Matthew 24:42

42 Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.

Matthew 24:42 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 24:42

Watch therefore
Since the time of this desolation is so uncertain, and since it will come upon the Jews unawares, and some wilt escape, whilst others perish; for the words are plainly an inference from what precedes, and clearly relate to things going before, and are not a transition to a new subject: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come;
to avenge himself of the unbelieving Jews, and fulfil what he in person, and by his apostles, had predicted and warned them of: though I will not deny, but that what follows may be much better accommodated and applied to the second coming of Christ, and the last judgment, and the behaviour of men with regard to both, than anything said before; and it may be our Lord's intention, to lead his disciples gradually, and as it were imperceptibly, to the last scene of things on earth, to make way for the parables and description of the future judgment, in the next chapter; still keeping in view, and having reference to, the subject he had been so long upon.

Matthew 24:42 In-Context

40 At that time two men will be working in a field: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind.
41 Two women will be at a mill grinding meal: one will be taken away, the other will be left behind.
42 Watch out, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come.
43 If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house.
44 So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.