Introduction: Watching and Waiting
In Matthew 24, Jesus outlines the events of the last days with crystal clarity. In verses 29–31, He tells us that His return will come “immediately after the tribulation.” He speaks of signs in the sun and moon, a trumpet from heaven, and angels gathering the elect.
But now, beginning in verse 42, Jesus brings the truth home. He moves from global events to personal responsibility. He stops talking about earthquakes and false prophets and starts talking about you.
This isn’t just prophecy. This is preparation. This is about whether you’ll be watching and ready, or sleeping and ashamed.
I. Watch Because You Don’t Know the Hour
Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
This is a command—not a suggestion. The issue is not whether you believe He’s coming back. The issue is whether you’re watching for Him. And I don’t mean standing there looking into the sky. You are looking for the first thing first. And then the second thing that Jesus said to watch for. And so on.
He says first: “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ.” Some will come in his name saying: “I am the Lord’s Anointed.” Then you’ll hear of wars and rumors of wars. Famines. Pestilences. Earthquakes. They will then deliver Christians up to be afflicted and killed.
You are to be watching for all these things that we’ve been over the past two Thursday nights. You know that Jesus isn’t coming right now because all of those other things haven’t happened.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
The Day of the Lord is the same day Jesus is coming back. The rapture and his second coming are on the Day of the Lord. Now I want you to see something. The brethren or saved people have no need for him to write because he’s already told us about the Day of the Lord in the previous chapter.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-15
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
We see this is the second coming of Jesus Christ. The perfect and Holy Scriptures say the “coming of the Lord.” This is his second coming.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
This is the Day of the Lord. This is the second coming. This is the rapture on the same day. The Bible is very clear. Then we move into the next chapter which is simply a continuation. God didn’t put the chapter breaks there. Man did. So we continue into the next chapter.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
So, what he was just talking about in 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 is what he’s talking about here. The Day of the Lord or the second coming of Jesus Christ when the rapture occurs will come as a thief in the night. Matthew 24 tells us to watch.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-5
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Verse 4 tells us something very important. You are learning the truth here. You’re seeing exactly what will happen in the end times. Now, will the Day of the Lord come like a thief in the night if you are watching for these events? No, it won’t come as a thief in the night for you. That day should not overtake you as a thief.
Why? Because you can see the truth and the light in the Bible. This isn’t hidden from you.
Now, if you won’t read, study, and come to church, then this would be hidden from you. And that day would overtake you as a thief. But now it won’t IF you pay attention and watch for what Jesus says will happen.
1 Thessalonians 5:6-10
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
So, we are to go to sleep literally. But he’s saying figuratively. He’s referring to sleep as spiritual blindness or carelessness. He’s saying to WAKE UP and WATCH.
Verse 10 tells us that even if we do sleep through things by not watching we are still going to be saved. Once saved always saved. God’s wrath in the end times is not for you.
The world will be surprised. They’ll be living in darkness when the light breaks through the clouds. But God’s people—if they’re paying attention—won’t be caught off guard. Watching means staying awake, alert, clean, and faithful—because you don’t need to know when He’s coming to know you’d better be ready.
II. If You Knew the Time, You’d Live Differently
Going back to Matthew 24 that we are studying verse by verse.
Matthew 24:43–44
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
The problem is not that the Lord hides His return—the problem is that men stop caring.
If you really believed the end times were here today and you knew what that actually meant, you’d clean your heart, forgive that person, tell your neighbor about Jesus Christ, and get to doing the work of God.
If you knew that the end was coming, you would get things right with your family, friends, and more. But we always think we have more time.
Revelation 3:3
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Hold fast. And people love to repeat these things. They love to think they’re going to hold fast, but they can’t even read their Bible. They just put it away. Many of you might be here because you have to be here. Would you be here if you didn’t have to be here? The Bible is speaking to you if you won’t even read your Bible on your own.
Hold fast. Repent. Change your direction. Change how you’re doing things. Actually care about others. Try to at least be thankful to others who do things for you. Do your part. Try helping someone else. And keep reading, learning, studying, and watching.
It’s not that the signs aren’t clear. It’s that people stop watching. People fall asleep. The Lord comes as a thief only to those who are spiritually asleep. Make sure you hear that.
III. The Faithful Servant Is Blessed
Let’s move to verse 45 in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:45–47
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
This is the servant who says, “I don’t know when the Master is coming—but I’m going to keep doing what He told me.” He feeds others. He doesn’t coast. He doesn’t compromise. He serves.
“I don’t think Dad will be home for a while. I’ll do something different than what he told me to do since he isn’t going to be here. My husband asked me to do this, but I think I’ll do something else. My mom said to do this, but she won’t notice if I don’t do it.”
“God told me to do this and this, but I’m not doing it.”
That’s not an example of a faithful and wise servant. Those are examples of foolish people. “As a husband, Jesus commanded me to do this, but I’m not going to do it.” FOOLISHNESS.
