Be Ready - Matthew 24:44 Bible Study & Commentary

Matthew 24 : 44 — King James Version

“Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”

Setting the Scene — The Olivet Discourse (Olivet Prophecy)

• Speaker & setting: Jesus is privately teaching His disciples on the Mount of Olives (see 24 : 3).
• The original question: They had asked, “What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Verse 44 is His climactic exhortation after several warnings (Noah’s day, the two laborers, etc.).
• Purpose: Not to satisfy curiosity, but to cultivate constant watchfulness and faithful living.

Matthew 24 : 37-39 (KJV) — “Noah’s day”

“But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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.”

Matthew 24 : 40-41 (KJV) — “The two labourers”

“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”

How These Illustrations Reinforce Verse 44

Jesus selects two historical-everyday scenes to underline the surprise and selective judgment of His return.

1. Noah’s Day: Life was humming along—meals, weddings, normal commerce—when the flood suddenly broke. The very ordinariness of those activities lured people into complacency. Likewise, the generation that sees Christ’s appearing may be busy with routine plans, unaware that eternity is about to intrude.
2. Two Labourers: The field-hands and mill-workers picture people who share the same environment and tasks, yet experience radically different outcomes in a single instant. Readiness, then, is not about location or occupation but the hidden posture of the heart.

Placed immediately before verse 44, these examples answer the disciples’ earlier question about “the sign” (v. 3) by stressing that the decisive sign is actually invisible: a life of continual preparedness. Noah’s ark-building faith and the vigilant labourer foreshadow the command, “Therefore be ye also ready.”

Phrase-by-Phrase Insights

• “Therefore be ye also ready” – “Therefore” links back to the previous examples of sudden judgment; “ready” (Greek hetoimos) pictures a soldier sleeping in uniform, prepared to move instantly.
• “for in such an hour as ye think not” – The issue is when, never if. The decisive moment arrives while human calculation is relaxed.
• “the Son of man cometh.” – Jesus borrows Daniel 7 : 13’s title, reminding us that the returning Judge is the very One who first came to serve and suffer. The present tense (cometh) paints an event already on approach.

Major Themes to Notice

1. Imminence with uncertainty – God withholds the timetable so that faith stays alive and active.
2. Personal responsibility – The plural “ye” shows every disciple must maintain readiness; no one can outsource devotion.
3. Christ’s dual role – “Son of man” fuses humanity and authority: compassionate Savior, sovereign Judge.
4. Ethics rooted in hope – Expectation fuels holiness (cf. 1 John 3 : 2-3); it is not escapist but energizing.

Helpful Cross-References (KJV)

Luke 12 : 35-40 – “Let your loins be girded about… the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

1 Thessalonians 5 : 2-6 – “The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night… therefore let us not sleep.”

2 Peter 3 : 10-14 – “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be…?”

Revelation 16 : 15 – “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments.”

Practical Expressions of “Readiness”

• Mind: Reject both apathy and date-setting sensationalism; cultivate sober discernment (1 Pet 4 : 7).
• Heart: Keep short accounts—practice daily repentance and prompt reconciliation (Eph 4 : 26-27).
• Hands: Steward time, abilities, and resources as if the Master could inspect them today (Matt 24 : 45-47).
• Witness: Share the gospel with urgency tempered by compassion (2 Cor 5 : 20).

Questions for Personal or Group Study

1. What illustrations of suddenness or separation does Jesus give in Matthew 24 : 32-44, and how do they build toward verse 44?
2. How does living with uncertain timing differ from living with no expectation?
3. Name one habit that would change if you genuinely believed Christ could return before the week ends. What first step can you take today?
4. How can a church foster collective vigilance without breeding anxiety or apathy?

Closing Reflection

Matthew 24:44 is a heartbeat, not a puzzle. Readiness is steady allegiance and living every ordinary hour as though it could open into the extraordinary appearance of our King. May that expectation refine our character, quicken our worship, and embolden our witness until “the Son of man” indeed comes.

Prayer 🙏

Dear Lord,

You reminded us to be ready because You will come back when we least expect it. I admit I get caught up in everyday tasks like work, meals, scrolling my phone and I forget how close You really are. Wake me up, Lord. Help me treat every moment as a chance to love You and love people.

You’re the One who died for me and the One who’s coming back to set things right. Sometimes I chase after clues about the future instead of chasing after time with You. Please forgive me for that. Pull me closer so my heart stays alert — not out of fear, but because I enjoy being with You.

Give me Noah-like faith that keeps building even when the sky is clear. Please help me and make me steady and dependable, like those workers in the field who kept at their jobs. Whatever I’m doing — studying, parenting, working, resting — let it be done with a spirit that’s ready to meet You face-to-face.

When life feels dull or stressful, please remind me that every tick of the clock brings me nearer to Your return. Keep my attitude bright, my words kind, and my hands busy doing good. Until that day, please keep me walking honestly and closely with You.

Amen 🙏