Watching, Waiting, Ready

When you were in school, did you ever have a teacher give you a “pop-quiz?” That is what my teachers called a surprise exam. Suddenly the teacher would announce remove all books and papers from your desk except for a pen or pencil. At that point I would swallow hard, my heart would skip a beat, and I would desperately try to review in my mind what had just been taught. My teacher wanted us to always be ready, she wanted us to not cut corners, to do our homework and learn the material and ask questions. Every now and again she would announce “remove all books and papers from your desk except for something to write with.” She tended to do this when we were distracted, after all, if we were not paying attention it must be because we already know the subject.

At the time I did not appreciate this practice, but eventually, I learned that it was easier to learn the material as the days went by than to try to memorize everything the day before the examination. Also, did you ever meet those students who would ask “will this be on the test/quiz?” If anyone reading this is that student, please never ask that, teachers do not like those students. Every teacher I have met wants the students to learn because they value learning and they want to improve, develop, grow, push the limits of their knowledge, and not because of the score they will receive in an evaluation.

I wonder if there is a spiritual equivalent for those who try to set dates for the second coming of Jesus. I say this because I get the feeling that they want to know when He is coming so they can get their lives in order. To me, it seems like the student who wants to study just before the exam and only what will be on the exam. Like the student who does not seem interested in learning the material but only in passing the exam, I feel like those obsessed with setting a date for the second coming are not really interested in walking with Jesus while here on earth, just want to make sure they avoid hellfire in the day of judgment.

So, how should we approach or relate to the second coming of Jesus?

This is an important question and I believe the best place to begin is the study of Matthew 24-25 where Jesus talks about His second coming and the judgment and the “end of the age.”

You can find the audio of a longer study focusing on the first half of Matthew 24 in “Seeing the Signs,” and also in “How Long Oh Lord?” and in more general terms in “I Will Come Again.” In this post, I will be focusing on the latter part of the chapter, beginning with Matthew 24:36 and going to the end of the chapter.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

I want to start by highlighting the words of Jesus found in Matthew 24:36.

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”
-Matthew 24L36 NKJV

The words of Jesus recorded in Matthew 24-25 and the contents of the entire Bible, including Daniel and Revelation and all the prophetic books, are not meant to set the date of the second coming of Jesus. I have heard someone say that Jesus didn’t say anything about the year or month, but I believe to try to set a year and month would be to miss the point of what Jesus is trying to tell us. I hope that by the end of our study you will agree with me, and if not feel free to leave a comment on this post and I would love to talk with you about this topic.

The Days of Noah

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”
-Matthew 24:37-39 NKJV

I hear many people take this verse and then flip to Genesis 6:5 and read the description of how wicked the people were at that time.

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ”
- Genesis 6:5NKJV

I don’t think this is wrong, it is a valid point. However, I believe that the point Jesus wants to make here is a different one. Jesus does not highlight the wickedness of the people but rather everyday activities that are necessary for life to go on, such as eating, drinking, and marriage. Without these activities, humanity would become extinct. So the activities are no evil in and of themselves. The problem is that the cares of the world caused them to disregard God.

“Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.”
- Matthew 13:22 NKJV

The second coming of Jesus will take by surprise all who are not paying attention and it is not enough to be in the company of a spiritual person. Salvation is about your personal relationship with God. It is good to work with, live with, and be around people who love God but their salvation is not transferred to you due to your proximity to them.

Salvation is a personal matter

“Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
- Matthew 24:40-42 NKJV

Some interpret this passage as a description of a secret rapture. I believe that the emphasis is on the individuality of salvation. Two people can be co-workers and one is saved and the other lost. I believe that the words of Jesus earlier in this same chapter help clarify the issue regarding a secret rapture.

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
- Matthew 24:30-31 NKJV

The second coming of Jesus is described as a glorious event and then, in that context of power and glory, His angels go and gather His elect. Therefore I believe that the vital point Jesus is making in mentioning two people working together and one being saved and the other lost is about salvation being a personal matter. I must invite Jesus into my heart and accept His salvation. I must love Him, and not merely be near someone who does.

Watch therefore,

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
- Matthew 24:42-44 NKJV (bold mine)

The main point of Jesus’ message is that we must watch, exactly because we do not know the hour. We are not encouraged to study and do obscure math and set a date, rather we are told to watch, to be ready! Jesus drives the point home with a story about a homeowner who must watch his home because a thief does not announce his coming, so every night he must prepare, lock the doors and windows, set the alarm system, buy a dog, a parrot, whatever will help protect the home from the thief who will try to break in when he is least expected.

Remember what I said about the pop-quiz? The only way to prepare for a surprise quiz is to always be ready. If you don’t know when Jesus will come, you must be ready every day.

