36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 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, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24: 36-51 ESV
Matthew 24: 36-51
Even John says at the end of Revelation, “Come, Lord Jesus; come, Lord Jesus; come, Lord Jesus.” He’s waiting for the Lord to come, and to gather Him. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1: “eager for the Lord’s coming.” James in 5 - chapter 5, verses 7 and 8: “The coming of the Lord is near.” First Peter 4:7: “We – we’re waiting for the Lord.” But the warnings specifically in this passage are an answer to the question about the final generation. Now, let’s go back to verse 32 for a minute: “Of that day, or hour, no one knows” – it’ll not be revealed to anyone.
That hasn’t stopped people from making ridiculous predictions. Why do people do that? They started in 90 A.D. with Clement the First, and then in the second century there was a group called The Montanists, who’d made a prediction of the coming of the Lord. Then there was – oh, Joseph Smith of Mormon fame, who predicted the Lord would come in 1832, or 1890, or maybe now, 1891. Then there were the Millerites, who said the Lord is coming March 21st, 1843. Oh, no; October 22, 1844. That didn’t work out either.
Then there’s Ellen G. White, Seventh Day Adventism, who said the Lord would come in 1850; hm, guess not; no, 1856. Then there are the Jehovah’s Witnesses who said the Lord would come in 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, ‘41, ‘75, 1990, and they’re still making dates; so, if you’re in that movement, get out. They don’t know - no one knows - and that is a dead giveaway of a false system. They don’t know. The angels don’t even know, and they’re hanging around the throne. So, the angels don’t know, but “we in our group, we know.”
Oh, really – wow. Then He says, “Not even the Son knows” - the Lord voluntarily restricted the use of His attributes - that’s the kenosis in Philippians 2. He laid aside His divine prerogatives - not His divine nature or His attributes, but the prerogative to use them - to the will of the Father, and did only what the Father told Him to do, showed Him to do, and revealed to Him. “All things” - John 15:15 - “I have heard from My father I made known to you” - what the Father told him, He knew and revealed. - J Mac
No one knows - Many people, as J Mac notes above have pretended to know, and they have proven themselves to be false prophets as well. What Christ makes abundantly clear here is that we need to be prepared, always on the watch, and always about our Master's business. We know it's coming, that Christ will be back, but we don't know the hour or the day.
For as were the days of Noah - In Noah's day they had a prophet of God, Noah, and he preached repentance, warned of a flood, made a visible sign of his obedience to God, his belief that God was going to destroy everything by water. He built an ark, and for 120 years the people watched him build this magnificent piece of work, a massive structure which he took great pains to seal off from the outside waters.
…4For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; 5if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight; 6if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;… 2 Peter 2: 4-6
In those days before the flood they were eating and drinking - What was the people's response to Noah's preaching and this ark? They went about normal life, and there is nothing wrong with eating and drinking, you starve or dehydrate when you don't. There is nothing wrong with marriage, that union forms the basis for all society, that's what continues the species and trains the next generation. The issue is that they were unmoved by the warning, they didn't repent, they didn't believe they needed to. These people in Noah's time just went about everyday life and the longer it went on the more they thought it would.
…3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “ Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.” 5But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,… 2 Peter 3: 3-5
They were unaware until the flood came - They were oblivious, didn't believe it was coming, maybe some thought it wasn't coming in their time, but when it came it was too late, they were swept away.
One will be taken and one left - The context of this is the Day of the Lord, judgment, as those on the earth were also judged at the time of the flood. Noah's family was held safe in the ark and brought into a new world, washed of everyone and everything except those that survived in the ark.
Criswell - The context of the passage would seem to indicate that the judgment of Christ's return and not the rapture of the church is in view. The "one taken" (Mt 24:40, 41) is taken in judgment; the one remaining is blessed to enter with the Lord into kingdom blessings. Indeed, the rapture of believers (1Th 4:13-18), it would seem, is not discussed in Matthew 24-25.
