Matthew 24:36
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
But about that day or hour
This phrase introduces a specific time of significant eschatological importance. The Greek word for "day" (ἡμέρα, hēmera) and "hour" (ὥρα, hōra) emphasize the precision and certainty of the event, yet its timing remains unknown. In the context of Matthew 24, Jesus is speaking about His second coming and the end of the age. Historically, this reflects the Jewish understanding of time, where certain events are divinely appointed but not revealed to humanity. This phrase serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of God's timing, urging believers to live in a state of readiness and spiritual vigilance.

no one knows
The Greek word for "knows" (οἶδεν, oiden) implies complete understanding or awareness. This statement underscores the mystery surrounding the timing of the end times. It is a humbling reminder that human knowledge is limited and that divine mysteries are beyond our comprehension. This phrase calls Christians to trust in God's sovereignty and wisdom, acknowledging that some aspects of His divine plan are intentionally concealed from us.

not even the angels in heaven
Angels, as messengers and servants of God, are often depicted in Scripture as possessing great knowledge and power. However, this phrase highlights their limitations. The Greek word for "angels" (ἄγγελοι, angeloi) signifies their role as divine messengers. Despite their proximity to God, even they are not privy to the timing of the end. This serves to emphasize the exclusivity of God's knowledge and the hierarchy within the divine order, where certain knowledge is reserved for God alone.

nor the Son
This phrase has been the subject of much theological discussion, particularly concerning the nature of Christ's divinity and humanity. The Greek word for "Son" (υἱός, huios) refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God. In His incarnation, Jesus voluntarily limited His divine attributes, including omniscience, to fully experience human life. This statement reflects the mystery of the Incarnation, where Jesus, though fully God, lived with the limitations of humanity. It underscores His humility and obedience to the Father's will.

but only the Father
The exclusivity of the Father's knowledge is emphasized here. The Greek word for "Father" (πατήρ, patēr) denotes the first person of the Trinity, highlighting the intimate relationship within the Godhead. This phrase affirms the Father's ultimate authority and sovereignty over all creation. It reassures believers that the timing of the end is securely held within the wisdom and purpose of God the Father. This knowledge is a source of comfort, encouraging trust in His perfect plan and timing.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples about the end times and His second coming.

2. The Father
Refers to God the Father, who alone knows the timing of the end.

3. The Son
Refers to Jesus Himself, highlighting His submission to the Father’s authority.

4. The Angels
Heavenly beings who serve God and are often messengers, yet they do not know the timing of the end.

5. The Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' teaching, representing all believers who seek understanding of the end times.
Teaching Points
Divine Sovereignty
Recognize that God alone holds the knowledge of the future, and His plans are perfect and beyond human understanding.

Humility and Submission
Emulate Jesus’ example of submission to the Father’s will, acknowledging our limitations in understanding God’s timing.

Vigilance and Preparedness
Live in a state of readiness for Christ’s return, focusing on spiritual growth and obedience to God’s commands.

Trust in God’s Timing
Cultivate trust in God’s perfect timing, knowing that His plans are for our ultimate good and His glory.

Avoid Speculation
Resist the temptation to predict or speculate about the end times, focusing instead on living faithfully in the present.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding that only the Father knows the timing of the end impact your daily walk with Christ?

2. In what ways can you cultivate a spirit of readiness and vigilance in anticipation of Christ’s return?

3. How does Jesus’ submission to the Father’s knowledge challenge you to submit areas of your life to God’s authority?

4. What practical steps can you take to avoid being caught up in speculation about the end times?

5. How can the assurance of God’s perfect timing bring peace and trust into your current life circumstances?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Acts 1:7
Jesus reiterates that it is not for us to know the times or dates set by the Father’s authority, emphasizing the same theme of divine knowledge and timing.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
Paul speaks of the Day of the Lord coming like a thief in the night, underscoring the unexpected nature of the event.

Mark 13:32
A parallel passage where Jesus again states that no one knows the day or hour, reinforcing the message of Matthew 24:36.

Revelation 3:3
Jesus warns the church in Sardis to be watchful, as He will come unexpectedly, similar to the message in Matthew 24:36.

Proverbs 27:1
This verse advises not to boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what a day may bring, aligning with the theme of uncertainty about the future.
The Unknown Day and HourW.F. Adeney Matthew 24:36
The Event and the TimeJ.A. Macdonald Matthew 24:32-42
People
Daniel, Jesus, Noah, Noe
Places
Jerusalem, Judea, Mount of Olives
Topics
Alone, Angels, Exact, Except, Heaven, Heavens, Hour, Knoweth, Messengers
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 24:36

     1020   God, all-knowing
     1412   foreknowledge
     1511   Trinity, relationships in
     1512   Trinity, equality of
     2012   Christ, authority
     2218   Christ, Son of God
     2565   Christ, second coming
     4903   time
     4948   hour
     9105   last things

