Matthew - Week 76

The Father Knows 

READ 

Matthew 24:36 

36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” 

Although no one will know the day or hour when Jesus will return to the earth, people could know when it is getting close. The Antichrist will sit in the Temple himself and demand to be worshiped. That will begin the last three and a half years of the Tribulation. At the end of that time, Jesus will return to earth.  

REFLECT 

Church-age believers will be caught up to heaven before the Tribulation begins. There are no prophecies that must be fulfilled before that time. That could take place at any time. What if it is today? Are you ready? 

RESPOND 

Perhaps you and a friend have looked at some passages before, but it may be good to look at them again. Consider 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 that tells about believers being caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Read also Revelation 19:11-16 and Zechariah 14:1-5 that tell of Jesus coming to the earth. 

Like the Days of Noah 

READ 

Matthew 24:37-39 

37 “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. 38 In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. 39 People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.” 

These verses must be kept in mind as some verses later have been interpreted with different viewpoints. The context of verses is important to keep in mind. Genesis 6 tells the story of Noah and what it was like at that time. People didn’t realize what would take place until they were swept away in the flood. The same will be true of people when He returns to earth. 

REFLECT 

Think how terrible it will be for the people in the Tribulation not to be expecting the Lord’s return and have hardened hearts against anything spiritual.  

RESPOND 

To see how people will reject God even in the midst of judgment, read Revelation 6:14-16. Pray for people today not to have hardened hearts but to trust in Jesus as Savior. 

One Will Be Taken 

READ 

Matthew 24:40-41 

40 “Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.” 

This is the passage where interpreters disagree. Because of the reference to one being taken and the other being left, some believe this refers to the rapture of the Church when believers are caught up to meet Jesus in the air. Believers will be taken up to heaven at that time and unbelievers will be left on earth to enter the Tribulation. The context of Matthew 24, however, refers to those taken in judgment, as in Noah’s time, and the ones left to enter the safety of the Ark. This indicates Matthew 24 refers to the end of the Tribulation when unbelievers will be taken in judgment and believers are left on earth to enter the 1000-year kingdom.  

REFLECT 

Do you see how important it is to take the context of a verse into consideration? 

RESPOND 

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 to see what the apostle Paul wrote about the judgment brought on unbelievers when He comes to earth. Their final destiny, however, is seen in Revelation 20:11-15 when all unbelievers will be thrown into the lake of fire. 

Ready All the Time 

READ 

Matthew 24:42-44 

42 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming. 43 Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” 

Jesus continued to urge people to be alert to the possibility of His coming. He expressed that with a story about a homeowner and how he would watch for burglar if he knew when one was coming. Jesus warned them that He would come when least expected. 

REFLECT 

Think how often Jesus warned that He might come when people least expect Him do. This could be true of both the catching up of believers to meet Him in the air before the Tribulation and His coming to earth at the end of the Tribulation.  

RESPOND 

Even though we should be expecting Jesus to come at any time, we should keep busy for Him until He does. Jesus referred to this in the following verses. 

Masters and Servants 

READ 

Matthew 24:45-47 

45 “A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them. 46 If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward. 47 I tell you the truth, the master will put that servant in charge of all he owns.” 

Jesus gives no comfort for the lazy person. He wants believers to be responsible citizens of earth even though their most important citizenship is in heaven. The person who takes responsibility seriously is usually rewarded with more responsibility. 

REFLECT 

Those who are unable to work should be taken care of by others, especially those in a local church. Those able to work, however, should not be supported if they are able to provide for themselves. 

RESPOND 

Even in New Testament times there were instructions about those able to work but not doing so. See 2 Thessalonians 3:9-11 in this regard. Talk with a fellow believer about this matter and how it should relate to your local church.