Matthew 24:36, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”
This verse is often taken out of context, misinterpreted, and applied to the wrong coming.
The context of Matt. 24 is the signs of tribulation and the second coming. Jesus tells them the birth pains that will precede His coming [vv. 4-29], with the sign of the Son of Man in heaven [v. 30]. So “That day” refers to v. 30, the second coming.
The general time period of his second coming will be known but not the precise day and hour [24:42, 44, 50; 25:13]. We can know the days but not the day.
v. 36b: “no, not the angels in heaven, but my Father only.”
God has chosen not to reveal to angels the exact day and hour of his second coming.
Not even the Son knew when Jesus spoke these words and neither anytime in his earthly ministry. Though fully God and man, Jesus voluntarily restricted the use of certain divine attributes when he became flesh.
Phil. 2:6, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” MacArthur says in his commentary…
“Made Himself of no reputation. “ This is more clearly translated "emptied Himself." This refers to the doctrine of Christ's self-emptying in His incarnation. This was a self-renunciation, not an emptying Himself of deity nor an exchange of deity for humanity Jesus did, however, renounce or set aside His privileges in several areas:
(1) heavenly glory—while on earth He gave up the glory of a face-to-face relationship with God and the continuous outward display and personal enjoyment of that glory;
(2) independent authority—during His incarnation Christ completely submitted Himself to the will of His Father;
(3) divine prerogatives—He set aside the voluntary display of His divine attributes and submitted Himself to the Spirit's direction;
(4) eternal riches—while on earth Christ was poor and owned very little; and
(5) a favorable relationship with God—He felt the Father's wrath for human sin while on the cross.
During Christ’s time on earth he did not know the precise day and time He would return to earth at his second coming. The Father alone knew.
Jesus regained full knowledge after the resurrection as implied in Scripture.
Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
Acts 1:7, “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”
Note that after his resurrection, Jesus did not mention his lack of knowledge of that day and hour as he did in Matt. 24:36.
A second view is that Jesus is speaking from human knowledge not divine omniscience.