Matthew 24:36-39

     2045   Christ, knowledge of

Matthew 24:36-44

     2309   Christ, as judge
     2363   Christ, preaching and teaching
     6182   ignorance, human situation
     7227   flood, the

Library
The Carrion and the Vultures
'Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.'--MATT. xxiv. 28. This grim parable has, of course, a strong Eastern colouring. It is best appreciated by dwellers in those lands. They tell us that no sooner is some sickly animal dead, or some piece of carrion thrown out by the way, than the vultures--for the eagle does not prey upon carrion--appear. There may not have been one visible a moment before in the hot blue sky, but, taught by scent or by sight that their banquet
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Two Forms of one Saying
'He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.' --Matt. xxiv. 13, R.V. 'In your patience possess ye your souls.'--Luke xxi. 19. These two sayings, different as they sound in our Version, are probably divergent representations of one original. The reasons for so supposing are manifold and obvious on a little consideration. In the first place, the two sayings occur in the Evangelists' reports of the same prophecy and at the same point therein. In the second place, the verbal resemblance is
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Watching for the King
'Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 43. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh. 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season! 46. Blessed is that servant, whom his lord
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

March the Twentieth the Lord is at Hand!
"Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." --MATTHEW xxiv. 42-51. Then let me always live as though my Lord were at the gate! Let me arrange my affairs on the assumption that the next to lift the latch will be the King. When I am out with my friend, walking and talking, let me assume that just round the corner I may meet the Lord. And so let me practise meeting Him! Said a mother to me one day concerning her long-absent boy: "I lay a place for him at every meal! His seat is always ready!" May
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

What Lasts, and what Passes Away.
25th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matthew xxiv., 35. "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away." INTRODUCTION.--Yes! all will pass away! This beautiful world and all that is on it. Our houses, our churches, our cities, will crumble away; the very earth with its mountains and rivers, and plains, and seas, will pass away. The stars will fall from heaven, the sun will have exhausted its fires, the moon will sink into night. But the words of Christ will last. SUBJECT.--Incessant
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent

"And Watch unto Prayer. "
1 Pet. iv. 7.--"And watch unto prayer." "Watch." A Christian should watch. A Christian is a watchman by office. This duty of watchfulness is frequently commanded and commended in scripture, Matt. xxiv. 42, Mark xiii. 33, 1 Cor. xvi. 13, Eph. vi. 18, 1 Pet. v. 8, Col. iv. 2; Luke xii. 37. David did wait as they that did watch for the morning light. The ministers of the gospel are styled watchmen in scripture and every Christian should be to himself as a minister is to his flock, he should watch over
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Of Meditation Upon Death
Very quickly will there be an end of thee here; take heed therefore how it will be with thee in another world. To-day man is, and to-morrow he will be seen no more. And being removed out of sight, quickly also he is out of mind. O the dulness and hardness of man's heart, which thinketh only of the present, and looketh not forward to the future. Thou oughtest in every deed and thought so to order thyself, as if thou wert to die this day. If thou hadst a good conscience thou wouldst not greatly
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Warning.
"Take heed that no man deceive you."--Matt. xxiv: 4. "Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."--Col. i: 27, 28. To give a warning is a sign of love. Who warns like a mother, and who loves like a mother? Your mother, perhaps, is gone, and your father is gone. Let me take the place of those who have departed, and lift up a warning voice. With Paul I would say: "I write not these
Dwight L. Moody—Sowing and Reaping

Destruction of Jerusalem Foretold.
^A Matt. XXIV. 1-28; ^B Mark XIII. 1-23; ^C Luke XXI. 5-24. ^a 1 And Jesus went out from the temple [leaving it to return no more], and was going on his way; and his disciples came to him ^b as he went forth ^a to show him the buildings of the temple. ^b one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings! ^c 5 And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and offerings, he said [The strength and wealth of the temple roused
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Second Coming of Christ.
^A Matt. XXIV. 29-51; ^B Mark XIII. 24-37; ^C Luke XXI. 25-36. ^b 24 But in those days, ^a immediately after the { ^b that} ^a tribulation of those days. [Since the coming of Christ did not follow close upon the destruction of Jerusalem, the word "immediately" used by Matthew is somewhat puzzling. There are, however, three ways in which it may be explained: 1. That Jesus reckons the time after his own divine, and not after our human, fashion. Viewing the word in this light, the passage at II. Pet.
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Christian Conception of Life Has Already Arisen in Our Society, and Will Infallibly Put an End to the Present Organization of Our Life Based On
The Condition and Organization of our Society are Terrible, but they Rest only on Public Opinion, and can be Destroyed by it-- Already Violence is Regarded from a Different Point of View; the Number of those who are Ready to Serve the Government is Diminishing; and even the Servants of Government are Ashamed of their Position, and so often Do Not Perform their Duties--These Facts are all Signs of the Rise of a Public Opinion, which Continually Growing will Lead to No One being Willing to Enter Government
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you

