36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” (Matthew 24:36 (ESV)
A significant shift occurs in today’s text. Matthew 24:1-35 primarily focuses on the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. Now the emphasis is upon the “day” of the Lord’s return. Day (ἡμέρα; hemera) normally refers to the daylight in a 24 hour period of time (Genesis 1:1-31). However, it may also refer to a specific moment, or event, in time. This is its meaning in this context.
Although Jesus gave several signs by which they would know when Jerusalem’s destruction would occur, the specific day and hour of His second coming would remain a mystery. Jesus’s return could not, and cannot, be determined with any accuracy by human prophets and prophecies. It is futile to try, and yet many individuals attempt to do so. They are false teachers.
The Lord’s return will be like a thief in the night (I Thess. 5:1-3; Rev. 3:1-3). Only God the Father knows the day and the hour of Jesus’ return. The angels of heaven do not know. Even Jesus, in His humanity, does not know.
Jesus Christ is fully God. How then could He not know the day and hour of His return? Jesus Christ is also fully human. In His humanity, Jesus was finite and changeable (Luke 2:52). It is within the context of Jesus’ humanity that He was ignorant of the exact moment of His return.
“The Savior’s ignorance regarding the timing of the end in 24:36 perplexes many believers. How could He who is fully God (John 1:1) not have known when the final day will be? Yet Jesus is also fully man (v. 14). Without surrendering His divine attributes, the second person of the Trinity took on a human nature and became the God-man,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“Jesus Christ, at times allowing His “divine nature [to be] in a state of repose” and not to “exert itself” (John Calvin). Apparently, the incarnate Son of God chose not to lean on His omniscience when He referred to the timing of His final advent in the Olivet Discourse. Instead, Jesus leaned on His humanity and kept this knowledge from the Twelve.”
“The series of events that shall precede Christ’s return has been described. The precise moment of that great event has however not been indicated. Neither could it have been, for that moment is known to the Father alone, and it has not pleased him to reveal it. The angels, though standing in a very close relationship to God (Isa. 6:1–3; Matt. 18:10), and though intimately associated with the events pertaining to the second coming (13:41; 24:31; Rev. 14:19), do not know the day nor the hour. Nor, in fact, does the Son himself, viewed from the aspect of his human nature. See also on 21:19,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.
“The Father, he alone, knows. This proves the futility and sinfulness of every attempt on man’s part to predict the date when Jesus will return, whether that imagined date be 1843, 1844, more precisely Oct. 22, 1844, the autumn of 1914, or any later one. See Deut. 29:29. Curiosity is wonderful. For nosiness, intrusiveness, impertinence there is no excuse.”
Be careful when pastors, preachers, authors and self-appointed prophetical experts seek to predict the exact date of the Lord Jesus Christ’s return. Their attempts to do so reveal their ignorance of Matthew 24:36. Have a blessed, and discerning, day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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