Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 24:43-44

"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through. Therefore be ye also ready; for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh." — Matthew 24:43-44 (ASV)

If the householder has reliable information that a thief is coming, but does not know at what hour he will arrive, he will stay awake all night, waiting for his appearance. But if the good man of the house is told in what watch the thief will come, he will be especially on the alert at that time. Every little sound will attract his attention. He thinks he hears someone at the back door. No, the thief is trying to enter by a front window! Wherever he comes, he will find that the master’s ear is listening, the master’s eye is watching, and the master’s hand is ready to arrest him, for he had received timely warning of the burglar’s coming.

Men act so wisely with regard to burglars; what a pity they are not equally wise in watching for the coming of their Lord! We do not know, we cannot even guess, in what watch of earth’s long night HE will come. In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. There is the present tense again, the Son of man cometh; He is coming. His own words are, Behold, I am coming quickly.

Christ’s coming to the world will be like that of the thief—when it is not suspected or expected, and therefore when due preparations for His reception have not been made. But His true followers will not let that day overtake them as a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:4). They ought always to be looking for His appearing. Our Lord’s injunction to His disciples ought to have even greater weight with us who live so much nearer to the time of His Second Advent than it had with those to whom He addressed His warning words, Therefore be ye also ready.

We ought to be as watchful as if we knew that Christ would come tonight, because although we do not know when He will come, we do know that He may come at any moment. Oh, to be ready for His appearing, watching and waiting for Him as servants whose Lord has been long away from them and who may return at any hour! This will not make us neglect our daily calling. On the contrary, we shall be all the more diligent in attending to our earthly duties because our hearts are at rest about our heavenly treasures.

Perhaps you can imagine how eagerly the householder watches when he expects thieves. Every little sound alarms him. He thinks he hears someone at the door; then he imagines it is someone at the window; but he is on the alert, with eye and ear and his whole being wide awake.

So we ought to be, regarding the coming of the Lord, as watchful as if we knew that Christ would come tonight. We do not know that he will come so soon, yet it may be so, for in such an hour as you think not the Son of man comes.