Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 24:36

"But of that day and hour knoweth no one, not even the angels of heaven, neither the Son, but the Father only." — Matthew 24:36 (ASV)

Many commentators read v.36 with the preceding paragraph; but it goes much better with the following verses, which constitute an exhortation to vigilance precisely because, the day and the hour being unknown to humanity, life goes on as it always has. In the Greek, v.37 begins with the word “for.” The gist of v.36 is clear enough. Jesus’ disciples are morally bound to repress all desires to know what no one knows but the Father—not even angels or the Son. If the Son himself does not know the time of the Parousia, we too should respect that ignorance and leave things in the Father’s hands. On Jesus’ self-confessed ignorance here, see comment on Mk 13:32.