Remain Spiritually Awake During the Last Days: A Study of Matthew 24:39

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The warning in Matthew 24:39 stands as a decisive call to spiritual alertness amid escalating apostasy and moral decline in the last days. In context, Jesus warns His disciples about the conditions preceding His return, drawing a solemn parallel between the days of Noah and the generation that will witness the coming of the Son of Man. This verse is part of the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24–25), in which Jesus outlines eschatological events with the intent of motivating vigilant faithfulness. By examining Matthew 24:39 in detail, we can understand its enduring application for Christians living in an increasingly deceptive and lawless age.

Contextual Setting: The Olivet Discourse and the Nature of Christ’s Return

Matthew 24 is structured around a question posed by the disciples: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3). Jesus proceeds to describe signs of tribulation, deception, and upheaval (verses 4–28), the visible return of the Son of Man (verses 29–31), and the necessity of preparedness (verses 32–51).

Matthew 24:36 introduces a turning point: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows.” From this point, Jesus emphasizes the unexpected nature of His return and the absolute requirement for spiritual vigilance. He appeals to a historical example well known to His audience—the flood in Noah’s day—to illustrate how sudden judgment will befall the unprepared.

The Days of Noah: A Pattern for the End

In Matthew 24:37–39, Jesus declares:

“For as were the days of Noah, 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 when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

Verse 39 is particularly sobering: “They were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away.” The Greek term for “unaware” (οὐκ ἔγνωσαν, ouk egnōsan) conveys not mere ignorance, but willful disregard—a refusal to heed divine warnings. The verb is in the aorist tense, indicating a past, completed state of oblivion that persisted up to and through the flood’s arrival.

The comparison Jesus draws is not merely behavioral but attitudinal. The people in Noah’s day were not engaged in overtly sinful rituals but in ordinary life—eating, drinking, marrying. Their sin was in ignoring the divine warnings and continuing life as though judgment were not imminent. Despite Noah’s century-long proclamation (cf. 2 Peter 2:5), the world remained indifferent. That indifference became fatal. Likewise, in the last days, society will maintain a façade of normalcy, even as prophetic signs intensify. The failure to respond spiritually will lead to sudden destruction.

Spiritual Drowsiness in the Last Days

This theme of obliviousness is echoed elsewhere in Jesus’ teachings. In Matthew 25:5, all ten virgins become drowsy and sleep. In Matthew 26:40–41, Jesus rebukes His disciples for sleeping during His hour of agony: “So, could you not watch with Me one hour?” The problem is not physical sleep but spiritual lethargy—a disengagement from the urgency of divine realities.

In the last days, this spiritual sleep will be widespread. Paul warns that the Day of the Lord will come “like a thief in the night” upon those declaring “peace and security,” but sudden destruction will overtake them (1 Thessalonians 5:3). He urges believers, “So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Likewise, Peter reminds his readers of the scoffers who will mock the promise of Christ’s coming, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). This skepticism mirrors the blindness of Noah’s generation and reinforces the need to remain spiritually awake, heeding both the signs and the Word.

Watchfulness as a Command and a Lifestyle

Matthew 24:42 issues a direct imperative: “Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” The Greek verb grēgoreō (γρηγορέω) is in the present active imperative, calling for continuous action. Watchfulness is not a momentary posture but a lifelong discipline. It encompasses doctrinal vigilance, moral integrity, and practical obedience.

This watchfulness is not to be confused with date-setting or speculative eschatology. Jesus prohibits speculation by stating that the day and hour are unknown (Matthew 24:36). Instead, He calls for readiness through faithful living (Matthew 24:45–47), spiritual sobriety (Luke 21:34–36), and unwavering hope (1 Peter 1:13).

True watchfulness involves discerning the times without being consumed by worldly anxieties. Jesus cautions in Luke 21:34: “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life.” The heart that is dulled by materialism and pleasure will not perceive the signs of the times.

Theological Implications: Judgment and Salvation

Matthew 24:39 underscores the irrevocability of divine judgment. Once the flood began, the door to the ark was shut (Genesis 7:16). Jesus draws from this to warn that when He returns, the opportunity for repentance will be closed. The wicked will be “swept away”—a phrase that implies sudden removal and destruction, not merely inconvenience.

This aligns with Jesus’ teachings elsewhere. In Luke 17:26–30, He links the sudden judgment of Noah’s day with that of Sodom, reinforcing the theme of catastrophic finality. Peter echoes this in 2 Peter 3:10: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar.”

For the faithful, however, the return of Christ is not cause for fear but for hope. Hebrews 9:28 states, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time… to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” This eager anticipation stands in stark contrast to the oblivion described in Matthew 24:39.

Practical Application: How to Remain Awake

Remaining spiritually awake requires deliberate, sustained effort in several areas:

Scripture Saturation: Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” The believer must daily engage the Word to perceive truth and error (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Prayerful Alertness: Jesus connects watchfulness with prayer in Matthew 26:41: “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation.” A vigilant life is a praying life.
Holy Living: Titus 2:11–13 instructs believers to live “sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope.”
Gospel Witness: False teaching proliferates in the last days (2 Timothy 4:3–4). A spiritually awake believer discerns truth from error and clings to the faith once delivered (Jude 3).
Gospel Witness: In Noah’s time, only a few were saved (1 Peter 3:20). As in that day, believers are to proclaim the gospel amid a skeptical world, knowing judgment is near.

Conclusion: Stay Spiritually Alert

Matthew 24:39 serves as a powerful indictment of spiritual indifference and a clarion call to alertness. The final generation will mirror the people of Noah’s day—indifferent, worldly, and dismissive of warning. Yet the flood came, and it came without delay or remedy.

Jesus’ words are timeless: “So will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Those who remain spiritually awake—grounded in Scripture, steadfast in faith, alert in holiness—will be prepared when that day arrives. Those who drift into complacency will find themselves outside, swept away by a judgment they never believed would come.

Let the Church heed the call: remain spiritually awake, for the end of all things is near.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).