No One Knows That Day and Hour

Mat. 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

The precise moment of the Lord’s return cannot be calculated by anyone. When the Lord spoke these words, that information was said to be known by only the Father. Christ was obviously speaking from the vantage of His human knowledge (cf. Luke 2:52), not from the standpoint of His divine omniscience.

Though it will be possible for some to discern the proximity of the coming crisis (Mark 13:28-29), yet no one knows the precise moment when that day or hour will arrive (cf. Mark 13:33) except the Father. Not even the angels (cf. 1Pet. 1:12) nor the Son know. This openly expressed limitation on Jesus’ knowledge affirms His humanity.

But...

δέ

de

deh

A primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.: - also, and, but, moreover, now [often unexpressed in English].

of...

περί

peri

per-ee'

From the base of to pierce; properly through (all over), that is, around; figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time (with the genitive case denoting the subject or occasion or superlative point; with the accusative case the locality, circuit, matter, circumstance or general period): - (there-) about, above, against, at, on behalf of, X and his company, which concern, (as) concerning, for, X how it will go with, ([there-, where-]) of, on, over, pertaining (to), for sake, X (e-) state, (as) touching, [where-] by (in), with. In compounds it retains substantially the same meaning of circuit (around), excess (beyond), or completeness (through).

that...

ἐκεῖνος

ekeinos

ek-i'-nos

From thither; that one (or [neuter] thing); often intensified by the article prefixed: - he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those.

day...

ἡμέρα

hēmera

hay-mer'-ah

Feminine (with an “hour” implied) of a derivative of ἧμαι hēmai (to sit; akin to the base of to sit) meaning tame, that is, gentle; day, that is, (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context): - age, + alway, (mid-) day (by day, [-ly]), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.

and...

καί

kai

kahee

Apparently a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so, then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words: - and, also, both, but, even, for, if, indeed, likewise, moreover, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yea, yet.

The words “that day or hour” are widely understood to refer to the Son of Man’s second coming (Mark 13:26). But that event will climax a series of preliminary events. In light of Old Testament usage and this context (Mark 13:14, Mark 13:29-30) it is preferable to understand “that day” as referring to “the day of the Lord.”

hour...

ὥρα

hōra

ho'-rah

Apparently a primary word; an “hour” (literally or figuratively): - day, hour, instant, season, X short, [even-] tide, (high) time.

In His (Jesus) Incarnation He voluntarily accepted human limitations, including this one (cf. Acts 1:7), in submission to the Father’s will (cf. John 4:34). On the other hand Jesus’ use of “the Son” title (only here in Mark) instead of the usual “Son of Man” revealed His own awareness of His deity and son-ship (cf. Mark 8:38).

knoweth...

εἴδω

eidō

i'-do

A primary verb; used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent, to gaze and to discern clearly; properly to see (literally or figuratively); by implication (in the perfect only) to know: - be aware, behold, X can (+ not tell), consider, (have) known (-ledge), look (on), perceive, see, be sure, tell, understand, wist, wot.

no...

οὐδείς

oudeis

oo-dice'

Including the feminine οὐδεμία oudemia

oo-dem-ee'-ah and the neuter οὐδέν ouden oo-den'

From not however and one; not even one (man, woman or thing), that is, none, nobody, nothing: - any (man), aught, man, neither any (thing), never (man), no (man), none (+ of these things), not (any, at all, -thing), nought.

Nevertheless He (Jesus) exercised His divine attributes only at the Father’s bidding (cf. Mark 5:30; John 8:28-29).

man, no, not...

οὐδέ

oude

oo-deh'

From no or not and but, and,; not however, that is, neither, nor, not even: - neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.

the...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

angels...

ἄγγελος

aggelos

ang'-el-os

From ἀγγέλλω aggellō (probably derived from to lead; compare a drove; to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an “angel”; by implication a pastor: - angel, messenger.

of heaven,...

οὐρανός

ouranos

oo-ran-os'

Perhaps from the same as to rise (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension heaven (as the abode of God); by implication happiness, power, eternity; specifically the Gospel (Christianity): - air, heaven ([-ly]), sky.

but...

έἰ μή

ei mē

i may

From if, whether and not, lest; if not: - but, except (that), if not, more than, save (only) that, saving, till.

my...

μοῦ

mou

moo

The simpler from of me; of me: - I, me, mine (own), my.

Father... (God)

πατήρ

patēr

pat-ayr'

Apparently a primary word; a “father” (literally or figuratively, near or more remote): - father, parent.

only...

μόνος

monos

mon'-os

Probably from to stay; remaining, that is, sole or single; by implication mere: - alone, only, by themselves.

Jesus’ continued growth

Luke was careful to point out that Jesus was obedient to Joseph and Mary in case his readers would think otherwise from the previous paragraph. Mary treasured all these things in her heart, reflecting on and remembering her 12-year-old’s words, even though she did not understand them. Perhaps Luke received these details about the early years of Jesus from Mary herself or from someone in whom she had confided. Jesus continued to grow (proekopten, lit., “cut one’s way forward,” i.e., “increased”) in every way (spiritually, mentally, and physically) and had favor with God and men (cf. Luke 2:40).

The “day of the Lord” includes the Tribulation, the Second Advent, and the Millennium (cf. Isa. 2:12-22; Jer. 30:7-9; Joel 2:28-32; Amos 9:11; Zep. 3:11-20; Zec. 12-14). It will begin suddenly and unexpectedly (cf. 1Th. 5:2), so no one except the Father knows the critical moment.

In the pretribulational view of the future (cf. see Mark 13:27) the coming of the Lord for His own Harpazo (the Rapture) will occur before the 70th week of Daniel. The Rapture is not conditioned by any preliminary events. It is therefore an imminent event for each generation. The Parable of the Absent House Owner (Mark 13:34-37) along with Matthew’s corresponding account (cf. Mat. 24:42-44) support this view. It precludes all date-setting and lends urgency to Jesus’ exhortations to be watching and working till His return.