Matthew 24:32-51
The Parable of the Fig Tree
32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
No One Knows the Day or Hour
36 "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 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, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 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. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant
45 "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 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, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Parables describing the end of time were spoken by Jesus after He had just finished talking about enduring the pressing days of tribulation until His subsequently imminent return. The first was of a dig tree that softens from the cold of dormant winter to begin breaking forth with leaves. This was a picture of the end of time coming out of a long dormant period and growing very near at last, almost immediately after the tribulation and false signs and wonders of those opposed to Christ who work to keep people from hearing the gospel of truth and repenting in faith to be delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). The door will stand before these people according to the unchangeable word of Jesus at that time as certainly as the heavens and earth will pass away at that same absolute sovereign word. He went on to clearly state that the exact time of His return to judge the world in righteousness (Psalm 9:8, 96:13, Acts 17:31) will not be known or reasoned out by any man no matter how hard they try or assume they can tell us. Only God the Father knows the time He will send His Son back for the gathering of His people and judgment on those rejecting Him. It will be so unlikely a time that most of the world will do as in the time of Noah (Genesis 6:5-7) in disbelief and disobedience to His word warning them of imminent judgment, this time eternal. These will also be indulging their sensual appetites and mocking Christ and the gospel of the only hope of deliverance when they are overtaken in that day. Those who know Him and have trusted His good word will be taken to Himself but the others will be left to the judgment of unending condemnation. Yes, the picture of the man who had his house robbed because he was not prepared every day before is a good two line parable of the need to be constantly ready by having believed the gospel and not put it off until he was ready to die and face God on his terms and in his time which will run out unexpectedly. The final parable is about a faithful servant and an evil one. This is similar to the man about to be robbed in that preparation was the key. The good servant will be taking care of the master’s house as we who are in Christ are charged with the spiritual wellbeing of His church. He will be found doing the Master’s will in this way when He returns unexpectedly and be well rewarded. However, the wicked servant will take advantage of others and mistreat those who are the Master’s for his own selfish gain (Jude 1:16) and will suffer the consequences when He returns. The Lord will judge such and condemn them to a place of eternal suffering where they will grind their teeth in agony (Psalm 112:10, Matthew 25:30) and regret for having done those things and ignoring the call to actively believe God and turn to Him from their sin against Him as they receive Jesus Christ (John 1:12) through His gospel of hope. These parables of the end of time then are a stern warning and a heartfelt call to repent and receive Christ Jesus by obediently trusting His word.
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