The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 24 Part 12 Watch And Be Ready For Christ's Return

Jesus was asked three questions by His disciples: 1). When is the end of the world? 2). What will the end times be like? 3). What signs will announce Christ's return?

There are general principles we can glean that are helpful for Christians today, but Jesus had the future of Israel and the Day of the LORD judgment in mind as He answered their questions.

What this means is that we cannot force the Church of Jesus Christ into this passage because the Church was not yet in existence.

Christ's Church was birthed at the feast of Pentecost when the Spirit of God came down as we read in Acts 2 and onward.

The full revelation of the Church, its doctrines and duties was revealed when Jesus spoke through the apostle Paul, as we previously studied.

Acts 1:6-8 make it clear that Peter and the other disciples were looking for Jesus to return and establish the Messianic kingdom.

They did not yet know about the Church and how it fit into God's plans.

Prophets of the Old Testament did not understand these things either.

They had difficulty grasping how Messiah could suffer and die, and yet also be a conquering King who would rule the nations.

Jesus gave warnings to take heed and avoid being deceived by false teachers.

Matthew 24:4-5  And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. 

Jesus' warning, while specific to His disciples questions, is also good guidance for today's Christian.

We too, must always be on guard against false teachers and those who claim to be Christ.

Every generation of believers have had to deal with false teachers or men claiming to be Christ.

Every generation of Christians have had to deal with men who set the time of Christ's return.

God gave us His Word so that we can compare what God says to what these men are claiming.

The truth of scripture will always expose spiritual error and false teachers.

God's powerful antidote against false teachers and false Christs, is the Word of God, which means we must know our Bible.

We must read and study the scriptures and fill our mind and heart with it's sublime truths (See 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2 Timothy 2:15).

1 Timothy 4:1-2  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 

There are many false teachers who promote doctrines of devils and follow seducing spirits.

Paul warned us that in the latter times which Jesus is addressing, spiritual imposters will depart from or even deny the faith contained in the gospel of Christ.

False teachers will speak lies so frequently that their conscience will be layered over with scar tissue, such that they are insensitive to the Holy Spirit's voice.

Jesus spelled out important spiritual duties in light of the end times, the end of the world and His return.

Matthew 24:42  Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 

Because Jesus said that no man knows the hour or day of His return, His faithful followers must "Watch."

This verb means give our strict attention to Jesus' return so that we avoid spiritual lethargy.

To watch implies believing that our Lord will come, and having a great longing in our heart, a strong desire that He would come. 

It means to think often of Christ's coming, always looking for Him with hope and certainty in our heart, even though the time of His coming is uncertain.

Matthew 24:43-44  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. 

Here is a clear and plain example from Jesus about how believer's should "watch" for His return.

A goodman is a master of a large estate, a man trusted by the owner of the estate to manage it while he is away. 

A goodman pays the bills, procures food and necessary materials for maintaining the property and he hires people to do work.

A goodman is responsible for owner's family's safety, for his children's education and to ensure they have proper food, clothing and shelter.

Just like modern times, in Jesus' day, thieves would try to break into a wealthy property at night in order to find and steal valuables and money.

If the goodman knew what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been prepared with weapons and servants to drive the thief away.

The idea is that no thief alerts a goodman that he is going to break into his master's home, at such a day and time.

Therefore, a goodman must exercise a state of constant vigilance, making sure doors are locked, and valuables put in a safe place.

He must train himself to be a light sleeper who will hear any unusual sound or noise, so that he can quickly respond.

In this example, Jesus is the estate owner who has gone on a trip. 

Pastors are like the goodman, caring for the sheep in Christ's pasture until He returns. 

They must lead the sheep, feed and water them, and protect them.

They must sound the alarm when the enemy approaches and actively drive them away from Christ's sheep.

Christians are like sheep given into the care of the goodman Christ appointed over them.

We need help to know the path we should walk on.

We need food and water from the nourishing Word of God and the ministry of God's Spirit (See Job 23:12; Psalm 1;1-3; Psalm 19:10; Psalm 119:103; Matthew 4:4;JOhn 7:37-39; 1 Peter 2:1-2; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16).

Pastors and teachers whom Christ sends to guide and help us, will show us how to walk a worthy walk with Christ each day (See Ephesians 4:11-16).

