QT 04/03/2026 Wed. Matthew 24. Which Part of Your Future are Knowable? Which parts Unknowable? 你的未来哪些部分可知？哪些部分不可知？

QT 04/03/2026 Wed. Matthew 24. Which Part of Your Future are Knowable? Which parts Unknowable?
READ http://www.esv.org/matthew24

Which Part of Your Future are Knowable? Which parts Unknowable? Jesus addresses this in His speech commonly known as the Olivet Discourse.

Matthew 24 records what is often called the Olivet Discourse. Sitting on the Mount of Olives, Jesus speaks candidly about the future — near events, distant events, global upheaval, persecution, deception, and His glorious return. For believers, this chapter answers a question we all carry: What can I actually know about my future — and what must I entrust to God?

Jesus gives both clarity and mystery. He reveals enough to anchor us — but withholds enough to humble us.

A. Firstly: The Knowable Parts of Your Future

(1) Trouble Is Certain (24:4–12)
Jesus does not promise a smooth road. He predicts:

• False messiahs and spiritual deception
• Wars and rumors of wars
• Famines and earthquakes
• Persecution and betrayal
• Lawlessness increasing
• Love growing cold

He calls these “the beginning of birth pains.” The knowable truth: History will not gradually improve into the kingdom of God. It will groan. For the believer, this is not cause for panic — it is preparation. We are not surprised by turbulence because our Lord foretold it. You may not know the specific trial ahead, but you can know this:

Following Christ will involve endurance. “The one who endures to the end will be saved.” (v. 13) Your future includes hardship — but also sustaining grace.

(2) The Gospel Will Advance (24:14)

In the midst of chaos comes a glorious certainty:
“This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world… and then the end will come.”

Empires rise and fall. Conflicts erupt. Cultures shift. But one unstoppable reality moves forward — the gospel.

The knowable truth: Your labor in Christ is not in vain. God’s redemptive plan will reach its appointed fulfillment. No headline can derail His mission.

(3) Christ Will Return (24:27, 30)

Jesus speaks unmistakably:

• His coming will be visible
• It will be unmistakable
• It will be glorious
• It will be decisive

“They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (24:30) The return of Christ is not symbolic wishful thinking. It is a promised historical event.

The knowable truth:

• Evil will not have the final word.
• Suffering will not have the final word.
• History is not spiraling — it is moving toward a King.

(4) His Words Will Not Fail (24:35)
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Everything visible is temporary. Economies. Nations. Bodies. Systems. But Christ’s Word stands.

The knowable truth:
If He has spoken it, it is more stable than the ground beneath you.

B. Secondly, The Unknowable Parts of Your Future.

After offering remarkable clarity, Jesus draws a firm boundary.

(1) The Exact Timing Is Hidden (24:36)
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows…” Not angels. Not humanity. Not even disclosed in His incarnate state. This is intentional. God withholds the calendar so that we will cultivate readiness rather than calculation. Every generation has tried to decode dates. Every attempt has failed. Why? Because the Father has reserved that knowledge to Himself.

The unknowable truth: You will not be told the schedule.

(2) The Day Will Feel Ordinary (24:37–39)
Jesus compares His coming to the days of Noah:

• Eating
• Drinking
• Marrying
• Carrying on normal life

Until suddenly — judgment came. The unknowable truth: The decisive moment will interrupt routine. This means readiness must be continual, not seasonal.

(3) The Separation Will Be Sudden (24:40–41)
Two in the field. Two at the mill. One taken. One left.

The future includes a dividing line we cannot fully map in advance. The outward circumstances may look identical — but eternal destinies will not be. This sober reality presses urgency into everyday faithfulness.

C. Thirdly, How to Live Between Certainty and Mystery

Jesus does not give prophecy to satisfy curiosity. He gives it to shape character.

(1) Stay Awake (24:42)
Watchfulness is not date-guessing. It is spiritual attentiveness. Ask regularly:

• Is my love growing cold?
• Am I drifting toward complacency?
• Am I anchored in truth?
  To “stay awake” is to live conscious of eternity.

(2) Be Faithful in the Ordinary (24:45–51)
Jesus ends with a parable of a servant whose master delays. The faithful servant:

• Continues his assigned work
• Serves others responsibly
• Acts as though the master could return at any moment

On the other hand, the wicked servant:

• Assumes delay means absence
• Becomes self-indulgent and harsh

The difference is not knowledge — it is faithfulness. You do not know when Christ will return. You do know what He has asked you to do today. Feed. Serve. Love. Obey. Persevere.

