Verses 42-44 stress the need for watchfulness, since no one knows when the Son of Man will come. Watch is used here for the first time in the Gospel of Matthew; it is found also in verse 43 and in 25.13; 26.38, 40, 41. The basic meaning of the word is “keep awake,” though it is frequently used in a figurative sense of “be on guard” or “be watchful.” Whether translation should follow the order of the text, Watch therefore, or reverse it, as in “Therefore you should be on your guard,” will depend on the receptor language.

What day is “what hour” in the Lukan tradition (12.39). However, the meaning is the same, and one may even render it as “when” or “at what time.” In 25.13 Matthew combines the two: “… you know neither the day nor the hour.”

Your Lord is an interesting shift from “the Son of man” (verses 39, 44). It is quite possible that your Lord was introduced by Matthew under the influence of Mark 13.34-35, which gives a brief parable about “the lord of the house” who returns without warning to check up on his servants. Matthew makes specific application to the Christian community: “the lord of the house” has now become your Lord in the absolute sense.

Lord has been discussed elsewhere in this Handbook. See particularly 8.2. Here it occurs with the second person your. The fact that Jesus is referring to himself has led some translators to use first person, as in “I who am your Lord.” But as is the case with Son of Man, discussed at 8.20, if at all possible translators should not use “I.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .