Matthew 24 - 8.26.24

Scripture

Matt. 24:42

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Observation

This chapter speaks about the End Times and Jesus’ return. It started when His disciples were admiring the buildings around them, but Jesus told them they would pass away. His disciples then asked when this would happen. Jesus explained to His disciples the importance of being ready now, because the day or hour of His return is unknown. Jesus and the angels do not even know when it will happen (Matt. 24:36). 

At the end of the chapter, He speaks about a wicked servant who was tired of waiting for his Master and started living like his Master would never return.  He started beating his servants, and getting drunk with other drunkards. The master returned at that time and the servant was assigned a place with the hypocrites, where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth (aka hell).

Application 

Stay faithful and obedient. Be Kingdom minded and focused. This world is not our home.

As we put our hope and faith in the promise of Christ’s return and our eternal home, the struggles of this life pale in comparison. Let us be encouraged to not give up in the faith! Do not give up doing our Master’s business and living with integrity so that we could hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” It is not worth the fate of hell that the wicked servant received, whom the Master was displeased with when He returned. God always keeps His promises and the promise of Jesus' return WILL happen.

In this world, we will have trouble, but Jesus promised that He has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

“The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” (1 John 2:17 NIV)

Also, according to Hebrews 11:13-16 (which documents the heroes of the faith and their life of faith in Christ), some people lived by faith until they died, even though they didn’t see or receive the things promised to them. What kept them going is their hope of eternity, knowing that this was their temporary, not permanent home.

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” -Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV

Prayer

Dear Lord, I pray that our faith in You would strengthen as we remember and wait on Your promised return. I pray we would be encouraged to keep pressing forward in obedience, knowing that our home is not here, but in Heaven. I pray we would wait on You. Amen.

-Michelle Gaddi