When speaking about the day of His return and the triumph of the Kingdom, it is certainly no accident that Jesus warns against any attempt to determine its exact date. It is not that His Father knows something He does not. Most likely, the point is that...
When speaking about the day of His return and the triumph of the Kingdom, it is certainly no accident that Jesus warns against any attempt to determine its exact date. It is not that His Father knows something He does not. Most likely, the date has simply not yet been determined—and perhaps it will be determined only at the very last moment. Indeed, Christ's return in glory cannot be regarded as an isolated historical event. It must become, and will become, the completion of a particular stage in the history of the Kingdom—a stage that will probably be followed by others, but after which the world will be transformed and completely renewed.
When this stage ends, however, depends not only on God but also on human beings. We live in the age of the advancing Kingdom, and in a certain sense its advance depends on us even more than it does on Him. For His part, He has already done everything necessary for the Kingdom to be revealed in all its fullness.
Now it is up to us: what happens next will be determined to a considerable degree by our choice. Every “yes” to Christ and the Kingdom brings nearer the day of the Messiah's return in glory, while every “no” puts it farther away. Any such “yes” or “no” may become the last in the earthly history we see and within which we live. This is not because God will grow tired of waiting and decide to bring it to an end, but because the process really must be completed someday: sooner or later a moment will come when there is nothing left to wait for. For humanity, however, that moment may apparently come unexpectedly. It is no accident that Jesus compares the day of His return with the coming of the worldwide flood, which no one took seriously despite the warnings.
Of course everyone, or at least every Christian, knows in theory that the present stage of world history must end someday, and that the Savior, who promised to return in glory, will certainly fulfill His promise. Yet it is no secret that for most Christians today all this is, unfortunately, more an abstraction than a reality shaping their lives.
At times such lukewarmness gives way to brief bursts of feverish expectation of the “end of the world,” but these bring nothing into the lives of those waiting apart from emotional excitement. Jesus calls us to something else: daily readiness, so that His return will take no one by surprise, even if at that moment a Christian is occupied with everyday affairs. Evidently, there is no other way to meet Christ and enter the Kingdom.
24
24:32 Learn a parable - Our Lord having spoke of the signs preceding the two grand events, concerning which the apostles had inquired, begins here to speak of the time of them. And to the question proposed, Mat 24:3, concerning the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, he answers Mat 24:34. Concerning the time of the end of the world, he answers Mat 24:36. Mar 13:28; Luk 21:29.
24:34 This generation of men now living shall not pass till all these things be done - The expression implies, that great part of that generation would be passed away, but not the whole. Just so it was. For the city and temple were destroyed thirty - nine or forty years after.
24:36 But of that day - The day of judgment; Knoweth no man - Not while our Lord was on earth. Yet it might be afterward revealed to St. John consistently with this.
24:37 Luk 17:26.
24:40 One is taken - Into God's immediate protection: and one is left - To share the common calamities. Our Lord speaks as having the whole transaction present before his eyes.
24:41 Two women shall be grinding - Which was then a common employment of women.
24:42 Ye know not what hour your Lord cometh - Either to require your soul of you, or to avenge himself of this nation. Mar 13:33; Luk 12:35; Luk 21:34.
24:45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant - Which of you aspires after this character? Wise - Every moment retaining the clearest conviction, that all he now has is only intrusted to him as a steward: Faithful - Thinking, speaking, and acting continually, in a manner suitable to that conviction.
24:48 But if that evil servant - Now evil, having put away faith and a good conscience.
24:51 And allot him his portion with the hypocrites - The worst of sinners, as upright and sincere as he was once. If ministers are the persons here primarily intended, there isa peculiar propriety in the expression. For no hypocrisy can be baser, than to call ourselves ministers of Christ, while we are the slaves of avarice, ambition, or sensuality. Wherever such are found, may God reform them by his grace, or disarm them of that power and influence, which they continually abuse to his dishonour, and to their own aggravated damnation!
25 This chapter contains the last public discourse which our Lord uttered before he was offered up. He had before frequently declared what would be the portion of all the workers of iniquity. But what will become of those who do no harm? Honest, inoffensive, good sort of people? We have here a clear and full answer to this important question.
25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven - That is, the candidates for it, be like ten virgins - The bridemaids on the wedding night were wont to go to the house where the bride was, with burning lamps or torches in their hands, to wait for the bride groom's coming.When he drew near, they went to meet him with their lamps, and to conduct him to the bride.
25:3 The foolish took no oil with them - No more than kept them burning just for the present. None to supply their future want, to recruit their lamp's decay. The lamp is faith.A lamp and oil with it, is faith working by love.
25:4 The wise took oil in their vessels - Love in their hearts.And they daily sought a fresh supply of spiritual strength, till their faith was made perfect.
25:5 While the bridegroom delayed - That is, before they were called to attend him, they all slumbered and slept - Were easy and quiet, the wise enjoying a true, the foolish a false peace.
25:6 At midnight - In an hour quite unthought of.
25:7 They trimmed their lamps - They examined themselves and prepared to meet their God.
25:8 Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out - Our faith is dead. What a time to discover this! Whether it mean the time of death, or of judgment. Unto which of the saints wilt thou then turn? Who can help thee at such a season?
25:9 But the wise answered, Lest there be not enough for us and you! - Beginning the sentence with a beautiful abruptness; such as showed their surprise at the state of those poor wretches, who had so long received them, as well as their own souls.Lest there be not enough - It is sure there is not; for no man has more than holiness enough for himself. Go ye rather to them that sell - Without money and without price: that is, to God, to Christ.And buy - If ye can. O no! The time is past and returns no more!
25:13 Watch therefore - He that watches has not only a burning lamp, but likewise oil in his vessel. And even when he sleepeth, his heart waketh. He is quiet; but not secure.