D.  Fourthly. Personal Application: Your Future

You cannot know:

• The exact timeline of global events
• The day of Christ’s return
• The details of tomorrow’s circumstances
• The length of your earthly life

But you can know:

• Christ reigns
• Trials will come
• The gospel will prevail
• He will return
• His Word will stand
• Endurance matters
• Faithfulness will be rewarded

The Christian life lives in this tension: Certain hope. Uncertain timetable.

And that tension is a gift. If we knew the day, we might delay obedience. If we knew no day was coming, we might despair. Instead, we are called to steady trust.

E. Fifthly, The Heart Question

Matthew 24 ultimately confronts us with one question: Am I prepared to meet Christ — whenever He comes? Not prepared by speculation. Not prepared by fear. Prepared by faith. The future is not first about events. It is about a Person.

The One who warned of judgment is the same One who went to the cross. The One who will come in glory first came in humility. His return will not contradict His mercy — it will complete it.

Closing Exhortation: Live informed — but not obsessed. Live alert — but not anxious. Live faithful — but not fearful. Your future has both known and unknown elements. The unknown belongs to the Father. The known calls for obedience today.

And when the sky finally parts, those who trusted Him will not say, “We miscalculated.” They will say, “He kept His Word.”

Prayer:
“Heavenly Father. You are the Author of history and the Keeper of our future. We thank You that nothing unfolds outside of Your sovereign hand. When we look ahead and see uncertainty, remind us that You see the end from the beginning.

Lord Jesus, You have told us what we need to know. You have warned us of trials, promised the advance of the gospel, and assured us of Your glorious return. Guard us from fear when the world trembles. Guard us from apathy when life feels ordinary. Teach us to stay awake — spiritually alert, steady in faith, and faithful in love.

Forgive us for trying to control what You have not revealed. Forgive us for speculating where You have called us to trust. Help us rest in what is certain: that You reign, Your Word stands, and You are coming again.

Make us faithful servants. Let us endure hardship with hope, serve others with humility, and live each day as those ready to meet our King. Keep our hearts warm when love grows cold around us. Strengthen us to persevere to the end.

We place our unknown future into Your faithful hands. Shape us into people who are prepared — not by fear, but by faith. Come, Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

QT 04/03/2026 星期三. 马太福音 24 你的未来哪些部分可知？哪些部分不可知？
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mat/24/

你的未来哪些部分可知？哪些部分不可知？耶稣在著名的橄榄山讲论中阐明了这个问题。

《马太福音》24章记载了这篇被称为橄榄山讲论的教导。耶稣坐在橄榄山上，坦率地论及未来——近期的事件、远期的事件、全球动荡、逼迫、迷惑，以及祂荣耀的再来。对信徒而言，本章解答了我们共同的困惑：关于未来，我究竟能确知什么？又该将什么交托给神？

耶稣既揭示清晰，也保留奥秘。祂启示足够让我们立足——却隐瞒足够使我们谦卑。

A. 首先：未来可知之事

(1) 患难必临（24:4-12）
耶稣并未承诺坦途。祂预言：

• 假基督与属灵迷惑
• 战争与战争风声
• 饥荒与地震
• 逼迫与背叛
• 罪恶日益猖獗
• 爱心渐渐冷淡

祂称这些为 “这一切不过是痛苦的开始。” 可知的真理：历史不会渐进式地迈向上帝国度，而是将发出哀鸣。对信徒而言，这并非惊慌的缘由——而是预备的契机。我们对动荡并不惊讶，因主早已预言。你或许不知具体试炼为何，但可确知：

跟随基督必需持守忍耐。“唯有坚忍到底的，必然得救。”（13节）你的未来必有艰难——但也有持守到底的恩典。

（二）福音必得传扬（24:14）

在混乱中显明荣耀的定规：“这天国的福音要传遍天下，向万民作见证，然后结局才来到。”

帝国兴衰更迭，冲突纷至沓来，文化变迁不息。唯有一股不可阻挡的力量持续推进——福音。

可确信的真理：你在基督里的劳苦绝不徒然。神的救赎计划必达预定之成。任何头条新闻都无法颠覆祂的使命。

(3) 基督必再来（24:27, 30）

耶稣宣告清晰无误：

• 祂的降临将显而易见
• 毫无可疑之处
• 荣耀无比
• 具有决定性意义

“那时，人子的征兆要显在天上，地上的万族都要哀号，并且看见人子带着能力，满有荣耀，驾着天上的云降临。”（24:30）基督再来并非象征性的幻想，而是应许的历史事件。

可知的真理：

• 邪恶不会拥有最终话语权
• 苦难不会拥有最终话语权
• 历史并非螺旋式下降——而是朝着君王迈进

(4) 祂的话语永不失效（24:35）
“天地都要过去，但我的话决不会废去。”

