Keep Watch, Therefore: Christian Readiness for Christ's Return in Matthew 24–25

This monograph investigates how Jesus characterizes his disciples’ readiness for his coming in the eschatological discourse of Matthew 24–25. Rather than attempting to reconstruct an end-times chronology or resolve every interpretive controversy associated with the discourse, the study examines how eschatological expectation relates to the disciples’ conduct during the period of waiting. Using a bibliographical and exegetical approach, the research analyzes selected textual units concerning the unknown timing of the coming (Matt 24:36–44), the faithful and wise servant and the ten virgins (Matt 24:45–25:13), the servants entrusted with their master’s property (Matt 25:14–30), and the coming of the Son of Man in glory and the judgment scene (Matt 25:31–46). Relevant interpretive disagreements are considered without assuming that the proposed analytical categories constitute a formal literary structure established by Matthew. The findings support, with qualifications, the hypothesis that Christian readiness may be understood through complementary dimensions of watchfulness, faithfulness, perseverance, and responsibility. Watchfulness and faithfulness receive direct textual support, while perseverance and responsibility function as analytical categories developed through the examination of the relevant passages. The study also recognizes the importance of evaluation and consequences within the eschatological horizon of the discourse, while maintaining interpretive caution concerning the identity of the “least of these my brothers” and the relationship between actions, judgment, and salvation. The monograph concludes that Christian readiness does not depend on determining the timing of Christ’s return. Rather, it concerns the disciples’ response during the period of waiting, within—not in place of—the eschatological horizon of Matthew 24–25. This work was originally prepared as an undergraduate final research monograph submitted to the Instituto Cristão de Pesquisas (ICP) / Dr. Walter Martin School of Apologetics and Theology as part of the Interdenominational Bachelor’s Program in Theology. The present English-language edition is based on the original Portuguese monograph, Vigiai, Pois — A Prontidão Cristã Diante da Volta de Cristo em Mateus 24–25. The author is also developing InfoChoice Research Commons (IRC), an interdisciplinary research and academic collaboration initiative within InfoChoice. Information about IRC and opportunities for academic collaboration is provided at the end of the publication.