The Olivet Discourse: Watchfulness and Judgment
Matthew 24:36-51
Matt.24.36 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Περι: PREP
- δε: CONJ
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εκεινης: PRON,gen,sg,3,f
- και: CONJ
- ωρας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ουδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- οιδεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ουδε: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- αγγελοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- ουρανων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ουδε: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ει: COND
- μη: PART
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- μονος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Mark 13:32 (quotation): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: affirms ‘no one knows that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.’
- Acts 1:7 (verbal): Jesus tells the disciples, ‘It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority,’ echoing the theme that the Father alone knows timing.
- Luke 12:40 (thematic): Warns that the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect—same emphasis on the unpredictability of the time and the need for readiness.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (thematic): ‘The day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night’—early Christian teaching that the exact timing of the Lord’s coming is unknown and unexpected.
- Matt.24:42 (structural): Immediate follow-up within the same discourse: a direct admonition to ‘keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming,’ applying the lack of knowledge to ethical vigilance.
Alternative generated candidates
- But of that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son, but the Father only.
- But concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son—except the Father alone.
Matt.24.37 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ωσπερ: ADV
- γαρ: CONJ
- αι: ART,nom,pl,f
- ημεραι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Νωε: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ουτως: ADV
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- παρουσια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου·: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 17:26-30 (verbal): Luke records nearly the same saying—'as it was in the days of Noah...'—and expands with the Lot example and suddenness of judgment, a close verbal and thematic parallel to Matthew's line.
- Matt.24:39 (verbal): Immediate sequel in Matthew: 'and they did not know until the flood came and took them all away,' reinforcing the Noah-comparison and the unexpectedness of the Son of Man's coming.
- 1 Peter 3:20 (allusion): Peter explicitly cites the 'days of Noah' and the flood as God's act of judgment/salvation, alluding to the same Old Testament episode invoked by Jesus to illustrate eschatological suddenness and moral context.
- Genesis 6:5-8 (structural): The Genesis account provides the historical and moral background for 'the days of Noah'—widespread wickedness leading to divine judgment—on which Jesus bases his comparison.
- 2 Peter 2:5 (thematic): Peter refers to Noah as a 'preacher of righteousness' and the flood as an example of God's judgment, using the Noah narrative thematically in the same way Matthew does to warn of coming judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- For just as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
- For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matt.24.38 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ως: CONJ
- γαρ: CONJ
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- ημεραις: NOUN,dat,pl,f
- ταις: ART,dat,pl,f
- προ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κατακλυσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- τρωγοντες: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- πινοντες: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,pl,m
- γαμουντες: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- γαμιζοντες: VERB,pres,act,ptcp,nom,pl,m
- αχρι: PREP
- ης: PRON,gen,sg,f
- ημερας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- εισηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Νωε: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- κιβωτον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Genesis 6:5-13 (allusion): Sets the background for 'the days of Noah'—describes human wickedness and God's decision to send the flood, which Jesus alludes to as the pattern for sudden divine judgment.
- Genesis 7:7-12 (verbal): Narrates Noah's entering the ark and the commencement of the flood; parallels Matthew's 'until the day that Noah entered into the ark' (shared narrative element and wording).
- Luke 17:26-27 (verbal): Jesus' parallel saying in Luke: 'As it was in the days of Noah... they were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage,' nearly identical wording and context about sudden judgment.
- 1 Peter 3:20-21 (thematic): Refers to the people in Noah's days who were disobedient and notes the saving significance of the ark (eight persons saved), using the Noah tradition to teach about judgment and salvation.
- 2 Peter 2:5 (allusion): Speaks of God not sparing the ancient world but rescuing Noah as a 'preacher of righteousness,' invoking the Noah story as a warning about divine judgment on the ungodly.
Alternative generated candidates
- For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark,
- For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,
Matt.24.39 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- εγνωσαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εως: CONJ
- ηλθεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κατακλυσμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ηρεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- απαντας: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- ουτως: ADV
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- παρουσια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 17:26-30 (verbal): Uses the same Noah/flood comparison and wording—'as it was in the days of Noah... so will it be when the Son of Man is revealed'—a close verbal parallel to Matthew's phrasing.
- Genesis 7:23 (thematic): Describes the flood 'blotting out every living thing'—the historical event Matthew invokes when saying the flood 'took them all away,' providing the image underlying the warning.
