32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
Jesus uses an illustration from nature: just as when a fig tree starts to put out leaves indicates the coming of summer, so these signs Jesus has just predicted will indicate His imminent return. “This generation” Jesus is talking about is the generation that needs to endure through the tribulation, not the generation of Israel that Jesus is speaking to (they have already been told that they have been disqualified from the kingdom). That means from the signs of evidence to Jesus actual return will be swift. When the end comes, it will come quickly.
Even though the end will come quickly, no one knows exactly when it will happen except the Father. Even Jesus, in his veiled humanity, didn’t know. When Jesus does return, it will be unexpected by many. Just as in the day of Noah, many didn’t really think judgement would happen, unfortunately, many in the last days will behave the same way and be caught off guard.
Jesus adds two parables to illustrate his point. First, a homeowner who would stay awake to protect his house if he knew when a thief was coming. The other is about servants who were left in charge of their master’s house. Those who anticipate Jesus’ return will continue to serve Him faithfully, but those who lose sight of his return will begin to waiver in service and become irresponsible.
While this passage is clearly talking about end times, our time here on earth is also limited and the end of our lives could come at any moment. We must live in anticipation of Jesus’ return, or for us to be called home at any moment. Let us be found living faithful lives when that happens.