SUBJECT:  The Word “Watch”

QUESTION:   What does this word mean and imply?  Isn’t it’s meaning for us to watch ourselves rather than world events?

ANSWER:

I am not about to argue with you as to whether a firstfruit Christian is to watch themselves.  This is clearly an integral part of the Salvation Process.  However, watching oneself does not preclude our watching world events.  It is specific world events that will show us the return of Jesus Christ.

The Bible is expressly clear on the admonition to watch.  In Matthew 24:42 it says, "Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."  Just on the face of that scripture, it would seem that what I am to watch for is the return of my Lord.  How does watching myself make this so?  Notice the meaning of "watch" in this verse:

NT:1127
gregoreuo (gray-gor-yoo'-o); from NT:1453; to keep awake, i.e. watch (literally or figuratively):

KJV - be vigilant, wake, (be) watch (-ful). ~Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary

Whether literally or figuratively, the word means to keep awake, i.e. to watch.  I would assume that if you are watching yourself, you are awake.  It is another thing when considering prophecy and world events.  Strong's gives the use of the word as "watchful".  Webster's dictionary gives the definition as:

1 archaic a : not able or accustomed to sleep or rest : WAKEFUL b : causing sleeplessness c : spent in wakefulness : SLEEPLESS
2 : carefully observant or attentive : being on the watch

"Being on the watch" most naturally denotes or describes a guard on the castle wall.

Admittedly, "gregoreuo" is also used in God's Word to denote watching one's self (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38, etc.), but we contend that the word is used in both cases (watching one's self and watching world events).

Maybe the context of these verses could help.  I believe that you would have to agree that Matthew 24 has something to do with prophecy.  After all, the disciples come to Jesus in verse 3 and ask, "when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"  It would seem natural that if this question was answered, that these men would want to watch for those signs of His coming.  Why else would they ask the question?  Why ask for SIGNS and then not look for them?

Beginning with verse 4 and going through verse 31, Jesus describes and states those signs (prophecies) of His coming and what world events would be like.  Then in verse 32, He gives a four verse parable of the fig tree:

Matthew 24:32-35
32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

Question:  Is this fig tree we watch US or is it the SIGNS of His coming?

Then, beginning in verse 36, Jesus talks about the fact that the time of His coming is unknown.  Notice...

Matthew 24:36-41
36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

This is an interesting set of scriptures that find themselves in the same discourse as a whole list of prophetic events to take place.  The description of people eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage seems to describe a people who are oblivious to that whole list of prophetic events to happen in their time.  It is clearly NOT talking about the importance of the Salvation Process of a firstfruit Christian.  Clearly this is handled elsewhere in the Word of God.

So, we have Jesus giving us a list of SIGNS and then a parable about watching for those signs and then a description of a world who will not be aware of those signs unfolding.  THEN He says something...

Matthew 24:42
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
 

Question:  What are we WATCHING for?  Anything here about watching ourselves?  Notice what Jesus says next...

Matthew 24:43-44
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Question:  What is being denoted by the "thief" here?  Is that thief ourselves?  Should we be watching ourselves in this context?

While still sitting there on the Mount of Olives (Matthew 24:3), Jesus continues to answer the question about what the signs of His coming would be.  He gives us the parable of the 10 virgins.  I am sure you are familiar with this parable, so I will not belabor it overly much.  In verse 5 the bridegroom tarried.  In verse 6, the bridegroom arrived.  The foolish were not ready and they did not have the required oil.  Clearly we ARE talking about Salvation Process here, but notice where the parable goes.

Later, the foolish virgins came to the bridegroom and wanted in, but the door was shut (verse 10).  He then says in verse 13 an all familiar statement...

Matthew 25:13
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
 

We see now a clear bond between examining one's self and watching for world events.  Case in point, if I told you that Christ were returning in 3 months from now, would you work even harder on your Salvation Process?  I believe that all of us would answer yes and this is the point of God's Word.  We are to work on our Personal Salvation Process, keeping one eye on ourselves and one on the signs of His coming.  The latter gives us all the more urgency to do the former.  If the foolish virgins had known that the bridegroom was coming when he did, they might just have gotten to the sellers of the oil.  The point is clear.

Commissions to the Church

What are the commissions to the church?  Is the only commission to watch ourselves?  Is the only commission to feed the flock, which will aid them in the Salvation Process?  Isn't there something about a gospel being spread?

Matthew 24:14-15
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
 

Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
 

Clearly this gospel is the good news of the return of Jesus Christ.  Clearly that message has to do with the end of this age and the beginning of His.  This gospel cannot justify His coming without showing how this age of man is coming to full destruction.  What is the reason of His return anyway?  Back to Matthew 24...

Matthew 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
 

What would so shorten those days that no flesh be saved?  Could it be that long list of prophecies that Jesus gave beginning in verse 4?  Would it not behoove us to watch for these signs?

I believe that we would all admit that being baptized is part of the Salvation Process.  It is, in fact, the second step after repentance of personal sin.  However, why did Christ send Paul into the world?  Let us see...

1 Corinthians 1:14-17
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;

15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Paul says that he was sent to preach the gospel.  Those who preach the gospel must, by definition be a watcher and reporter of world events, especially in an end time age when those end time events herald the return of the being who will bring salvation to the firstfruits and to the world.

How can a person strive to be like Christ and put on Christ and care less as to His return?  And if one cares about His return, how can that person NOT watch for the signs HE GAVE for us to watch?

Luke 21:34-36
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The Son of man is commanding us to watch and His meaning is clear.  Watch both ourselves and world events which precede His return.

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