Exploring the Scripture
During Advent season (from the Latin “to come”), we celebrate the coming of Jesus in many ways: through prophecies, birth, baptism, and the future reign of God. Matthew 24:36–44 focuses on the future reign of God.
The first-century peasants faced day-to-day survival with little energy wasted on the future. In this passage, Jesus describes for the first-century audience what happens at the coming of the Son of Man. Like us, their actions in the present demonstrate how they understand and prepare for the coming reign of God.
Jesus begins with the image of Noah’s flood (v. 37) to highlight the lack of preparation. He uses this story reference to emphasize that life is more than eating and drinking. He teaches intentional living that visibly shows in daily life what the coming of the Son of Man will be like. His message was, and remains, focused on living in this world in a watchful way.
Jesus’ second illustration presents the contrast between two people doing similar tasks. One will be taken and one left. The hearer can assume that one is ready and one is not. But which is which?
Today popular culture assumes that the one “left behind” is unprepared, a sinner rejected and unable to enter the kingdom. But in Hebrew Scripture, those who are left are the ones who are preserved (Genesis 32:8; Genesis 42:38; Deuteronomy 4:27; Deuteronomy 28:62; Ruth 1:5; 1 Kings 19:18; 2 Kings 25:12, 22; 1 Chronicles 13:2; Nehemiah 1:2, 3; Isaiah 4:3; Isaiah 11:11). The Isaiah passages especially reveal the sense of salvation and blessing for those who remain. For Jesus, to be left and not taken means one is alert and prepared, doing a work that is valuable and productive in God’s kingdom. To be taken is to be destroyed and removed from God’s sphere of action.
Finally, Jesus uses the idea of a thief who comes to steal when the head of house is asleep. He encourages the people to be awake and not allow complacency, passiveness, and apathy to steal the opportunity to be part of the kingdom.
Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man, just as we might say we are human beings. He not only points out that he is fully human, but also that he represents humanity, dependent on God for life, for authority, and for blessings.
“Son of Man” is also a term that was used in Hebrew Scripture in a special way. Daniel 7:13– 14 describes a vision of one like a human being (Son of Man) who is presented to God and receives power and authority over all nations and peoples—a king whose kingdom will never end. Many Judeans of first-century Galilee would have interpreted it to mean the coming Messiah. In this passage, Jesus does not define the phrase, but he uses it to refer to a coming figure whose appearance is so important and transforming that people need to be ready for his coming. This coming is the result of the actions that are being introduced to usher in the reign of God. Only God knows the timing and manner of the coming of the Son of Man. For everyone else, including the Son, it remains unknown (v. 36). Jesus is calling the people to watchfulness and preparation for the mystery of a future that is held firmly in God’s hands. During Advent, we are called to prepare for God’s future and Jesus coming into our lives.
Faith Unfiltered Podcast
Hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith consider how this week's scripture connects to our lives today.
Central Ideas
- We believe in a God who comes into the world and is with us.
- Advent celebrates the coming of Jesus in many ways: prophecies of his coming, his birth, John the Baptist as forerunner, and the coming of God’s peaceful reign.
- Jesus stresses the importance of preparation and watchfulness in living each day in this world that God created and loves.
Questions to Consider
- What do you do each day that represents preparing and living for the coming reign of God? What does your congregation do?
- What activities, attitudes, and behaviors steal from us the time and energy that might otherwise be devoted to bringing forth the reign of God?
- What does it mean to be “watchful” in today’s world? How does that influence the way we approach Advent?
- What is the difference between living in fear of a presumed destruction and being prepared to usher in a new age with God’s peaceful reign?