Matthew 24:36-51 WARNING: A TSUNAMI IS COMING
I. JESUS MENTIONS A COMPARISON v. 37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. THE CERTAINTY OF CHRIST’S COMING The Date Is Certain Jesus begins, ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only’ (Matthew 24:36). The date may not be revealed, but it is certain. The Desolation Is Certain The Lord continues by speaking of the certainty of the desolation at that day:‘37But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.’
In both cases, the culture chose to ignore the warnings of the righteous. Rather than listen to Noah, ‘they did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage’ (Luke 17:27). Rather than listen to Lot, ‘they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded’ (Luke 27:28). When the rain came, however, Noah’s culture was destroyed with water, Lot’s with fire and brimstone. (Hebrews 12:25-29) ‘25See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29For our God is a consuming fire.’ The Division Is Certain
The Lord continues, ‘40Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left’ (Matthew 24:40-41). The picture is illustrated in Luke 16, where the Lord recounts the events surrounding the death and afterlife of two men. Lazarus, a beggar, died ‘and was carried [i.e. ‘taken’] by the angels into Abraham's bosom’ whilst ‘the rich man also died…and in hell lift up his eyes’ (Luke 16:22-23). The Duty Is Certain
Having spoken of the judgement and the division that would take place at that time, the Lord launches into parabolic language:
(Matthew 24:42-51)
The Lord illustrates our twofold duty with two parables. Our twofold duty is simply: (1) to be watchful and (2) to be faithful. There was much of which the disciples could not be certain, as there is much of we cannot be absolutely certain. But they could, and we can, be certain of their (our) duty before God.
Be Watchful
There are several occasions in the New Testament when the Lord’s coming in judgement is likened to a thief. Paul expresses it this way:
(1 Thessalonians 5:1-4) ‘1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.’
Peter expressed it in a similar manner: ‘But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night’ (2 Peter 3:10).
John recorded Jesus’ words: ‘If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee’ (Revelation 3:3).
And again, ‘Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame’ (Revelation 16:15).
Be Faithful
The Lord speaks of ‘a faithful and wise servant’. The word ‘wise’ means ‘sensible’ or ‘prudent’. The Desires Are Certain
it is certain that we must always be ready to meet the Lord.‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation’ (2 Corinthians 6:2).
it is certain that God requires us to be ready
II. JESUS MENTIONS COMPLACENCY v. 38-39 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 4 ELEMENTS THAT MARK THE LAST DAYS Luke 17:26-27 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. 27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
I. There was AN ACCELERATION OF SINFULNESS
A. A lack of spiritual separation. Gen. 6:4 – There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
B. A lack of moral standards. Gen. 6:5 – And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
– 1 Pet. 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
C. A Lack of Spiritual Discernment – Luke 17: 27 – They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
2 Cor. 4:4.– In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Man is responsible as well
II. There was AN APPROACHING STORM – 2 Tim. 4:3; For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
III.There was AN ACTIVE SAVIOR
.Gen. 6:5-6 – And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually 6 ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD
IV There was AN ABLE SPOKESMAN
Noah was God’s mouthpiece in that day!
2 Pet. 2:5; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
1 Pet. 3:20; Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
He preached the coming judgment for 120 years without a single convert.
III. JESUS MENTIONS A CATASTROPHE v. 39-41 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
The Destruction was :-
Sudden And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away;
Solemn took them all away
Symbolic 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
2 Thes.1 v 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 10 When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.
IV JESUS MENTIONS A CONCLUSION 42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 1) Be Responsive - 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 2) Be Responsible - 24:43 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.
3) Be Ready - 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
