ACC ~ Matthew 24 v36

KNOWING THE DAY AND HOUR

ORIGEN: As long as the church, Christ’s body, does not know that day and hour, the Son himself is said not to know it in order that he may be understood to learn of that day and hour only when all of his members do. But “to know” is given its own special meaning here (as is customary with sacred Scripture), for only he who remains to meet its arrival will know that day and hour. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 55. [1]

[1] GCS 38.2:126-27.

WHETHER THE SON KNOWS THE DAY

HILARY OF POITIERS: When Christ taught us that no one knows the day on which the end of time will come, not the angels and not even himself, he removed from us any need to be concerned about its date. O immeasurable mercy of divine goodness! Since the Son said, “All things have been delivered to me by my Father,” [1] we know that the Father did not deny him the knowledge of this day. If anything was denied him, he could not have said that all things were delivered to him. But because the Son has handed on to us everything the Father gave him and the Word of God does not contain in himself as much assurance of the future as of things already accomplished, therefore it was established by God that the date of the end should be indefinite. Thus he could allow us an abundant amount of time for repentance yet still keep us solicitous for fear of the uncertain and so as to avoid giving anyone the idea of a particular day by expressing his will. For just as at the time of the flood, in the normal course of our life, in our activities and in our sufferings, that great day will suddenly appear. ON MATTHEW 26.4. [2]

[1] Mt 11:27.

[2] SC 258:196-98.

THE DAY AND HOUR NO ONE KNOWS

CHRYSOSTOM: He spoke these things in order to show that he would return unexpectedly and suddenly and when many were living luxuriously. For Paul also says this: “When they shall speak of peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them.” [1] To show just how unexpectedly he uses the metaphor “as travail comes upon a woman with child.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 77.2. [2]

[1] 1 Thess 5:3.

[2] PG 58:703-4; NPNF 1 10:464.