It was a temptation for the priest to fall asleep during the night.

In the temple, the priest on duty was to make sure that the sacrifices were completely consumed at the end of the day, and ensure that the fire burned all night in order to be ready for the next day’s sacrifices. In Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 5 (as well as others), a Hebrew idiom is being used. The same is true for this phrase in today’s devotional. In short, this saying means that Jesus will specifically return at a future Feast of Trumpets or on Rosh Hashanah. We learned that this is actually a Hebrew idiom, a figure of speech. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him”.įor those of you who read my last devotional, The Search for Truth, you know that we studied Matthew 24:36, which stated that no one knows the day or hour of Christ’s return to earth. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. This verse as well as Matthew 24:42-44 (and other passages) are cited to defend the viewpoint that no one will know when He will return:

Most of my extra-biblical resources interpret this saying at face value. I have to say that I had a difficult time finding the origin or meaning of this saying, the analogy that Jesus will return “ like a thief in the night”. Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,įor you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. Do we take this at face value or is it an idiom?

Like a thief in the night bible verse