Matthew 24:36-51

Matthew 24:36-51

Jesus has been separating and answering two questions that the disciples thought were one question. The destruction of the Temple and the coming of the end of time were not coinciding events. Jesus separates them by contrasting them. The destruction of the Temple was preceded by signs or warnings and was predictable. In contrast the coming of the Christ at the end of the age is unpredictable and there will be no signs in the sense of prior warning. Without the context of verses 1-3 this chapter is often misconstrued.

In view of verse 36 our understanding of eschatology needs to find its shape. Even the Son didn’t know “when” (and by the way neither do the would-be, “End Time”, for profit prophets). Here is the mark of a Biblically sound eschatology; it is always ethical in nature, not chronological. The more we can remove “when” from our meditations and replace it with “how to live and behave” the better off we are. The “days of Noah” have been interpreted, generally, 180 degrees wrong. That was an age of great evil, but this passage is talking about daily life and routines. In that day people were planning short-term “eating and drinking” and long-term, “marrying and given in marriage”. We look at our days and imagine that the immorality is worse than ever before and that these days are or are like the days of Noah and this is a sign that means Jesus is about to come back. That completely misses the point Jesus is making. The point of the “days of Noah” and the subsequent parable is the un-predictableness of the coming and the priority of vigilant righteousness.

People at their work, the thief, and the sudden return of the household master all point to the unexpected and un-predictable nature of someone’s return. There is NO sign given that the return is about to occur. The correct response to the unpredictability of the coming of the Lord is daily, faithful service and ethical living. Not trying to figure out “when” it will happen. We ought to note that the warning of verses 48-51 is not directed to the world, but for Christians who have lost their ethical way.

“Lord, protect me from a fascination of what cannot be known and let me focus on You and Your will, which I can know. AMEN"