Noah was one left. Why? Was it because Noah was so good? Of course not. Moses records "Then the LORD said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household; for you alone I have seen to be righteous before Me in this time." (Ge 7:1, Heb 11:7-note = This passage clearly shows how genuine faith is not static but is dynamic and results in obedience. Obedience does not save anyone but it demonstrates that one is genuinely saved. Beloved, if you say you are saved, that you walked an aisle 30 years ago but you having living like the devil ever since, then there is a great likelihood that you will not be on the ark with Noah. You need to repent and confess Jesus as Lord and be born again by His Spirit! Ro 10:9, 10-note, John 3:3-5, Titus 3:5, 6-note, Eph 2:8,9-note) - Precept Austin
Two women will be grinding at the mill - So close are these relationships, colleagues, mothers, daughters, yet one is granted repentance, believes unto salvation, and the other is taken in judgment.
Had known what part of the night the thief was coming - A thief doesn't come announced, he wants the element of surprise, for you to be away or asleep. The second coming of Christ is like the coming of the thief because He doesn't tell us what day nor what hour of that day. The head of many a house will still be guilty though, for you would have stayed awake if you knew a thief was coming. Now here's the thing, Christ is coming back, and all these parables following should tell you that men don't naturally prepare for this, they all put it far off, think lightly of it. I know people, and was in fact one of those people, that said, well, when Christ comes I will side with Him, as if it was going to be an arrival like that. Only Noah and his family were able to enter the ark, the rest of humanity drowned. I know people who say once they have sewed their oats, experienced enough of the pleasures of sin, then they will turn around, then they will confess Christ. I know some that hold a lot on a prayer they said when they were young, and they think that is bank against a life they now lead serving evil, rejecting God's word. I have a tattoo that reminds me that I need to repent if ever I see the two witnesses of the end time lying dead in the streets. I'm sorry, but that's not preparing, neither is saying I don't believe in God so I don't believe what He says. Many are going to be more worried about getting married than they will be the return of Christ, and so they will marry and not worry about being equally yoked. Every head of the household is the priest to that home, whether one of righteousness pointing to Christ, or of death, pointing to the cares of this world, and trusting in their wealth or worldly wisdom. How prepared are you, and how have you prepared those in your household? Do they know that Christ is coming back to judge the world?
…6These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. 7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.… Deuteronomy 6: 6-8
Who then is the faithful and wise servant - Which of my workers can I depend on in this? Who has proven deserving of such trust?
To give them their food at their proper time - One thing I learned as I repented, and it is humbling and so necessary, but my life is not my own, I didn't make it. My children are on loan to me from God as well as my wife, they belong to Him, and it is my duty that I should instruct them in the way of truth, remind them daily of the gospel, looking forward always to Christ's imminent return. It is the same for pastors, but it must start at home, and then continue with wise and prudent men who will constantly take Christ's sheep into deeper and richer pastures, feeding them the truth of His word. I neither taught my children when they were young, nor did I take them very often to places of sound teaching. I was too preoccupied with the cares of this world, with keeping myself entertained, earning the respect of men. This was so very necessary to repent of, a very poor stewardship of this time.
1So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 3I care very little, however, if I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself.… 1 Corinthians 4: 1-3
11that agrees with the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted. 12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, that He considered me faithful and appointed me to service. 13I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.… 1 Timothy 1: 11-13
1You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2And the things that you have heard me say among many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be qualified to teach others as well. 3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.… 2 Timothy 2: 1-3
My Master is delayed - Many have fallen off this way, many have used the church even to pad their pockets, make a heaven here after the form of their evil hearts, yet when the true Master comes He will not know them as His. They will be put with the hypocrites.
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth - There are many hypocrites today who go about calling themselves Christians and yet say there is no hell. Now this they think is good on their part, but Christian means follower of Christ, and this is their hypocrisy, that Christ spoke more of hell than He did of heaven, yet you say there is no such doctrine. You claim to follow the One Whose teachings you don't follow. You are a Christian in name only, but you are deceived and not born again.
Spurgeon - He was a servant, you see; so this is a warning, not to the outside world, but to you who are inside the nominal church, and who profess to be servants of God; and it is especially a warning to those of us who are ministers of the gospel. Oh, that we may never begin to smite our fellow servants! Of course, we shall not do it with the fist, but we may do it with the tongue; and may we never be numbered with those who are living for the delights of the flesh! If so, see what must come to us.
Ivor Powell agrees writing that "Such a warning coming from the lips of Jesus should be sufficient to make every professing Christian examine the quality of his faith and conduct. Apathy is a cancer which destroys the soul." - Precept Austin
…22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’ 24Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.… Matthew 7: 22-24
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