“Know
this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.”
Matthew 24:43-44
Matthew 24 [37.] “As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.
Matthew 24 [45.] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has.”
Meaning:
Here, Jesus compares His return to that of a thief in the night. Just as a homeowner would remain vigilant and prepared to protect his house if he knew a thief was coming, so too should we be spiritually vigilant and prepared for the unexpected return of Jesus Christ.
The imagery of a thief in the night emphasizes the sudden and unexpected nature of Christ's return. Just as a thief comes when least expected, so too will the Son of Man come at an unexpected hour. This serves as a reminder that we must always be spiritually prepared and watchful, living in a state of readiness for His return.
Jesus' exhortation to "be ready" underscores the importance of spiritual preparedness. This involves living a life of faithfulness and obedience to God, actively seeking to grow in our relationship with Him and to fulfill His purposes for our lives. It means being alert to the signs of the times and discerning the will of God in our daily lives.
In Matthew 24:42, just before these verses, Jesus says, "Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes". This reinforces the call to spiritual vigilance and readiness for His return. We are not to be caught off guard or unprepared, but rather to live each day with a sense of urgency and anticipation of His coming.
The message of Matthew 24:43-44 is particularly relevant in today's world, where distractions and cares of this life can easily divert our attention away from the things of God. It serves as a reminder to prioritize our relationship with God and to remain focused on His kingdom purposes in all that we do.
Furthermore, these verses speak to the certainty of Christ's return. While we may not know the exact timing of His coming, we can be assured that it will happen. As 2 Peter 3:10 tells us, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up" (2 Peter 3:10).
In conclusion, Matthew 24:43-44 serves as a call to spiritual vigilance and readiness for the return of Jesus Christ. It reminds us of the importance of living each day with a sense of urgency and anticipation of His coming, so that we may be found faithful when He returns.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible