Readiness at Any Hour

(Genesis 6:1–7, Mark 13:32–37, Luke 12:35–48)

36 No one knows about that day [or] hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[fn] but only the Father. 37 As [it was] in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, [people] were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. 39 And they were oblivious until the flood came and swept them all away So will it be [at] the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two [men] will be in the field: one will be taken and [the other] left. 41 Two [women] will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and [the other] left.

42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know [the] day on which your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and {would} not have let his house be broken into. 44 For this reason you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

45 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give [the others] [their] food at the proper time? 46 Blessed [is] that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

48 But suppose that servant [is] wicked [and] says in his heart, ‘My master will be away a long time.’ 49 And he begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. 51 Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, [where] there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.[’’]