Sometimes the Dad, Mom, manager, teacher, and preacher show up when you aren’t expecting it. What will you be doing? “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.” When you keep doing what you’re supposed to be doing even in the times you know they aren’t going to be showing up, this is when lord makes you ruler over more and more things.
You need to continue doing what God has asked you to do and not act like He isn’t watching.
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Be sober in the Lord. This means to continue watching. Don’t be drunken or watching TV all day long or playing video games all day long. These are commandments. They aren’t: “Well, do this or this if you want.” No, it’s a YOU BETTER DO IT or else.
Luke 12:43–44
Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.
If you’re busy feeding the household of God when He comes, you won’t be ashamed. You’ll be rewarded. This is not about being perfect. This is about being faithful.
Why do you think God wants you to be doing the right things? BLESSED is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. And I can read that over and over again to people and they still miss it because they aren’t awake. Because this isn’t important. THEY ARE ASLEEP.
Hey, are you awake and sober or asleep and drunken? Are you going to continue doing what God asks you even if you don’t think the end is near?
IV. The Evil Servant Delays and Compromises
Matthew 24:48–49
But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
This is a servant who served. But now he’s not serving any longer. He still calls Him “my Lord,” but he’s not living like it. The Bible says evil servant. This evil servant says, “Lord, Lord, I’ve done many wonderful works in your name.” Not saved. Never saved.
Many times the unsaved who aren’t doing anything good will tell you that they are saved by doing good works. But they aren’t doing anything. Why? “My lord delayeth his coming.” I’ve got time.
The first step toward compromise isn’t rebellion—it’s delay.
The falling away begins with laziness and procrastination. “I’ve got time. I’ll do that later. I’ll fix that soon. I’ll get serious next year. They’ll do it for me if I don’t. I’ll start soul winning when I have more time. I’ll stop that sin eventually.” You say, “I’ll do this” or “I’ll do that” but you never do it. Delay. Rebellion. “My Lord delays his coming so I’ll delay as well.”
It’s like many people want to come into churches for services but then just get on their phones and play. I am not sure why they’re coming. This is compromise. Put it away. And pay attention. Or don’t. And it’s just like what’s happening there in that verse. You’re asleep. You don’t care.
2 Peter 3:3–4
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Just wickedness. No faith in the Lord. “Where’s the promise of his coming?” If you would wake up and pay attention, you might know.
Genesis 19:14
And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Is that what the Bible sounds like to you? I want you to think about this. Are you really believing all of this, or does it just all sound like a fairy tale? Is it just a story to you, or is it real to you?
1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Delay breeds carelessness. Carelessness turns to cruelty. And before long, this servant is eating with the drunken, mocking his brothers, and pretending like judgment isn’t coming. But SUDDEN DESTRUCTION can come any time.
For example, a tornado can pop up and destroy anything at any time. The Bible isn’t a joke. It’s real. “I just want to live MY life how I want. I just want what I want. I want to just be in peace and safety in my home and do what I want. It’s just too dangerous to do the work of the Lord here. I want peace and safety.”
V. Judgment Will Be Swift and Final
Let’s move to the final two verses in Matthew 24.
Matthew 24:50–51
The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, 51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
This speaks of the evil servant that isn’t watching. He acts as if he’s for the Lord but he isn’t. That’s the majority of people out there in churches today.
They won’t receive the free gift of everlasting life. They don’t read the Bible. They don’t listen at church. They aren’t there for the right reasons. “And he shall cut him asunder!”
This isn’t a slap on the wrist. This is eternal judgment. The servant is cast in with the hypocrites
This is a man who called Jesus ‘Lord’ but never trusted in Him. He had the right words, but not saving faith. He was part of the crowd, but never became a child of God.
Or:
This servant was religious in name but never believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. He looked the part but was never born again.
Or:
He said the right things, but he never believed in his heart. Salvation is not in the lips—it’s in the faith.
He calls on the Lord but the Lord doesn’t hear him because he never believed IN the Lord.
Luke 21:34–36
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
Watch ye therefore and pray always.
Revelation 22:12
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
You either get the reward of the faithful—or the ruin of the hypocrite. There is no neutral ground.
Conclusion Matthew 24 Part 3:
Matthew 24 doesn’t end with more prophecy. It ends with a test of the heart. Are you the wise servant or the wicked one? Are you feeding the household or beating the brethren? Are you watching, or are you wandering?
1 Thessalonians 5:6
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Call to Action:
If you’re saved—stay faithful. Keep your hand to the plow. Stay in your Bible. Love your neighbor. Preach the Gospel. Be found doing, not just waiting.
If you’re backslidden—don’t say, “The Lord delayeth His coming.” You don’t know the hour. And if He returned tonight, how would He find you?
If you’re lost—you may not get another warning. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ now. Let’s pray.
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