What does Matthew 24:44 mean?
Jesus is the Son of Man, a title from Old Testament prophecy (Daniel 7:13) which Christ often applies to Himself (Matthew 9:6; 16:27; 20:18). As He teaches His disciples in this moment, He is sitting on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:3) with a clear view of the Jewish temple. At the time He speaks, none of the things He has described in this passage have yet come to pass. He has yet to be arrested, tried, crucified, or resurrected. He has not yet returned to heaven. He is still very much with these men He is training.However, He is warning them with great urgency. A season is coming when He will be gone (John 16:4–5) and the world will be waiting for His return as King and the Judge (Hebrews 9:28). He has been clear that nobody will know when that moment is coming (Matthew 24:36). Nobody can know. The only way to be ready for His return is a constant state of preparedness (Matthew 24:43). Jesus' will for His people is to live each day as if He might appear at any moment.
The parable in the following verses describes some of what faithful, expectant living should look like.