Matthew 24:37

24:37 For just like the days of Noah ¹  were, so the coming of the Son of Man will be.

Matthew 24:39

24:39 And they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away. ²  It will be the same at the coming of the Son of Man. ³ 

Matthew 24:43-44

24:43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief ⁴  was coming, he would have been alert and would not have let his house be broken into. 24:44 Therefore you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. ⁵ 

Matthew 24:46

24:46 Blessed is that slave whom the master finds at work ⁶  when he comes.

¹ sn Like the days of Noah, the time of the flood in Gen 6:5-8:22, the judgment will come as a surprise as people live their day to day lives.

² sn Like the flood that came and took them all away, the coming judgment associated with the Son of Man will condemn many.

³ tn Grk “So also will be the coming of the Son of Man.”

³ sn On Jesus pictured as a returning thief, see 1 Thess 5:2, 4; 2 Pet 3:10; Rev 3:3; 16:15.

⁴ sn Jesus made clear that his coming could not be timed, and suggested it would take some time – so long, in fact, that some will not be looking for him any longer (at an hour when you do not expect him).

⁵ tn That is, doing his job, doing what he is supposed to be doing.