- 2 Peter 3:6-7 (allusion): Peter explicitly cites the flood as God's past judgment and contrasts it with the future day of the Lord, treating the Noahic flood as a typological precedent for sudden final judgment, echoing Matthew's comparison.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3 (thematic): Speaks of the day of the Lord coming unexpectedly 'like a thief in the night,' paralleling Matthew's emphasis on the suddenness and unawareness exemplified by the flood.
Alternative generated candidates
- and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away—so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
- until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away—so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Matt.24.40 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τοτε: ADV
- δυο: NUM,card
- εσονται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- αγρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- παραλαμβανεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- αφιεται·: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 17:34-36 (quotation): Nearly identical saying: at the coming of the Son of Man two will be in one bed/field, one taken and one left — a direct verbal parallel to Matthew 24:40.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (thematic): Describes the living being 'caught up' and those 'left' at the Lord's coming; shares the theme of sudden removal/retention of people at eschatological arrival.
- Matthew 24:41 (structural): Immediate literary parallel in the same pericope: the same two‑at‑work formula applied to two women grinding, reinforcing the pattern of one taken and one left.
- Matthew 24:37-39 (allusion): The 'days of Noah' comparison in the surrounding context explains the abruptness and selective nature of judgment, setting Matthew 24:40 within the motif of sudden destruction and rescue.
- Matthew 13:49-50 (thematic): Parable of the net and final sorting of the wicked and righteous — another Matthean image of eschatological separation comparable to the 'one taken, one left' motif.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.
- Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.
Matt.24.41 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- δυο: NUM,card
- αληθουσαι: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,pl,f
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- μυλω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- παραλαμβανεται: VERB,pres,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- μια: NUM,nom,sg,f
- αφιεται: VERB,pres,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Matt.24:40 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same discourse: the 'two in the field' motif with the same contrast—one taken, one left.
- Luke 17:34–35 (verbal): Near-verbatim Synoptic parallel: similar household/domestic pairings (two in bed, two grinding) with identical language of one being taken and one left.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (thematic): Thematic parallel: imagery of being 'caught up'/'taken' at the Lord's coming—different setting but related idea of sudden removal/separation at eschatological arrival.
- Matt.24:37–39 (structural): Structural parallel within Matthew 24: the comparison to the days of Noah emphasizes sudden, selective judgment and survival—background for the 'one taken, one left' sayings.
- Gen.19:24–26 (allusion): Typological/background parallel: the sudden divine destruction of Sodom and Lot's family's selective rescue (and Lot's wife left behind) provides an Old Testament precedent for sudden separation in judgment imagery.
Alternative generated candidates
- Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.
- Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.
Matt.24.42 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- γρηγορειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- οτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- ποια: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 13:35 (verbal): Same exhortation to 'stay awake' because the householder's return is unknown; Mark's version closely parallels Matthew's alertness motif and wording.
- Matt.24:44 (structural): Immediate parallel within the same discourse: repeats the command to be ready since the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
- Luke 21:36 (verbal): Luke issues a comparable charge to 'stay awake at all times' and pray for strength to escape the coming tribulation—same vigilance theme as Matthew 24:42.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (thematic): Paul describes 'the day of the Lord' coming like a thief and urges believers not to sleep but to stay awake—develops the same eschatological surprise and ethical response.
- Revelation 3:3 (allusion): Christ warns the church to 'wake up' or he will come like a thief—echoes Matthew's warning about unknown timing and the need for watchfulness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
- Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Matt.24.43 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εκεινο: PRON,acc,sg,n
- δε: CONJ
- γινωσκετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- ει: COND
- ηδει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οικοδεσποτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ποια: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- φυλακη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κλεπτης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- εγρηγορησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αν: PART
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART
- αν: PART
- ειασεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- διορυχθηναι: VERB,aor,pass,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οικιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:39-40 (verbal): Near-verbal parallel: the householder/thief image and the explicit admonition to be watchful because the Son of Man comes at an unexpected hour.
- Mark 13:35-37 (structural): Parallel eschatological warning using the house/servant/watch motif and the call to readiness for an unexpected coming.
- Matt.24:42-44 (verbal): Immediate context/restate of the same warning in Matthew: verses 42–44 continue and rephrase the householder/thief illustration and the exhortation to watch.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (thematic): The Day of the Lord is said to come 'like a thief in the night' and believers are urged to be awake and sober—same theme of unexpected arrival and watchfulness.
- Revelation 16:15 (allusion): Uses the language 'Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who stays awake'—an allusive reuse of the 'thief' and 'watching' motif applied to Christ’s coming.