In like manner, believers must watch for Christ's return with persistent diligence because we do not know when He will come.

The idea is when Jesus returns at the rapture of the Church, do we want Him to find us sleepwalking through life, or do we want Him to find us fully engaged in living out our faith?

The obvious answer is that when Jesus comes, we all want Him to find us walking with Him, worshiping Him, being His faithful witnesses and letting our lights shine into a sin darkened culture.

A faithful and wise servant is one who carries out the duties Christ gave him to do.

Matthew 24:45-47  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 when he cometh shall find so doing. 47  Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. 

Jesus told His disciples the character of a faithful and wise servant.

A wise and faithful servant (or steward) is one whom the LORD made ruler or overseer over His household, to feed them God's Word rightly divided. 

The household are all the born again, those whom the faithful servants have feed with the gospel of Christ.

This connects with the apostles dealing with the question of Hebrew widows who were neglected when meals were passed out in the early church.

Peter, guided by the Spirit of God said "It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." (See Acts 6:2).

Therefore, they appointed seven men as deacon to meet those needs.

Peter went on to say "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." (See Acts 6:4).

Thus, the apostles heeded Jesus teaching about a wise and faithful servant, and recognized that their main duty was prayer and ministering the Word of God to His sheep.

Christians must remember that Jesus calls men into pastoral ministry to preach and teach His Word. 

A believer is one of the sheep in God's pasture and we sit under their teaching, with the expectation that we will be good listeners who intend to obey God.

An evil servant does not rightly serve his master and abuses his stewardship.

Matthew 24:48-51  But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49  And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 50  The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51  And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 

Keep the context of Jesus' words in mind, for He is speaking mostly about the coming Day of the LORD judgment.

An evil servant corresponds with unbelievers who make a profession of faith, but have no evidence of spiritual life.

The evil servant also corresponds to the one left behind in the field and the one woman left behind at the grinding wheel.

Specifically, this would apply to unbelieving Jews who hear the promises of God and the gospel of His Son, but they do not believe.

Notice, that the evil servant begins committing sins after he sees that his master is not returning right away.

2 Peter 3:4  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 

2 Peter 3:8-9  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

The apostle Peter confronted such an attitude in the early church. Some anticipated the immediate return of Christ to establish His kingdom.

As time passed, they complained, saying all things continue on just like from creation. 

They questioned whether God would fulfill the promise of Christ's coming.

Later in his reply, Peter reminded them that God is not bound by time like we are.

They lost sight of the fact that God is not willing that any sinner should die in his sins.

Rather, He wants them to hear the gospel and be born again. This is why Christ has not yet been sent back to earth.

The perceived delay emboldened the evil servant to be a glutton, a drunkard and to beat the ones he supervised.

Jesus said He will return at an unexpected day and time and this is why we must watch and be ready.

The fate of the evil servant corresponds to the one man left behind in the field, and the one woman left behind by the grinding wheel.

Their fate corresponds to all wicked sinners who will be judged and condemned by Christ at the day of the LORD final judgment.

Jesus demonstrated by these teachings that there will be no escape from His judgment. 

We can apply Jesus' teaching in this general manner.

We must be watching for His return, thinking about it, longing to see our Savior.

We must patiently wait for His return and let this waiting set a good direction for our soul.

We must actively be engaged in the gospel work Jesus gave us to do (See Matthew 28:18-20).

Romans 13:11-14  And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. 

Let us cultivate a heart of love and service for God by following the apostolic instructions.

Each day that passes, means the end of our life on earth is one day closer.

It also means that the coming of Christ for His church is one day closer!

Each Christian must throw off spiritual lethargy and sluggishness and ask the Spirit of God to fill us as He promises to do (See Ephesians 5:18).

Each day we must put on by prayer the gospel armor God supplied, so that we can stand together with other Christians for Christ's kingdom.

We should not love the world or the things in the world because this sets us at enmity with God (See 1 John 2:15-17).

We should not be guilty of thinking, talking and acting like the depraved culture, and it we have done this, let us be quick to confess our sins and receive fresh cleansing (See 1 John 1:5-10).

Let us magnify Jesus Christ in our thoughts, words and actions, and make no provision for our fleshly lusts.

Bob