Matthew 24:43,44

2. Illustration of the Burglar (24:43f.)

43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. 44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

a.

How does this story differ in emphasis from the previous one?

b.

Why do you think Jesus told several different stories centering around His principle topic? What effect would such repetition produce on the reader or hearer?

c.

Do you think it is wise for Jesus to compare Himself to a burglar?

d.

What is this hour that you think not? Is it an hour when you think Jesus will not come?

e.

If the New Testament instructs us to expect Jesus-' return at any moment and to prepare adequately for it, how can Jesus affirm that He will return when we do not expect Him? That is, how can we expect Him and not expect Him at the same time?

f.

Despite the uncertainty about God's scheduling of the Second Coming, what grand truth is not at all uncertain, according to Jesus?

g.

If you are so sure about Jesus-' return, did you actually look up this morning and pray, Lord, will this be the day? How would a prayer in this spirit help you to be ready?

PARAPHRASE

You can be sure that if the head of the house had known in what part of the night the burglar was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. So, you too must be ready, because the Messiah's second coming will take place at a time when you do not expect Him.

SUMMARY

Although Christ's return will occur at some unknowable moment, you can know to be prepared.

NOTES

2. Illustration of the Burglar:
The Time is Unpredictable, So Be Always Ready.

Matthew 24:43 But know this: the following all-too-common experience is your fair warning that your situation parallels that of someone personally responsible for protecting his house and its contents against theft (Luke 12:39 f.). If the master of the house had known ... he would not have suffered. This is a hypothesis contrary to fact, because he could not have known the exact time of the thief's coming, because thieves give no advance warning to their victims. Worse, the owner could not even know for certain whether the thief were even coming, much less in what watch. Watch refers to the division of the night into guard-duty of 3-4 hours for each watch which is marked by a change of the guard. (Note on Matthew 14:25; cf. Judges 7:19; 1 Samuel 11:11; Lamentations 2:19; Luke 12:38.) For people living in houses constructed even out of stone, to have their walls broken through is a grimly real possibility. (Cf. Matthew 6:19, thieves dig through and steal. The householder's only hope lay in constant vigilance.)

Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh. So Jesus compared Himself to a thief only in one point: the absolutely unknowable time of His coming. Elsewhere this same thief in the night motif is caught up and developed as psychological motivation for repentance and service (1 Thessalonians 5:2 ff.; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15). Be ye also ready. It is everywhere assumed that the Christian need not be caught unawares, because, while many certainties surround the Second Coming, one thing is totally certain: the Son of man is coming! No uncertainty about the schedule or manner of His return can justify any relaxing of our readiness. Be ready: no cost or effort must be thought too great to be adequately prepared. This readiness involves alertness and sobriety (Romans 13:11-14). Physical rest in sleep is not condemned. Rather, He rejects that moral indifference to God that shows itself in a lack of concern to ready oneself appropriately for the Final Day (Matthew 22:11 ff.).

For in an hour that ye think not, the Son of man cometh. Now the disciples are compared to the master of the house in two ways: (1) there would be no forewarning of the coming; and (2) they would need constant vigilance. This truth has several ramifications:

1.

The Lord will send no special last days signs to warn Christians in that last fateful generation of His near approach. This parable stands in direct contrast to the lesson of the fig tree (Matthew 24:32 f.). The fig tree furnishes clear indication of the arrival of summer, whereas the burglar gives absolutely no advance notice of his arrival. Therefore, the events indicated by the story of the thief in the night cannot be identified with those fore pictured by the parable of the fig tree. The fig tree speaks of the death-throes of Israel's institutions, whereas the thief in the night speaks only of Christ's Second Coming.

2.

This inability to know harmonizes with the character of our dispensation. Our era is one of walking by faith, not by sight or full information on every event in God's timing (2 Corinthians 4:18; 2 Corinthians 5:7). The very nature of the Christian epoch would be drastically warped, were it possible for us to ascertain our future infallibly. We could delay our obedience and dally until shortly before the fated hour and finally repent at leisure after a life of self-indulgence. As it is, however, the very uncertainty of every moment of our lives argues convincingly for godliness in every minute, for it could be our last.

