The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

MATTHEW 24:50KJV
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Matthew 24:50 (KJV)

What does Matthew 24:50 mean?

Matthew 24:50 says that the master of a servant will return at a time when the servant is not expecting him and is unaware of the exact moment. This verse highlights the sudden and unpredictable nature of the master's arrival, warning that it will happen when least anticipated.

In this part of Matthew, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about being watchful and ready for His return. He uses the example of a servant who is not paying attention, to stress that people cannot predict when the important moment will come. The verse fits into a larger teaching about staying alert and not becoming careless or complacent.

The Greek behind Matthew 24:50

  • "lord" (κύριος, kurios): This word refers to a master or someone with authority over others. In the story, it points to the one in charge, whose arrival is decisive for the servant.
  • "looketh" (προσδοκάω, prosdokaō): This Greek word means to expect or wait for. The verse emphasizes that the servant is not expecting the master's return, underlining the surprise element.
  • "is aware of" (γινώσκω, ginōskō): This word means to know or be aware. The servant does not know the hour, highlighting the unpredictability of the master's coming.

Why Matthew 24:50 matters

  • Matthew 24:50 clears up the idea that anyone can predict the timing of important spiritual events, stressing that such moments come unexpectedly.
  • The verse emphasizes the need for constant readiness, since the timing is deliberately left unknown and can catch people off guard.
  • This teaching connects to the broader message in Matthew 24, where Jesus urges His followers to stay alert and not become careless, since the timing of His return is hidden.

Where else these words appear

“looketh” Greek G4328 · used in 15 verses

  • Matthew 11:3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
  • Luke 7:20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?
  • Acts 27:33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

“come” Greek G2240 · used in 26 verses

  • Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
  • Luke 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
  • Hebrews 10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

“hour” Greek G5610 · used in 100 verses

  • Matthew 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.
  • Luke 7:21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
  • John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

“servant” Greek G1401 · used in 119 verses

  • Matthew 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
  • Luke 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
  • 1 Corinthians 7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.