MATTHEW 24:32-41
pursuing their own lustful desires, and they did so right up until the very day that “Noah entered into the
ark.” Then suddenly, unexpectedly, their world was shattered.
2. When will Christ come? He will come just as He came in Noah’s day: at a shocking time. Just as they “knew not”
that the end was coming, so He will come again when the world knows not.
a. They “knew not” means this: they did not expect the coming judgment. They did not believe the fact, the
word, the message. They were close-minded; they did not bother too much about listening and studying the
matter. Therefore, they were ignorant about the truth. They did not know the Word of God.
b. “They knew not” means this: they felt secure in themselves and in their world. As Scripture says in another place:

“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” (1 Th.5:3).

c. They “knew not” means this: they were living worldly and materialistic lives, eating and drinking when they
should have been sensible and clear-minded, listening and turning to God.
d. They “knew not” means this: their concern was “Let us eat and drink: for tomorrow we shall die” (Is.22:13);
whereas their concern should have been righteousness (2 Cor.5:21).
3. When will Christ come? He will come when people are living just as they were living in the days of Noah: “As the
days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be” (v.37, 39). His coming is certain and assured.

“For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and
giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood
came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” (Mt.24:38-39).
“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” (Lk.21:34).
“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteous-
ly, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of
the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit.2:12-13).
“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with
God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jas.4:4).
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the
love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 Jn.2:15-16).

Thought 1. Note the words “knew not.” They knew not because they were steeped in sensual living. A person can
eat, drink, and be immoral until he is gripped and enslaved (see Ro.1:24; Jas.4:1-6).
g159 Conscience becomes dull, hardened, and insensitive to right.
g159 Will becomes more craving.
g159 Spirit becomes more selfish.
g159 Life becomes more worldly.
g159 Hope becomes more materialistic.
g159 Death becomes more final.

Thought 2. Christ’s return will shatter the world of the person...
• who eats and eats
• who drinks and drinks
• who marries and marries
• who “knows not”
• who does not believe
• who is close-minded
• who is ignorant

Thought 3. There are many genuine believers in the world. The testimony of righteousness should be right before
the face of most people just as it was before the face of the people in Noah’s day. We are without excuse. We
should be prepared for His coming. His sudden coming should not catch us unexpectedly; it should not shock or
shatter our world.

Thought 4. A man must not allow himself to be so immersed in worldliness that he forgets eternity (1 Jn.2:15-16;
Ro.12:1-2; 2 Cor.6:17-18).

DEEPER STUDY # 2
(24:37) Jesus Christ, Return: it must be remembered that the righteous, that is, the only believers of Noah’s day, were Noah
himself and his family. They were not caught unaware. It was to the unbelieving world that the day came unexpectedly and
with shattering suddenness. This is understandable: the true believer is ever “looking for that blessed hope and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ” (Tit.2:13). When that day begins to approach, believers will see and
discern the times through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will be preparing the believer’s heart for that day. But
the unbelieving world will be mocking what it considers foolish belief. It will be going about its merry way and wantonness,
paying no attention whatever to an event that it considers foolish. (Cp. Dan.12:10.)

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