3.

God is running this program! There is no room for presumption on our part. Whether we die and go to be with the Lord, or whether He returns first, the result is the same: prepared or not, we must appear before Him who is our Judge. Every day of opportunity is His gracious gift to welcome and to live joyously, thankfully and responsibly. What our Lord intends to do at any future point, He can well set in motion today. Therefore, every second is potentially history's last.

4.

Lenski (Matthew, 957) exclaimed, That is the astonishing feature about the uncertainty regarding the time. Even those who are constantly on the watch will be completely surprised. Note: not unprepared; just surprised by its sudden arrival.

At the same time, the unexpected coming of the thief must not be misunderstood to mean stealth or impossibility of discovery, as if Jesus were teaching a secret rapture. Rather, Peter underlines the great noise involved in Jesus-' coming as a thief (2 Peter 3:10). The greater marvel would be if nobody noticed His arrival, despite the earth-shaking calamities he described (2 Peter 3:4)!

FACT QUESTIONS

1.

Define a watch in the night. To what does it refer in Jesus-' story?

2.

What is meant by the expression, broken through, with reference to a house?

3.

In what way is Jesus like the thief in the night? How is He different?

4.

In what way is the believer like the householder? How is he different?

5.

What precautions should the believer make under the circumstances Jesus described?

6.

Despite the uncertainties involved, what event is absolutely certain?

7.

What is the principal topic of which this parable is illustration?

LET'S PREVIEW THE FOLLOWING PARABLES

Note how closely each of the following parables shares certain common qualities with the others and develops Jesus-' general theme:

1.

Eachg story is addressed to Jesus-' disciples, hence does not speak about the world particularly. Rather, each addresses problems that concern Christians intimately, by speaking to the issue of Christian responsibility during the period between Pentecost and the Second Coming.

2.

Each parable concerns an important figure who is absent, but returns. The point of each illustration turns on what would transpire upon his return. This aspect emphasizes the responsibility of those who await him during his absence. In its own way each story emphasizes (1) the uncertainty of the time of the Lord's return; (2) the necessity for appropriate preparation for that event during his absence; and (3) the rewards or punishments for success or failure to do this.

a.

The parable of the conscientious and the hypocritical servant sees stewards left in charge of the household of an absent master (Matthew 24:45-51).

(1)

THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE TIME: My master is delayed (Matthew 24:48).

(2)

THE RESPONSIBILITY: to give them their food at the proper time (Matthew 24:45).

(3)

THE REWARDS: He will set him over all his possessions or punish him and put him with the hypocrites (Matthew 24:47; Matthew 24:51).

b.

The parable of the ten virgins depicts ten girls awaiting the coming of an absent bridegroom (Matthew 25:1-13).

(1)

THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE TIME: The bridegroom was delayed (Matthew 25:5).

(2)

THE RESPONSIBILITY: Go rather to the dealers and buy (oil) for yourselves (Matthew 25:9).

(3)

THE REWARDS: Those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast; others remained excluded outside (Matthew 25:10-12).

c.

The parable of the talents pictures three servants who were responsible for their Lord's money during his absence (Matthew 25:14-30).

(1)

THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE TIME: After a long time the master. came (Matthew 25:9).

(2)

THE RESPONSIBILITY: You ought to have invested my money (Matthew 25:27).

(3)

THE REWARDS: Well done, good and faithful servant or Cast out the worthless servant (Matthew 25:21; Matthew 25:23; Matthew 25:30).

3.

Each parable illustrates some phase of Christian responsibility, but the cumulative instruction of their lessons affords us a grander picture of our service until Jesus comes.

a.

The parable of the conscientious and the hypocritical stewards teaches loyal concern for everyone else in the Master's household as the prime expression of loyalty to our coming Lord. The emphasis is on our responsibility for OTHERS.

b.

The ten virgins parable inculcates a conscientiousness that insures our own personal preparation. The emphasis is on our responsibility for SELF-preparation for His coming.

c.

The talents parable spurs us to make profitable use of everything God has placed at our disposal for His glory. The emphasis is on our responsibility for our Master's BUSINESS to bring Him a profit.