t mean everyone will be ready.

   A. No one knows exactly when Christ will return (36)

One reason not everyone will be ready for his return is because no one knows exactly when it will happen. Jesus tells us in verse 36:

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36)

This teaching tells us we need to be careful not to over-interpret the signs. The signs are meant to point us to Christ’s return and prepare us for Christ’s return. However, they are not meant to pinpoint the exact time of Christ’s return. Jesus says no one knows the day or the hour, not the angels, nor the Son, but only the Father.

People often wonder how Jesus could not know the time of his own return. God knows everything, and Jesus is God, so how could he not know? This is part of the mystery of Jesus becoming a human being. When Jesus became a man, he did not cease to be God, but in order to become truly human he subjected himself to the same limitations that we experience as human beings.

For example, God is omnipresent – he is everywhere! But Jesus in his humanity limited himself to a human body. In the same way, God is omniscient – he knows everything! But Jesus in his humanity chose to limit his knowledge. He chose to learn and grow just like all human beings learn and grow, and he chose to limit his knowledge of certain things, such as the exact timing of his return.

People sometimes wonder if this knowledge was only limited while Jesus was on earth. Now that Jesus has risen from the dead and ascended to heaven, does he know when he will return? I think so. But either way, we don’t know when Jesus will return, and that is the main point Jesus is making here. If even Jesus on earth didn’t know when he would return, how can we possibly know? Therefore, we must be ready at all times.

There are some additional applications for us from this verse. Don’t set dates for Christ’s return, and don’t believe those who do! Throughout history many people have set times and dates for Christ’s return, and they all have one thing in common. They were all wrong! Of course, they were wrong. Jesus told us in advance they would be wrong! No one knows exactly when Christ will return.

   B. People were not ready for the flood in Noah’s day (37-39)

Next Jesus compares the present situation to the days of Noah. Look at verses 37-39:

“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 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; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39)

People were not ready for the flood in Noah’s day. They must have known something was going on because Noah was building the ark. But no one knew the exact time of the flood until the rains started falling. They kept living their lives as though nothing would ever change. And so, when the flood finally came, it was too late for them.

You’ve heard the phrase history repeats itself. Jesus says when he returns it will be similar to the days of Noah. The signs of Christ’s return will be all around them, but people will keep living their lives as though nothing will ever change. And so, when Christ comes, it will be too late for them. Just like people were not ready for the flood, they will not be ready for Christ’s return.

   C. Some will be taken, others left (40-41)

Jesus goes on to say that some will be taken and others left. Look at verses 40-41:

“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” (Matthew 24:40-41)

There are actually two different interpretations of the word “taken” in these verses. In the first interpretation, those who are taken are the ones who are ready. They are taken to be with Jesus and spared the judgment coming upon the earth. This interpretation connects the “taking” in verses 40-41 with the “gathering” of the elect back in verse 31. In the second interpretation, those who are taken are those who are not ready, and they are taken away in judgment, similar to those who were taken by the flood in verse 39.

I believe the first interpretation is correct. The word translated “taken” here in verses 40-41 is a completely different word from the word “taken” in verse 39. The word in verse 39 (airo) carries the sense of being “taken away,” while the word here in verses 40-41 (paralambano) carries the idea of being “welcomed or received.” This connects better with the gathering of the elect than being taken away in judgment as in verse 39. We are not taken away in judgment. We are taken away from judgment. We are taken away from the judgments about to be poured out on the earth, and we are welcomed or received into the Lord’s presence as we meet him in the air (similar to what we find in 1 Thessalonians 4:17).

But either way, the point is the same. When Christ returns, God will make a distinction between those who are ready and those who are not. And Jesus shows us how personal this will be. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be sitting across from each other grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

The singer Larry Norman wrote a popular song about these verses called, “I Wish We’d All Been Ready.” He paraphrases the verses this way: “A man and wife asleep in bed, she hears a noise and turns her head, he’s gone. I wish we’d all been ready. Two men walking up a hill, one disappears, and one’s left standing still, I wish we’d all been ready. There’s no time to change your mind, the Son has come, and you’ve been left behind.”

Each of us will stand alone before God in that day. It won’t matter who your parents were, who you were married to or what church you attended. The only question that will matter is do you know Jesus? That’s the first teaching from our passage this morning: not everyone will be ready when Christ returns.

II. Make sure that you are ready (42-44)

The next teaching in our passage follows logically from the first. Make sure that you are ready! Jesus makes things personal here, and he applies the prior teaching to each and everyone of us. If not everyone will be ready when Christ returns, then make sure that you are ready! And there are basically two things he tells us here.

   A. Keep watch – because you do not know when (42)

First, keep watch, because you do not know when! Look at verse 42:

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” (Matthew 24:42)

As we mentioned earlier, the signs Jesus gave concerning his return are general enough and progressive enough that Jesus could come back at anytime. So, Jesus says keep watch! Keep watch, because you do not know when Christ will return.

When I was a young boy, I used to watch for my Dad to come home from work. I never knew exactly when he was coming home, but I knew the signs. When the sun went down and it started to get dark and when supper was cooking on the stove, I knew the time was near. So, I positioned myself by the kitchen window and looked down the street just waiting for his car to appear. I would get excited with every set of headlights approaching, until finally his car appeared and turned into the driveway. I knew the signs said he would be home soon. But I didn’t know the exact time, so I kept watch by the window.

How often do you think about Christ’s return? The signs say his return is near. Are you keeping watch? When you see the clouds in the sky, do you long for his return? Do you wake up each morning and say, “It could be today!” That’s the first thing Jesus tells us in this section. Keep watch, because you do not know when Christ will return.

   B. Be prepared – because Jesus will come like a thief in the night (43-44)

And then Jesus says be prepared, because he will come like a thief in the night. Look at verses 43-44:

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:43-44)

A thief in the night is something completely unexpected. If you knew when the thief was coming, if he called you up and made an appointment, or you somehow overheard his plans in advance, you would not be caught sleeping, would you? You would be prepared. You would be armed or have the police present, and the thief would never make it into your house.

In the same way, you need to be prepared for Christ’s return, because he will come at a time when you do not expect him. Jesus says not everyone will be ready for his return. So, make sure that you are ready. Keep watch and be prepared.

III. The parable of the two servants (45-51)

Finally, Jesus closes out our passage with the parable of the two servants.

   A. The faithful and wise servant (45-47)

First, he speaks of the faithful and wise servant. We see this in verses 45-47:

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” (Matthew 24:45-47)

There are two things that distinguish the faithful and wise servant.

      1) He is found doing his duties when the master returns

First of all, he is found doing his duties when the master returns. In this case the servant was put in charge of the other servants in the household, specifically to make sure that everyone received their food at the proper time. Jesus says, “It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.” So, first he is found doing his duties when the master returns.

      2) He is rewarded greatly

And then, secondly, he is rewarded greatly. Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, he (the master) will put him in charge of all his possessions.”

   B. The wicked servant (48-51)

Then Jesus goes on to describe the wicked servant in verses 48-51:

“But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 24:48-51)

As with the faithful and wise servant, there are two things that distinguish the wicked servant.

      1) He is found neglecting his duties when the master returns

First of all, unlike the faithful and wise servant, the wicked servant is found neglecting his duties when the master returns. He notices the master hasn’t returned right away, and so he lets his duties go. Even worse, he begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with drunkards.

But you see, that’s the problem. Once you stop watching, the master’s return will always catch you off guard. The wicked servant is found neglecting his duties when the master returns.

      2) He is punished along with the hypocrites

And then secondly, unlike the faithful and wise servant who is rewarded greatly, the wicked servant is punished along with the hypocrites. Being cut into pieces is a rather gruesome image of punishment, and the weeping and gnashing of teeth are an image of the painful guilt and regret that will plague those who were not ready Christ returns.

Although we’ve called this the parable of the two servants, notice that there is really only one servant in the parable. Did you catch that? There is only one servant, and that servant is either faithful or unfaithful. In other words, you are the servant. The master has gone away for a while. How will you conduct yourself while he is gone? What will the master find you doing when he returns? Will you be ready for his return or not?

APPLICATION: How can you be ready for Christ’s return?

In closing let me share with you three ways that you can make yourself ready for Christ’s return.

   1) Know Jesus (trust him as your Savior)

First of all, know Jesus. This is the most important one. You need to know Jesus and trust him as your Savior. Now is the time of grace and opportunity when the gospel call goes forth and all who put their faith in Jesus are saved. When Jesus returns, that window will close. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Put your trust in Jesus today. That’s the first thing you need to do to make yourself ready. Know Jesus.

   2) Know the signs (keep watch and be prepared)

And then secondly, know the signs. We looked at the signs of Christ’s return last week: false teachers, wars and rumor of wars, natural disasters such as earthquakes, famines and pandemics. The check engine light is blinking. The signs are all around you, so keep watch! Watch for Christ’s return every day. Know the signs, keep watch, and be prepared.

   3) Live obediently (be faithful and wise servants of Christ)

And then thirdly, live obediently. We need to live every day as though Jesus is returning today. Because Jesus could return today. Jesus could come back at any time, and so we need to live obediently as faithful and wise servants of Christ.

As we said earlier, we are all riding on borrowed time. Don’t be like the people in Noah’s day who carried on their lives as though nothing would ever change. Don’t be like the person who was caught unexpectedly by the thief in the night. Don’t wait until it’s too late. 1) Know Jesus. 2) Know the signs. 3) Live obediently. Be faithful and wise servants of Jesus Christ.

© Ray Fowler

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