The Time of The Lord’s Return
September 24, 2022
Commentary
When the fig tree buds and the leaves begin to sprout you know that summer is near (v. 32). The same is true with the events that begin to happen here; you can know that the Lord’s return is very near (vv. 33-34). No one knows the day or hour when the heavens and earth will disappear (vv. 35-36). Only God knows this. Jesus used Noah to picture to us that men will not know the day of His return (vv. 37-39). Noah and his family are pictured as God preserving Israel during the time of the tribulation; however we can apply the Word to our own hearts. We do not know when our Lord will return, therefore we must be watchful and faithful. In Noah’s day the people did not listen to Noah’s message but occupied themselves with eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage.
It is dangerous to get so absorbed in this life that we forget Jesus is coming. They lost God’s best by living just for the here and now. It will be as a thief knowing not the hour (vv. 40-44). Despite many attempts over the centuries to pinpoint the time of Jesus return, God’s Word stands; He will come “at an hour you do not expect” (v. 44). We are to remain in a perpetual state of readiness. We are to be prepared for his coming and watching for His return. Just like the master in Jesus’ story entrusted all his possessions to his servant so God has entrusted His servants today to carry out His will. He will reward those who have been faithful and responsible in doing so (vv. 45-47). If a servant fails to carry out His will by trying to impress other servants with partying and getting drunk, then we see he will be judged severely (vv. 48-51). He will be punished and thrown out with the ones who only pretended to serve the master. “Their they will cry and grit their teeth in pain” (v. 51).
Application
Christ could come today! That is an exciting thought! It is a great responsibility to be entrusted to carry out His work in the time He has give to me. Can I be counted as one who is faithful to His business? Whatsoever a man soweth that shall He also reap.
Matthew 24:32– 51 (NET)
32 “Learn this parable from the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also you, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
36 “But as for that day and hour no one knows it—not even the angels in heaven —except the Father alone. 37 For just like the days of Noah were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be. 38 For in those days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark. 39 And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 There will be two women grinding grain with a mill; one will be taken and one left.
42 “Therefore stay alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise slave, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the other slaves their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work when he comes. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But if that evil slave should say to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he begins to beat his fellow slaves and to eat and drink with drunkards, 50 then the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not foresee, 51 and will cut him in two, and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.