Be Ready: Matthew 24:42-44

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh” (Matt. 24:44, KJV).

The world is in a state of crisis; brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, civil unrest, and wars. People are responding to these times saying that the tribulation is near and Jesus is coming back as He promised. The belief that the tribulation and return of Jesus have been of great interest to Christians since Jesus ascend into heaven, having given His disciples the promise of His return and the commission to preach the gospel throughout the world (see Acts 1:6-11). It is not a new thing that there is an heighten interest because for many people the thought of Jesus coming back gives hope for a better future in spite of the things that seem to be a threat to the existence of mankind and the world.

In my mind, this gives rise to two questions. First, are we looking for an escape from the prospective and real threat of our life and our lifestyle? Are we fearful of the possibilities the today’s situations that seem to be a threat to our stability? Secondly, are we hopeful that the time Jesus’ return is near because we have been living life with anticipation of a better life in heaven with Jesus and the Father? Are we glad to see the signs of His coming because we have endured so much without complaint because all along we have believed that life in heaven will be so much better than life on earth? Do we believe that we are ready for His return?

The increase in talk about Jesus’ return and the nearness of the Great Tribulation reminds me of something that I often heard people say when I was growing up. I remember people saying, “Be ye also ready for ye know not the day or the hour of His return.” During these times I do not know if this is a direct quote from the bible or a paraphrase of a verse or verses in the bible. I know that it comes from Matthew 24. Back in the day, I would hear my mom and others say Matthew 24 is the key to the book of Revelation. This means that Matthew 24 helps us to understand Revelation with all of its symbolic language. I know now that what was being said is a summary of what Jesus said in Matthew 24:42-44. However, what does Jesus mean when He says “be ready?” In addition, what does this mean to you and me? How does one be ready for the return of Jesus? What do you and I need to do in order to be prepared for the tribulation and the return of Jesus?

This space will not allow for a discussion of the many views concerning the tribulation. This space is limited to the idea of “be ready.” The Greek word for ready means to be fit, adjusted, ready, and prepared. We must make any necessary adjustments in our life needed for us to be prepared for His return. Why does Jesus tell us to be ready? What do you and I have to do to be ready?

The book of Matthew is written to Jews. They are God’s chosen people waiting for the coming of the Messiah. The book is written to give evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the promised Messiah. The Messiah has come and He fulfills all the requirements for righteousness according to the will of God. Jesus knows that He is returning to the Father and He is coming back. The Jews are to believe that Jesus is the Messiah that they do not see now, but one that they will see at a future time. Matthew 24 is Jesus teaching His disciples about three questions that they ask Him. “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the world” (Matt. 24:3, NASB).

Jesus teaches His disciples that while believers are waiting for His return there will be many false teachers and prophets. Some, in fact will say that they are the Christ and many people will believe them, and they will try to convince others that the Christ is here. There will be social unrest and wars. There will be catastrophic weather events. There will be a period of great tribulation for those that believe in Jesus. It will be a time when people will have their faith tested. Will they believe in some false Christ (v. 23-24), or will they hold to their faith in the Jesus that they have believed in and come to know through the guarantee of the Holy Spirit that lives in them?

Jesus is teaching His disciples that they are to be alert because no one knows the day of His return. The return of Jesus comes like a thief in the night; when one least expects him to come (v.43). Those that believe in Jesus will know that the time of His return is near, but they do not know the day (vv. 33, 36, 42). Thus, Jesus is giving a warning and a promise.

Jesus warns the believers to be aware of false teachers, prophets, and Christs. How can we know that they are false? First we know that they are false because they do not meet the requirements in the Law, the prophets, and the psalms. These writing tell what the Messiah is like. They tell us what He does to fulfill the law. They tell us about the evidences that He will present that show Him to be the Son of God. The writings tell us of His vicarious death on the cross that redeems us from our sins that keep us separated from God. Today, we have the scriptures. Throughout the years many false prophets and false Christ have come on the scene, but none of them have been able to prove that they meet the requirements written about the Messiah in the scriptures.

The promise that Jesus makes is that He is preparing a place for us in His kingdom (see Jn. 14:1-3). He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn. 14:6, NASB). John describes heaven in Revelation 21:1-4; He gives these words of assurance of His promise (see vv. 6-7). How can we be ready?

First, we must believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God come in the flesh. He dies on the cross as a ransom to free us from sin. Those who believe are given eternal life. We have His Spirit living in us. His Spirit guarantees us that we are recipients of His grace, and that we have fellowship with the Father, the Son, and others that call upon His name. We do not have to work for anything because we receive of His mercy and grace as a free gift from God.

We are to be ready at all times because we do not know the day and hour of His return. Today, we have signs that Jesus will return. The question is not whether or not we are doing any great thing as we wait with anticipation for His return. The question is this. Are you prepared for His return since He is coming at an unexpected time? You see, by the time that you see evidence that it is Jesus coming back it will be too late for you to prepare for Him. Thus, the gospel is preached so that you can believe in Jesus and thereby you will be ready at all times.