Alternative generated candidates
- But know this: if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
- But know this: if the householder had known in which watch the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
Matt.24.44 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,acc,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- γινεσθε: VERB,pres,mid,imp,2,pl
- ετοιμοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ου: PART
- δοκειτε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- ωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ερχεται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Mark 13:35-37 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel warning to be ready because the Son of Man will come at an unexpected hour; part of the Synoptic 'Olivet Discourse' parallel to Matthew 24.
- Luke 12:40 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel: Judas-style admonition that the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect, calling for readiness.
- Matthew 25:1-13 (esp. v.13) (thematic): Parable of the ten virgins ends with the same exhortation to 'watch' and be ready because the day and hour of the bridegroom's/Christ's coming are unknown.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2-6 (thematic): Paul develops the theme of the Lord's coming 'like a thief' and therefore exhorts believers to be sober and vigilant—parallel eschatological urgency to be ready.
- Revelation 3:3 (allusion): Christ warns the church to 'watch' or he will come like a thief on them, echoing Matthew's motif of unexpected arrival and the need for preparedness.
Alternative generated candidates
- So also you must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
- For this reason you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.
Matt.24.45 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- αρα: PART
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πιστος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- φρονιμος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- κατεστησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- οικετειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- δουναι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- αυτοις: PRON,dat,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- τροφην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- καιρω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:42-44 (verbal): Direct parallel in Luke: the same parable of the 'faithful and wise manager/servant' appointed over the household to give food at the proper time; wording and context closely match Matthew's version.
- Matthew 25:14-30 (thematic): Parable of the talents: develops the same theme of stewardship—servants entrusted with the master's goods are expected to be faithful and are rewarded or punished according to their stewardship.
- Matthew 25:21 (verbal): The commendation 'Well done, good and faithful servant' echoes the praise due the faithful steward in 24:45 and connects faithfulness with reward from the master.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (thematic): Paul's statement that 'it is required of stewards that they be found faithful' echoes the ethical expectation of faithful stewardship expressed in Matt 24:45.
Alternative generated candidates
- Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
- Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household to give them their food at the proper time?
Matt.24.46 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μακαριος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκεινος: PRON,dem,nom,sg,m
- ον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ελθων: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,m,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- ευρησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ουτως: ADV
- ποιουντα·: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:37 (verbal): Almost identical wording and promise: 'Blessed are those servants whom the master finds watching when he comes,' directly parallel to Matt 24:46's blessing on the servant found doing his duty at the master's return.
- Luke 12:42-44 (structural): Same teaching unit about the 'faithful and wise servant' who is put in charge of the household and rewarded when the master returns; parallels Matthew's structure and reward motif.
- Mark 13:34-37 (thematic): Mark's version of the eschatological watchfulness discourse emphasizes vigilance until the master's unexpected return, matching Matthew 24:46's call to be found faithfully at the coming of the lord.
- Matthew 25:21 (thematic): Parable of the talents: the master's commendation 'Well done, good and faithful servant' echoes Matthew 24:46's blessing/reward for the servant found faithfully performing his duties.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (thematic): Paul's ethical principle that 'it is required of stewards that they be found faithful' echoes the expectation in Matt 24:46 that servants be faithful and thus be found doing their work at the master's coming.
Alternative generated candidates
- Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
- Blessed is that servant whom his master, on coming, finds doing so.
Matt.24.47 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αμην: PART
- λεγω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- υμιν: PRON,dat,pl,m
- οτι: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,n
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,m
- υπαρχουσιν: PARTICIPLE,pres,act,dat,pl,neut
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- καταστησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
Parallels
- Luke 12:42-44 (verbal): Direct parallel account of the same parable; repeats the promise that the master will set the faithful steward over his possessions and put him in charge of all he has.
- Matthew 25:21 (verbal): From the Parable of the Talents: 'Well done... enter into the joy of your master' and reward for faithfulness—the master gives responsibility over his possessions (similar wording and reward motif).
- Matthew 25:23 (verbal): Parallel line in the Talents parable with nearly identical promise of increased responsibility ('you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much').
- Luke 19:17 (thematic): In the Parable of the Minas the returned master rewards a faithful servant by appointing him over cities—a structural/theme parallel of bestowing authority over possessions/territory for faithful service.
- Genesis 41:41-43 (allusion): Egyptian court scene where Pharaoh sets Joseph over all the land—an Old Testament prototype of a ruler putting a trusted servant over all his possessions.
Alternative generated candidates
- Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
- Truly I tell you, he will set him over all his possessions.
Matt.24.48 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- δε: CONJ
- ειπη: VERB,aor,act,sub,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κακος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- δουλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκεινος: PRON,dem,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου·Χρονιζει: PRON,gen,sg,m,3+VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:45 (verbal): Nearly identical wording — the servant says in his heart that his lord delays his coming (direct parallel formulation of the same saying).