凡可见之物皆属暂时：经济体系、国家政权、血肉之躯、社会制度。唯基督的道永存不朽。

可知的真理：祂所宣告的，比脚下大地更为稳固。

B. 其次，关于你未来不可知的部分。

在展现非凡的清晰度后，耶稣划下明确界限。

(1) 确切时间被隐藏（24:36）
“ 
“至于那日子和时间，没有人知道，连天上的使者和子也不知道，只有父知道。此乃神刻意为之。神隐去时间表，为要我们培养警醒而非推算。历代信徒皆试图破译日期，却无一成功。为何？因父已将此知识独留于己。

不可知之真理：你不会被告知时间表。

(2) 那日将看似寻常（24:37-39）
耶稣将祂的再来比作挪亚的日子：

• 吃喝
• 嫁娶
• 过着平常生活

直到突然——审判降临。不可知之真理：决定性时刻将打破日常。这意味着警醒必须持续，而非季节性。

(3) 分离将骤然降临（24:40-41）
田间二人，磨坊二人。一人被取，一人留下。

未来存在一道无法预先测度的分界线。外在境遇看似相同——但永恒归宿截然不同。这严峻现实催促我们以日常忠心回应迫切。

C. 第三，如何在确定与神秘之间生活

耶稣赐下预言并非为满足好奇心，而是为了塑造品格。

(1) 保持警醒（24:42）
警醒并非猜测日期，而是灵性的专注。常自省：

• 我的爱是否正在冷却？
• 我是否正滑向自满？
• 我是否扎根真理？
  “警醒”即以永恒为意识基准生活。

(2) 在平凡中忠心（24:45-51）
耶稣以主人延迟归来的仆人比喻作结。忠心的仆人：

• 持续履行托付的工作
• 负责任地服侍他人
• 行事如同主人随时可能归来

反之，恶仆：

• 误以为主人迟来即永不归来
• 沉溺私欲且苛待他人

差异不在于认知——而在于忠心。你虽不知基督何时再来，却清楚祂今日托付的使命：喂养。服侍。爱人。顺服。坚忍。

D.  第四，个人应用：你的未来

你无法知晓：

• 全球事件的确切时间线
• 基督再临的具体日期
• 明天处境的细枝末节
• 你尘世生命的具体长度

但你能确知：

• 基督掌权
• 试炼必临
• 福音终将得胜
• 他必再来
• 他的话语永存
• 坚忍至关重要
• 忠心必得赏赐

基督徒的生命存活于这样的张力中：确凿的盼望，未知的时辰。

这份张力实为恩赐。若知晓确切日期，我们或许会拖延顺服；若认定永无那日，我们或许会陷入绝望。因此，我们被召唤持守稳固的信靠。

E.  第五，核心之问

马太福音24章最终向我们提出一个问题：我是否预备好迎接基督——无论祂何时降临？预备并非源于揣测，亦非源于恐惧，而是源于信心。未来的核心并非事件本身，而是那位位格。

那位警示审判的，正是那位走向十字架的；那位将以荣耀降临的，最初是以谦卑降临的。祂的再来不会违背祂的怜悯——反而将使怜悯得以完全。

终篇劝勉：活在明辨中——而非执迷。活在警醒中——而非忧虑。活在忠信中——而非恐惧。你的未来既有已知亦有未知。未知属于天父，已知则呼唤今日的顺服。

当穹苍终被撕开，信靠祂的人不会说：“我们算错了”，他们将宣告：“祂信守了诺言。”

祷告：
“天父啊，您是历史的编织者，也是我们未来的守护者。我们感谢您，因万事都出于您主权的手。当我们展望未来却见迷雾时，求您提醒我们：您早已洞悉始末。

主耶稣啊，您已将所需真理启示于我们。您预告试炼将临，应许福音必传扬，更保证您荣耀再来。当世界动荡时，求祢保守我们免于恐惧；当生活平淡时，求祢保守我们免于冷漠。教导我们保持警醒——灵里敏锐，信心坚定，爱心忠实。

求祢赦免我们妄图掌控祢未启示之事，赦免我们在该信靠之处妄加揣测。求祢帮助我们安息于永恒的真理：祢掌权不移，祢的话语永存，祢必再来。

求祢使我们成为忠心的仆人。愿我们怀着盼望忍受艰难，以谦卑之心服侍他人，每日活出迎接君王的预备。当周遭爱意渐冷，求祢保守我们心怀温暖。求祢赐力量使我们持守到底。

我们将未知的未来交托在祢信实的手中。求祢塑造我们成为预备妥当的人——不是因恐惧，而是因信心。主耶稣啊，求祢快来。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。”