In case you are still not sure that this is the main point Jesus is making, He tells another parable.

Faithful and Wise Servant

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.
- Matthew 24:45-47 NKJV

The story begins with the question “Who then is a faithful and wise servant…?” It is worth noting that the question is not answered at the time of asking, but rather over time according to the actions of the servant. The actions of the servant reveal his character. Anyone can say “I am the faithful and wise servant” but what do your actions reveal?

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
- Matthew 7:15-20 NKJV (bold mine)

Religiosity can be confused for spirituality. Someone can be very disciplined and used religion as a means for personal gain, power, influence, etc. But spirituality is about your personal connection with God. True religion helps you connect with God, but not all practices that are part of various religions are conducive for true spiritual growth and this is something we must always be aware of.

Here we see that true relationship with Jesus goes beyond just claiming to be a true and faithful servant, but must be lived out. The good and faithful servant is the person who does what the Master asked her to do. It is also worth noting that the reward of the wise and faithful servant is a greater degree of responsibility.

When Jesus comes again will He find you providing for the needs of those under your charge? (Matthew 24:45b) This is not a task that begins once you know the time of the Master’s return, but rather it is a task that begins when the master appoints you. In case you are wondering when or if Jesus has appointed you, He has, the moment you accepted Him as Lord and Savior.

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV (bold mine)

(more on discipleship here and here)

“For leaders and followers alike, the best possible preparation for Christ’s return is steadfast obedience to his revealed will.”
- Chamblin, J. K. (2010). Matthew: A Mentor Commentary (p. 1219). Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor.

Here are some other things Jesus has to say about our mission.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
- Matthew 6:33-34 NKJV (bold mine)

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
- Matthew 22:37-40 NKJV (bold mine)

We are called not only to love our Master but also our fellow servants. Jesus says “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” (Matthew 24:46) and this reminds us of the beatitudes recorded in Matthew 5:3-12. Only when Jesus comes again in the clouds of heaven will these blessings be fully experienced as a present reality.

The Evil Servant

But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 24:48-51 NKJV

By contrast, the evil servant decides to behave as if the master will not return any time soon. The evil servant does not care about others, only about himself. His only motivation to behave well is the coming of the master, and since the master is delaying the servant reveals his true character.

It is worth noting that the evil servant’s heart reasons that his master’s arrival will be later than expected. It is out of his heart that the wicked behavior originates. Jesus addresses this in Matthew 15:10-20 where he clarifies that what is in the heart is much more important than whether or not someone washes their hands ceremonially.

The evil servant disregards the will of his master, he also disregards the wellbeing of his fellow servants. This servant behaves not as a servant but as a master, doing his own will instead of the will of the master. This servant fails to follow the example Jesus left us.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV

1 Peter clarifies this nicely in the following words.

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
- 1 Peter 5:1-4 NKJV

The evil servant is self-indulgent, he lacks self-control, he neglects his duty.

Do you want to have a positive impact on the world? Take on more responsibility.

The behavior of the evil servant reminds us of the behavior described in Matthew 24:38 of those in Noah’s day who went on with life as if no flood was coming, despite being warned by Noah and witnessing the building of the ark. The evil servant and the lost in Noah’s day were so engrossed in their pursuits they ignored the revealed will of God.

Matthew 24:46 emphasizes the faithful behavior of the servant. In that story, the time of the coming of the master is of little importance since the servant will be found doing what she was asked to do. By contrast in Matthew 24:48-51, the time of the return of the master is highlighted “the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,” (Matthew 24:50 NKJV bold mine). In the case of the evil servant, the return of the master is a surprise! He was not expecting the master to return and was caught by surprise.

A portion with the hypocrites

“…appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 24:51b NKJV

The evil servant did not have a real relationship with the master. There was no love, no willingness to serve, only selfish interest. The evil servant was all about appearances, he was fake.

Jesus makes it clear that there are false followers, fake disciples, Christians who are not genuine.

Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:

‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
Matthew 15:7-8 NKJV

In Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 Jesus tells the parable of the tares. And on Matthew 13:47-50 He tells the parable of the dragnet which has a similar lesson.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered some of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 13:47-50 NKJV (bold mine)

At the end of time, Jesus will separate the wicked from the just. Ultimately the date of His coming matters less than how you live your life. If you seek to do His will daily, you do not have to concern yourself with when He will return. Especially since the longest period you can wait is one lifetime and we have no idea how long we will live, so let us live a meaningful life, one of service.

This is the first post on a new series, check back here for further studies on this topic.

For now, seek God with all your heart and minister to those He sends your way. He has called you and He will equip you. As we await His return, let us not tire of doing good, of living a life that brings honor and glory to His name.