Mat 24:42-44 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 42. Watch . Be looking for his coming. Be expecting it as near; as a great event; as coming in an unexpected manner. Watch the signs of his coming, and be ready. (m) "therefore"

Matthew 24:42-44

Verse 42. Watch. Be looking for his coming. Be expecting it as near; as a great event; as coming in an unexpected manner. Watch the signs of his coming, and be ready.

(m) "therefore" Lk 12:39, Rev 3:3, 16:15 Verse 43. But know this, etc. If a man knew the hour, or about the hour, when a robber would come, he would be ready for him. So you know not the exact hour, but you know it is near, when the Son of man will come. He will come suddenly, as a thief comes, without giving previous warning, 1Thes 5:2, 2Pet 3:10, Rev 3:3, 16:15.

Goodman. Mt 20:11.

Thief. A robber. A thief, with us, means one who takes goods without doing violence --secretly, silently. The original word means one who does it by housebreaking, or by highway violence, Lk 10:30.

Broken up. Broken into--either by the doors or windows.

In what watch. In which of the four quarters of the night. Mt 14:25. Verse 44. Be ye also ready. Lk 21:36 says, that he charged them to pray always, that they might be accounted worthy to escape those things--the judgments coming upon the wicked--and to stand before the Son of man--i. e. to stand there approved by him, or admitted to his favour. He also charged them Lk 21:34 to take heed, and not to suffer their hearts to be overcharged with surfeiting, or too much eating, or drunkenness, or the cares of this life, lest that day should come upon them unawares; things improper if there were no judgment-- peculiarly mad and wicked when the judgment is near.