BEN F. VICK, JR.
After answering the apostles' questions concerning the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, Jesus turned to his second coming. The apostles' inquiries were concerning the destruction of Jerusalem. After answering them, Jesus turned their attention (and ours) to his second coming. It was not unusual for Jesus to change the subject in teaching others. He did so with Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman (John 3,4).
It was natural for Jesus to turn their attention to his second coming. Contrary to the A.D. 70 advocates, he did not come personally at the destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus clearly distinguished between Jerusalem's destruction and his second coming. He said, "But." That is a contrast with what has gone before. It is a conjunction. It ties what has been said earlier with what Jesus was about to say. Jesus gave them signs as to the destruction of the temple; however, there would be no signs of his second coming. Jesus said, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." (Matt. 24:36.)
However, men come along and think they are smarter than Jesus and the angels. He said no man knows. Even Jesus did not know while he was on earth when his return would be, according to Mark's record (Mark 13:32.) The angels do not know. But ask the not-so-wise A.D. 70 proponents; they know.
Jesus said: "But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matt. 24:37–39.) The second coming of Christ will be like in the days of Noah. People were going about their daily routines. They had no idea the flood was coming until it came. Unlike the destruction of Jerusalem, Jesus gave signs of its downfall. People would have a window of opportunity to escape the city and its environs. That will not happen when Jesus comes again. In Noah's day, the people "knew not until the flood came, and took them all away."
Further, our Lord says, "Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left." (Matt.24:40–41.) One shall be spared; the other lost. Did you note the "then"? "Then" when? When the Lord comes the second time. Jesus follows this with a conclusive warning: "Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." (Matt. 24:42.) Therefore, because his second coming will be as in the days of Noah, Jesus said, "watch." Again, he said, "…for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." But they knew when Jerusalem would be destroyed. There were signs. It would happen in their generation (Matt. 24:34). The only way some have missed this is because they have had help.
Jesus knew repetition is good, so he repeated the same thought using a different illustration. He said: "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. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”
The "goodman of the house" is the master of the house. He would be prepared for him if he knew when the thief was coming. He would not allow his home to be entered. Then Jesus gives another conclusion warning us: "Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." But they knew when Jerusalem would be destroyed. It would be in their generation. There would be signs, but no sign when Jesus comes again. According to A.D. 70 advocates, the goodman of the house no longer needs to watch. If the Lord came in A.D. 70, there would be no need to watch. There would be no need to prepare for his coming.
Continuing with the thought of not knowing when the Lord's return will be, Jesus said:
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; 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, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 24:43–51.)
The faithful and wise servant is the one who provides food for the household. He is not slacking. That servant will be blessed because his lord will find him busy. However, if the Lord has already come, then that servant has been made ruler over all his lord's goods (24:47).
But what if that servant is evil and says in his heart, "My lord delayeth his coming [or, "My lord has already come"]; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken"? What will the lord of that servant do? Jesus said, "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, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Whether the servant thinks his lord has already come or has delayed his coming, his reaction will be the same: He will mistreat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunks. And what will the lord do? "Cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." This punishment is undoubtedly an allusion to hell for the unprepared.
It should not go unnoticed that Matthew continues the thought of the Lord's second coming because he continues in the next chapter with judgment scenes. Remember when Matthew wrote these lines, there were no chapters and verses. Observe the "Then" in 25:1. "Then" when? When the Lord comes the second time to judge the world. The parables of the ten virgins, talents, and the judgment scene all refer to that great day coming. Let each of us be prepared.