The Second Coming of Christ.

  ^a 36 But of that day and {^b or that} hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in {^a of} heaven, neither the Son, ^b but the Father. ^a only. [These words indicate the profound secrecy in which God has concealed the hour of judgment. It is concealed from all people, that each generation may live in expectation of its fulfillment, and we are to watch for the signs, though we may not fully know the times. They also indicate that either by reason of his assumption of our human nature, or by a voluntary act on his part, the knowledge of Jesus became in some respects circumscribed. They also suggest that it is not only idle, but also presumptuous, for men to prophecy that which the Son of God did not know.]

  37 And as were the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

  38 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 ark,

  39 and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

[See Section 95.]

  38 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 ark,

  39 and they knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall be the coming of the Son of man.

  40 Then shall two man be in the field; one is taken, and one is left:

  41 two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.

[See Section 95.]

  41 two women shall be grinding at the mill; one is taken, and one is left.

  42 Watch therefore: for ye know not on what day your Lord cometh.

  43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.

  44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

[See Section 52.]

  43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.

  44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

  ^c 34 But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare:

  35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.

[The image of a snare is that of a net which suddenly encloses a covey of birds as they feed in seeming safety. The warnings here given are applicable to our appearing before Christ whether he comes to meet us, or we depart from this life to meet him. The result is the same, whether he comes and finds us unprepared or whether we go hence without preparation.]

  35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.

  ^a 45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath set over his household, to give them their food in due season?

  46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

  47 Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.

  48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth;

  49 and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken;

  46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.

  47 Verily I say unto you, that he will set him over all that he hath.

  48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord tarrieth;

  49 and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and shall eat and drink with the drunken;

  50 the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he expecteth not, and in an hour when he knoweth not,

  51 and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

[See Section 52.]

  51 and shall cut him asunder, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.

  ^c 36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. [The revealed presence of God is represented as such an overpowering event that sinners are crushed to the earth by it. Only the godly are able to stand in his presence-- Psalms 1:5 ; Malachi 3:2 .]

  ^b 33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

  34 It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.

[Under the figure of the householder and the thief, Jesus appealed to the sense of danger. Under the figure of the servant he appealed to the sense of duty, and under this figure of the porter he appealed to the sense of loyalty. The porter's desire to honor his lord was to make him so vigilant that he would open the door at once upon his lord's appearing.]

  34 It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.

  35 Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning [The night was then divided into four watches. See Section 52. Jesus may here refer either to the duration of the world or to the life of the individual. He divides either period into four sections, in accordance with the night watches which were so fully associated with watchfulness];

  36; lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

  37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

[This warning message was not for the apostles alone, but for all disciples.]

  37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.