Matthew 24:42 Meaning and Explanation
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the hour your Lord will come.
What Does Matthew 24:42 Mean?
Jesus draws the practical conclusion of the whole discourse: watch, therefore, for you do not know the hour your Lord comes. Since the timing is hidden, wakefulness is the only fitting response.
To watch is not to stand idle scanning the sky but to live every day ready and faithful, as a servant who expects the master's return at any moment. The uncertainty of the hour is not meant to frighten but to keep love awake. The disciple who lives in steady readiness has nothing to dread and everything to anticipate in the coming of his Lord.
Matthew 24:42 in the Original Language
gregoreo (γρηγορέω), 'watch' -- to stay awake and remain alert.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 24:42
What does Matthew 24:42 mean?
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the hour your Lord will come.