{"id":49102,"date":"2024-12-30T22:08:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-30T19:08:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=49102"},"modified":"2025-06-03T16:27:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T13:27:37","slug":"does-the-lord-jesus-not-know-the-day-of-his-coming-matthew-2436","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2024\/12\/30\/does-the-lord-jesus-not-know-the-day-of-his-coming-matthew-2436\/","title":{"rendered":"Does the Lord Jesus Not Know the Day of His Coming? (Matthew 24:36)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Question:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Why does the Bible say that only the Father knows the day and hour of Jesus\u2019 return, and not the Son? Especially since Jesus is God?<\/p>\n

Answer:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s carefully examine Matthew 24:36<\/strong><\/p>\n

“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Doctrine of the Incarnation and Kenosis<\/h3>\n

Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man (John 1:14). In becoming human (the Incarnation), He voluntarily limited some of His divine attributes in what theologians call the kenosis<\/em>\u2014a self-emptying described in Philippians 2:6-8:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This means that during His earthly life, Jesus voluntarily refrained from exercising some divine prerogatives, including omniscience, to fully experience humanity.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 Human Experience and Learning<\/h3>\n

Hebrews 5:7<\/strong> highlights Jesus\u2019 humanity and dependence on the Father:<\/p>\n

“During the days of Jesus\u2019 life on earth, He offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus experienced growth and learning just like any other human (Luke 2:46):<\/strong><\/p>\n

“After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thus, it is understandable that Jesus did not know the exact time of His return while living in human flesh.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 Divine Authority After Resurrection<\/h3>\n

After His resurrection, Jesus was exalted and given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:16-18):<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.'”<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This means Jesus now fully exercises divine knowledge, including the knowledge of His return.<\/p>\n

Additional Scriptural Evidence<\/h3>\n