Matthew 24:42

Matthew 24:42 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
• New International Version (NIV)“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.

Context of Matthew 24:42

40At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken [for judgment] and one will be left. “So be alert [give strict attention, be cautious and active in faith], for you do not know which day [whether near or far] your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: If the head of the house had known what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 44Therefore, you [who follow Me] must also be ready; because the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Matthew 24:42 word by word

Γρηγορεῖτε οὖν, ὅτι οὐκ οἴδατε ποίᾳ ἡμέρᾳ ὁ κύριος ὑμῶν ἔρχεται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Watchγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
• thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
• forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• ·εἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• notοὐou · noG3756
• whatποῖοςpoios · what?G4169
• hourὥραhōra · hourG5610
• yourσύsu · youG4771
• Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• doth comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064

Cross-references for Matthew 24:42

• Matthew 25:13Therefore, be on the alert [be prepared and ready], for you do not know the day nor the hour [when the Son of Man will come].
• Matthew 26:38Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and stay awake and keep watch with Me.”
• Mark 13:33“Be on guard and stay constantly alert [and pray]; for you do not know when the appointed time will come.
• Luke 12:35“Be dressed and ready for active service, and keep your lamps continuously burning.
• Luke 21:36But keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming].”
• Romans 13:11Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].
• 1 Corinthians 16:13Be on guard; stand firm in your faith [in God, respecting His precepts and keeping your doctrine sound]. Act like [mature] men and be courageous; be strong.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:6So then let us not sleep [in spiritual indifference] as the rest [of the world does], but let us keep wide awake [alert and cautious] and let us be sober [self-controlled, calm, and wise].
• 1 Peter 4:7The end and culmination of all things is near. Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to Him.]
• 1 Peter 5:8Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.
• Revelation 3:2Wake up, and strengthen and reaffirm what remains [of your faithful commitment to Me], which is about to die; for I have not found [any of] your deeds completed in the sight of My God or meeting His requirements.
• Revelation 16:15(“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake and who keeps his clothes [that is, stays spiritually ready for the Lord’s return], so that he will not be naked—spiritually unprepared—and men will not see his shame.”)
• Matthew 24:36“But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son [in His humanity], but the Father alone.

Commentaries on Matthew 24:42

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 42Watch therefore - Be always on your guard, that you may not be taken unawares, and that you may be properly prepared to meet God in the way either of judgment or mercy, whensoever he may come. This advice the followers of Christ took, and therefore they escaped; the miserable Jews rejected it, and were destroyed. Let us learn wisdom by the things which they suffered.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 42Watch - 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.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 42-51Verses 42-51 To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind which we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment. Our Lord's coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not. If a man, professing to be the servant of Christ, be an unbeliever…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 42keep watch: This means to actively and energetically obey the Lord with a single focus (see Matthew 25:13; 26:38–41).Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 24:42

• Commandments
• Israel, Prophecies Concerning
• Jesus Continued
• Temptation
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Deceive
• Desolation
• Elect
• Flight
• Goodman
• Learn
• Lo
• Matthew, Gospel according to
• Olves, Mount of
• Watch

Commentaries on Matthew 24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings