Matthew 24:44Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He would have them ever ready, and therefore He says, Watch.

He said this Watch, not to those only who heard Him speak at the time, but to those who came after them, and to us, and to all who shall be after us, until His second coming, for it touches all in a manner. That day comes to each one of us, when it comes to him to go out of the world, such as he shall be judged, and therefore ought every Christian to watch that the Lord’s coming may not find him unprepared; and he will be unprepared for the day of His coming, whom the last day of his life shall find unprepared.

Having declared that of that hour knoweth no man, but the Father only, He shews that it was not expedient for the Apostles to know, that being ignorant they might live in perpetual expectation of His coming, and thus concluding the whole, He says, Watch therefore, &c. And He does not say, ‘Because we know not,’ but Because ye know not, shewing that He Himself is not ignorant of the day of judgment.

because the timing is unknown to you. Regarding the conclusion of the entire world, it is understood that the Lord will return at that moment; however, concerning the end of each individual, some believe that at the demise of every believer, the Lord will manifest alongside the holy angels, and at that time, the soul will respond; others interpret His personal coming as the decree that separates the soul from the body. In light of the impending Judgment, He directs His words to the instructors and states:

Those of more plain understanding say, that He spoke this of His second coming; but others would say that it applies to an intellectual coming of the word into the understanding of the disciples, for as yet He was not in their understanding as He was to be.

To watch is to keep the eyes open, and looking out for the true light, to do and to observe that which one believes, to cast away the darkness of sloth and negligence.

What is this situation? Does the soul remain unaware when a thief enters it through its vulnerabilities? Indeed, it remains oblivious until it is led astray into wrongdoing. Therefore, the soul must be vigilant and guard all its entry points. The mouth should engage in righteous discourse, the ears should be attuned to divine messages, the eyes should witness the wondrous creations of God, and the mind should dwell on spiritual matters. It is insufficient simply to refrain from speaking evil, hearing it, seeing it, or contemplating it. Neglecting to embrace goodness while shunning evil effectively opens the door to both harmful spirits and virtuous ones. One who dismisses evil yet fails to welcome good maintains open access, making it easy for the enemy to intrude.

Be prepared to encounter your Lord at any moment, for the exact timing of His arrival remains unknown to you. In fact, it is precisely because of this uncertainty that vigilance is necessary; He could return when you least expect it: "FOR WHAT HOUR YOU DON'T THINK, THE SON OF MAN WILL COME." St. Chrysostom remarked that had individuals the knowledge of their death's timing, they might focus solely on that day. Consequently, to ensure that people consider more than just the moment of their passing, Jesus Christ has not disclosed the timing of either the final culmination or individual deaths. He desires continual anticipation of His return, making this a matter deserving of constant attention. To facilitate this, He has veiled the moment of each person's life conclusion.

The Lord emphasized the importance of vigilance, diligence, and faithfulness among His disciples in light of their circumstances. "Watch therefore: for you do not know at what hour your Lord will come." You have authority in the household in My absence, yet the householder remains alert, ever mindful that a thief might break in at any moment. Consider your situation following My departure, akin to that of servants entrusted with the household during the master's absence. What will happen if the master discovers his servant squandering his resources? Conversely, how blessed is the steward who, upon the master's return, is met with satisfaction from all, free from any complaints against him.

Among the teachings of Jesus Christ, which encouraged His disciples to remain vigilant in light of the uncertainty regarding the arrival of the Son of Man, every Jewish individual has preserved unique recollections. Luke offers a succinct directive on this matter and later reflects on the life and ministry of Jesus from His regal entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper. Mark conveys the parable of the servants and the watchman awaiting their master, while Matthew presents four distinct parables: the tale of the householder confronted by a thief, the account of the faithful and unfaithful steward (cf. Luke 12:39-48), the analogy of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, and the story of the talents, concluding with the imagery of the final judgment.

In this teaching, Jesus Christ emphasizes to His disciples the unexpected nature of His Second Coming. He mentions it multiple times, cautioning against complacency and attachment to earthly pursuits and possessions. Instead, He urges them to remain vigilant in spirit and to always be prepared to greet Him with a pure heart. If a homeowner were aware of the exact time a thief intended to break in, he would stay alert specifically during that hour. Since the timing is unknown, he must remain watchful throughout the night. Likewise, believers should be ready at all times because the Son of Man will return at an hour they do not anticipate.

That day will arrive unexpectedly, and while it will serve as a day of reward for all devoted servants, it will simultaneously be a day of reckoning for those who have not reached the fullness of their purpose and are unprepared for this momentous occasion. To further engrave this message of vigilance and faithfulness upon their hearts, and to warn them against the perils of thoughtless living and the dimming of the light of watchfulness, He shared two parables about the ten virgins and the talents, which were notable for their simplicity yet profound in their moral insights. They illustrated the day of the great judgment, when the Sovereign of Heaven would distinguish between nations and individuals, akin to how a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

When the moment of the Son of Man's return remains unknown, believers are called to remain spiritually vigilant: to watch, to watch, and to pray, for the timing is uncertain. To deepen this call to spiritual alertness in the hearts of His disciples, the Lord shared a parable, depicting Himself as a master who leaves His abode, which represents the Church, to go to His Father in heaven, then returns to hold His servants accountable for their assigned tasks. Just as a man departs, entrusting his servants with responsibilities while instructing the gatekeeper to remain watchful. This command to spiritual vigilance is a perpetual directive for all Christ's followers, extending to the end of time: I say unto you, I say unto all, watch. This serves as the Lord's pivotal instruction.