Matthew 24 36

Matthew 24:36 kjv

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Matthew 24:36 nkjv

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

Matthew 24:36 niv

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Matthew 24:36 esv

"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

Matthew 24:36 nlt

"However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

Matthew 24 verses

Matthew 24 36 Meaning

This verse definitively states that the precise moment of the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the age is known exclusively by God the Father. It is a pronouncement that forbids any human, angelic, or even the Son Himself (in His incarnate, human experience) from knowing this exact "day and hour." Its primary intent is to prevent speculative date-setting and instead promote a state of constant watchfulness and readiness among believers, grounded in the ultimate sovereignty of God.

Matthew 24 36 Context

Matthew 24:36 is part of the "Olivet Discourse" (Matthew 24-25), delivered by Jesus to His disciples on the Mount of Olives shortly before His crucifixion. The discourse is a response to the disciples' questions regarding the destruction of the Temple, the sign of Jesus' coming, and the end of the age (Matt 24:3). Jesus outlines various signs that will precede His return, including false christs, wars, famines, earthquakes, persecutions, and the preaching of the gospel to all nations. He also describes specific events leading up to His second coming, such as the "abomination of desolation" and heavenly disturbances.

However, after describing these events, Jesus shifts from what will happen to what will not be known: the exact timing. Verse 36 directly follows His illustration of the Fig Tree, which signified that when these signs appear, "He is near, right at the doors" (Matt 24:33). This transition underscores that while signs indicate proximity, they do not provide the precise date. The verse serves as a crucial boundary and warning against chronological speculation, reinforcing that human knowledge is limited and the final moment is solely within the Father's sovereign domain.

Matthew 24 36 Word analysis

• But (Greek: Δὲ, De): This conjunction indicates a transition or contrast. Here, it contrasts the preceding descriptions of discernable signs (e.g., Matt 24:32-35) with the absolute unknowability of the exact time. It signals a crucial shift in focus.
• of that day and hour (Greek: ἐκείνης τῆς ἡμέρας καὶ ὥρας, ekeinēs tēs hēmeras kai hōras): Refers to the specific, precise moment of Christ's return and the consummation of the age, often termed the Parousia. The conjunction "and" (καὶ) links "day" and "hour," emphasizing not just the general period but the ultimate specificity. It highlights that the timing is fixed to an exact point.
• no one knows (Greek: οὐδεὶς οἶδεν, oudeis oiden): This is an absolute and emphatic negation ("not one knows"). It underscores that this knowledge is completely withheld from all, without exception, in the realm of creation.
• not even the angels of heaven (Greek: οὐδὲ οἱ ἄγγελοι τῶν οὐρανῶν, oude hoi aggeloi tōn ouranōn): Angels, who are heavenly beings with vast knowledge, access to divine counsels, and often agents in executing God's will (e.g., Rev 7:1-3, Rev 14:6-10), are explicitly excluded from this knowledge. Their exclusion further magnifies the exclusivity of the Father's knowledge.
• nor the Son (Greek: οὐδὲ ὁ Υἱὸς, oude ho Huios): This phrase is profoundly significant. It points to Christ's functional limitation in His incarnate state. In His humanity, as He lived on earth, He did not possess or did not exercise omniscience regarding this specific detail. This is consistent with the theological concept of kenosis (Phil 2:7), where Christ voluntarily "emptied Himself" of certain divine prerogatives to fully embrace His human experience, truly learning, growing, and experiencing dependency on the Father. This does not imply an intrinsic lack of divinity but rather a willed non-exercise of specific divine attributes during His earthly ministry for the sake of His redemptive mission.
• but the Father alone (Greek: εἰ μὴ ὁ Πατὴρ μόνος, ei mē ho Patēr monos): This is the decisive and conclusive statement. It establishes God the Father's exclusive knowledge and absolute sovereignty over this ultimate eschatological timing. The term "alone" (μόνος) underscores His unique and unparalleled authority.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• But of that day and hour no one knows: This phrase sets an uncrossable boundary. Despite all the signs Jesus had just described, the exact moment of His return remains undisclosed. This immediately counters any human attempt to predict or calculate the timing.
• not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son: This sequential exclusion builds a hierarchy of knowledge, from humans to the highest created beings (angels), and finally to the incarnate Son. The progression underscores the absolute secrecy surrounding this date, making it clear that no created being, nor the Son in His earthly mission, holds this particular piece of divine knowledge. This highlights the depth of Christ's identification with humanity during His earthly ministry.
• but the Father alone: This ultimate clause attributes the sole knowledge and authority to God the Father. It reaffirms His supreme sovereignty over redemptive history and assures that the final judgment and consummation rest purely on His perfect wisdom and timing, not on human schemes or even angelic awareness. It is a mystery safeguarded within the Trinity.

Matthew 24 36 Bonus section

This verse serves as a crucial antidote to date-setting movements throughout history, consistently proven wrong by its very words. It grounds the future hope in God's immutable plan rather than human calculations. While Christ knows all things intrinsically as God (Col 2:3, John 21:17), this specific statement reveals a functional non-knowing during His earthly incarnation, aligning with His humility and true humanity. The Olivet Discourse, therefore, instructs believers to discern the general signs of the times and remain watchful, while simultaneously resisting any temptation to pinpoint the exact time, reminding them that the mystery belongs solely to the Father's timetable.

Matthew 24 36 Commentary

Matthew 24:36 is a cornerstone verse in Christian eschatology, designed to thwart precise date-setting for Christ's return and the end of the age. Jesus unequivocally states that this knowledge resides solely with God the Father. This declaration serves multiple critical purposes: it underscores the absolute sovereignty of God, ensuring that His timetable is beyond human or angelic manipulation; it prevents both fanaticism and despair, redirecting focus from speculative calculations to faithful living; and it addresses the profound theological truth of the Son's incarnation, wherein He, in His humanity, functionally limited certain aspects of divine knowledge for the fulfillment of His mission. The practical implication is a constant call to spiritual readiness and humble vigilance, living faithfully as if Christ could return at any moment, rather than wasting energy on futile attempts to predict the future. The emphasis shifts from "when" to "how" one should live in anticipation.