- Luke 12:46 (structural): Immediate continuation in Luke showing the master's sudden return and severe punishment of the unfaithful servant — parallels the consequence implied in Matthew's account.
- Matt 24:50-51 (structural): Immediate context in Matthew: the following verses describe the master’s unexpected return and the harsh judgment of the wicked servant, completing the same parable.
- Matt 25:26 (thematic): Parable of the talents: the master calls the idle servant 'wicked' and pronounces judgment — parallels theme of an unfaithful/wicked servant punished for failing in stewardship.
- Mark 13:35-37 (thematic): Eschatological exhortation to watchfulness against assuming the master's delay — thematically parallels the warning not to presume on a delayed coming.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards,
- But if that servant proves wicked and says in his heart, 'My master delays,'
Matt.24.49 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αρξηται: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- τυπτειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- συνδουλους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- εσθιη: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- πινη: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- μεθυοντων: PART,pres,act,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Luke 12:45 (verbal): Near-verbatim parallel: the servant who, thinking his master delayed, 'begins to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken'—same wording and image as Matthew 24:49.
- Luke 12:46 (structural): Continuation of the Luke pericope: describes the judgment that follows the servant's abuse and revelry ('will cut him in two, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites'), paralleling Matthew's outcome for the unfaithful servant.
- Matt.18:28 (thematic): Parable of the unforgiving servant: a servant seizes and maltreats a fellow servant to collect a debt ('laid hands on him, and took him by the throat'), echoing Matthew 24:49's motif of a servant abusing his fellows.
- Matt.24:50-51 (structural): Immediate Matthean context: verses that follow 24:49 describe the master's return and the servant's punishment ('will cut him asunder...appoint him his portion with the hypocrites'), completing the warning about unfaithfulness and excess.
Alternative generated candidates
- the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,
- and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards,
Matt.24.50 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ηξει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κυριος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- δουλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εκεινου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ου: PART
- προσδοκα: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- ωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ου: PART
- γινωσκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Luke 12:40 (verbal): Almost identical warning: the master will come unexpectedly; shares the same Greek idiom about coming 'on a day you do not expect.'
- Matt.24:44 (verbal): Close immediate parallel in the same discourse: reiterates that the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect and calls for readiness.
- Mark 13:35-37 (structural): Synoptic parallel urging watchfulness because the householder may come at an unexpected hour; parallels the servant/master imagery and exhortation to be alert.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2 (thematic): Paul uses the image of suddenness—'the day of the Lord will come like a thief'—to stress unexpected timing, echoing Matthew's warning.
- 2 Peter 3:10 (thematic): Describes the coming of the day of the Lord as sudden and unexpected ('like a thief'), emphasizing the same theme of unforeseen arrival and urgency.
Alternative generated candidates
- and will cut him off and assign him his portion with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
- the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,
Matt.24.51 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- διχοτομησει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m,3
- και: CONJ
- το: ART,nom,sg,n
- μερος: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- μετα: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υποκριτων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- θησει·εκει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- εσται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κλαυθμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βρυγμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- οδοντων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 8:12 (verbal): Uses the same formula of exclusion from the kingdom with the phrase 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' to describe final judgment of the wicked.
- Matthew 13:42 (verbal): Parable context where evildoers are 'cast into the furnace' and 'there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth'—verbal and thematic parallel about eschatological punishment.
- Matthew 13:50 (verbal): Closely parallels the language of judgment—the wicked are 'thrown into the fiery furnace' and 'there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth,' echoing Matthew 24:51's outcome for the unfaithful.
- Matthew 22:13 (verbal): In the parable of the wedding feast a man is bound and 'cast into outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth,' linking the fate described in 24:51 with exclusion and judgment.
- Matthew 25:30 (thematic): Parable of the talents concludes with the worthless servant being cast out into 'outer darkness'—a thematic parallel emphasizing judgment and loss of place with the righteous, with similar language of misery and exclusion.
Alternative generated candidates
- The one who acts wickedly and knows not to act will be cut off and sent away into punishment; there the grief and the grinding of teeth remain.
- and he will cut him in pieces and assign him his place with the hypocrites. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
But concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels of heaven nor the Son, but the Father only.
For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
and they did not know until the flood came and swept them all away—so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and one will be left.
Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this: if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Therefore you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Who then is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find doing so.
Truly I tell you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant is wicked and says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,'
and begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunkards,
the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know,
and will cut him in pieces and assign him his portion with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.