The Evening of the Third Day in Passion-Week - on the Mount of Olives: Discoures to the Disciples Concerning the Last Things.
THE last and most solemn denunciation of Jerusalem had been uttered, the last and most terrible prediction of judgment upon the Temple spoken, and Jesus was suiting the action to the word. It was as if He had cast the dust of His Shoes against the House' that was to be left desolate.' And so He quitted for ever the Temple and them that held office in it. They had left the Sanctuary and the City, had crossed black Kidron, and were slowly climbing the Mount of Olives. A sudden turn in the road, and
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

A Key to the Knowledge of Church History
A KEY TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHURCH HISTORY [Ancient] Edited by JOHN HENRY BLUNT, M.A. Editor of "The Dictionary of Theology," "The Annotated Book of Common Prayer;" Author of "Household Theology," Etc. Etc. "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations."--St. Matt. xxiv. 14 Rivingtons Waterloo Place, London Oxford, and Cambridge MDCCCLXXVII [New Edition]
John Henry Blunt—A Key to the Knowledge of Church History

Our Lord's Olivet Discourse Shows that There is no Universal Triumph of the Gospel Before his Second Advent.
The Olivet Discourse of our Lord is recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. We cannot now attempt a detailed exposition of these highly interesting and important chapters, but would simply single our from them a few things which throw light upon our present inquiry. At the beginning of Matt. 24 we find that three of His disciples asked our Lord, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the age?" (vs. 3). What then was the answer which
Arthur W. Pink—The Redeemer's Return

Third Sunday Before Lent
Text: First Corinthians 9, 24-27; 10, 1-5. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air: 27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others,
Martin Luther—Epistle Sermons, Vol. II

The vineyard and Its Keepers
'Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34. And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Watching the Horizon
"Thy Kingdom Come." "Thou art coming! We are waiting With a hope that cannot fail; Asking not the day or hour, Resting on Thy word of power, Anchored safe within the veil. Time appointed may be long, But the vision must be sure: Certainty shall make us strong, Joyful patience must endure. "O the joy to see Thee reigning, Thee, my own beloved Lord! Every tongue Thy name confessing, Worship, honour, glory, blessing, Brought to Thee with glad accord! Thee, my Master and my Friend, Vindicated and enthroned!
by S. D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on the Crowned Christ of Revelation

Another Shorter Evening Prayer.
O eternal God and heavenly Father, if I were not taught and assured by the promises of thy gospel, and the examples of Peter, Mary Magdalene, the publican, the prodigal child, and many other penitent sinners, that thou art so full of compassion, and so ready to forgive the greatest sinners, who are heaviest laden with sin, at what time soever they return unto thee with penitent hearts, lamenting their sins, and imploring thy grace, I should despair for mine own sins, and be utterly discouraged from
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

There is a Blessedness in Reversion
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Matthew 5:3 Having done with the occasion, I come now to the sermon itself. Blessed are the poor in spirit'. Christ does not begin his Sermon on the Mount as the Law was delivered on the mount, with commands and threatenings, the trumpet sounding, the fire flaming, the earth quaking, and the hearts of the Israelites too for fear; but our Saviour (whose lips dropped as the honeycomb') begins with promises and blessings. So sweet and ravishing was the doctrine of this
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12

An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists.
The object of this chapter is to present a rudimentary outline and summary of all that Augustin penned or spoke against those traditional North African Christians whom he was pleased to regard as schismatics. It will be arranged, so far as may be, in chronological order, following the dates suggested by the Benedictine edition. The necessary brevity precludes anything but a very meagre treatment of so considerable a theme. The writer takes no responsibility for the ecclesiological tenets of the
St. Augustine—writings in connection with the donatist controversy.

The Completion of Our Saviour's Prophecies Confirmed Pagans in their Belief of the Gospel.
I. The completion of our Saviour's Prophecies confirmed Pagans in their belief of the gospel. II. Origen's observation on our Saviour's disciples being brought before kings and governors; III. On their being persecuted for their religion; IV. On their preaching the gospel to all nations. V. On the destruction of Jerusalem, and ruin of the Jewish oeconomy. VI. These arguments strengthened by what has happened since Origen's time. I. THE second of these extraordinary means, of great use to the learned
Joseph Addison—The Evidences of the Christian Religion, with Additional Discourses

Dogmatic.
I. (i) Against Eunomius. The work under this title comprises five books, the first three generally accepted as genuine, the last two sometimes regarded as doubtful. Gregory of Nazianzus, [303] Jerome, [304] and Theodoret [305] all testify to Basil's having written against Eunomius, but do not specify the number of books. Books IV. and V. are accepted by Bellarmine, Du Pin, Tillemont, and Ceillier, mainly on the authority of the edict of Justinian against the Three Chapters (Mansi ix., 552),
Basil—Basil: Letters and Select Works

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