Matthew 21:36 says that only the Father shall know the time at which Jesus shall return to the earth. Since Jesus is divine and the nature of God is omniscient, does this pose a challenge to the omniscience of God?
"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the Father."
The question of the lack of knowledge of Jesus concerning the moment of the second coming is a complex subject that raises hermeneutical and theological issues. By examining the Scriptures, in particular the Gospel of Mark (13:32), where Jesus declares that only the Father knows the day and time of his return, we are led to reflect on the nature of divine omniscience. This text is often at the heart of debates about the divinity of Jesus and his incarnation. To answer the question posed, we will explore two main perspectives: hermeneutical and theological.
A. Hermeneutical Perspective
2. Interpretation of Texts The interpretation of biblical texts is crucial to understand the implications of Jesus' statement. Theologians, such as Karl Barth and Thomas Aquinas, have approached this issue by emphasizing that the incarnation does not mean that Jesus has ceased to be God. On the contrary, he has chosen to live fully as a man, with all the limitations that this implies. This self-limitation can be perceived as an act of humility and submission to the will of the Father. Thus, the limited knowledge of Jesus concerning the moment of his return is not a contradiction with divine omniscience, but an aspect of the mystery of the incarnation. This leads us to consider the way in which God reveals himself to humanity through Christ.
B. Theological Perspective
1. Nature of the Incarnation The doctrine of the incarnation is essential to understand the relationship between Jesus and the omniscience of God. According to this doctrine, Jesus is both fully God and fully man. In his humanity, he chose not to exercise certain divine attributes, including omniscience, in order to live an authentic human experience. This duality of nature poses a theological challenge, because it implies that Jesus, as a man, really lived limitations. However, this does not diminish his divinity in any way. On the contrary, it highlights the depth of his identification with humanity and his commitment to the salvific mission.
2. Omniscience of God Christian theology affirms that God is omniscient, which means that he knows everything, including the moment of the second coming. The limitation of the knowledge of Jesus does not call into question this omniscience, but rather emphasizes the mystery of the incarnation. God, as the Father, holds a perfect and complete knowledge of history and the future. This distinction between the divine knowledge and the human knowledge of Jesus is crucial. Jesus, in his role as mediator, chose to live a human experience, which includes elements of uncertainty and dependence on the Father. This reinforces the idea that the knowledge of Jesus is fully human in his incarnation, while being rooted in his divine nature.
3. Divine Plan The notion of a divine plan is also relevant in this discussion. The progressive revelation of God throughout the history of salvation implies that certain truths are revealed at the appropriate time. The fact that Jesus does not know the time of his return can be understood as an integral part of this divine plan. This suggests that the knowledge of God is reserved for the Father for reasons beyond our human understanding. This perspective emphasizes the importance of trust and faith in God's revelation. Believers are called to live in expectation and hope, knowing that the moment of the second coming is in the hands of God.
Conclusion In conclusion, Jesus' lack of knowledge regarding the moment of the second coming does not call into question God's omniscience, but rather illustrates the mystery of the incarnation. Jesus chose to live his humanity to the fullest, which implies limitations in knowledge. This invites us to a deeper reflection on the nature of God and revelation in the history of salvation.
The tension between the humanity of Jesus and his divinity is a fundamental aspect of the Christian faith. It reminds us that God, in his love, chose to incarnate to save us while remaining sovereign and omniscient. This understanding enriches our relationship with God and pushes us to live in faith, hope and trust in His perfect plan.
Read my answer to What does it mean that the Word became flesh?.
The key points are:
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being.
— Philippians 2:7 (NLT):
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
— Hebrews 2:17,18
Verse 17 can be expressed in many ways, but they all express the same idea:
For a brief time, Jesus gave up his divine power and abilities and became a mortal physical human being. He was still "God", the person, with his original personality, character, and knowledge of what he used to be. But his only access to supernatural power was through God's holy spirit, and that access to the Father was no different from what is now available to all mortal humans.
As a human being, Jesus was capable of being tempted to sin, and there was much that he no longer knew (though he could have asked) and much that he was no longer capable of doing under his own power.
Compare the situation (at a very superficial, non-religious level) with George W. Bush or Barack Obama.
Unlike with presidents though, Jesus's original divine power and abilities were restored.
(Comparisons to President Trump are not welcome.)
This is where the doctrine of the Hypostatic Union comes in. Whithout a good understanding of this doctrine, confusions are bound to occur.
Hypostatic union (from the Greek: ὑπόστασις hypóstasis, 'person, subsistence') is a technical term in Christian theology employed in mainstream Christology to describe the union of Christ's humanity and divinity in one hypostasis, or individual personhood.
The hypostatic union of His divine and human natures can be seen in John 1:1-14; Philippians 2:6-11; Romans 1:2-5; 9:5; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 1:1-3.
Jesus is God-Man.
“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:” (Rom 8:3, KJV)
“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:” (Php 2:6-7, KJV)
When he incarnated, he put on the likeness of sinful flesh or he was made in the likeness of men.
God became man wihout losing his godness. His humanity that he put on operated on earth. We see that implied in Jn.17:5.
When Jesus made the statement in Matt.24:36, it was his humanity that was in operation.
Does Jesus' lack of knowledge regarding the time of the second coming challenge the omniscience of God?
It's like asking this: Does the taste of fruit in the cup challenge the insipid taste of water?
Inspite of Jesus's full humanity expressed, God the Father remained God. Matt 24:36 says,
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Mat 24:36, KJV)
The Father who is still divine knows that day and the hour showing his omniscience.
God the Father's omniscience was not impeded by Jesus's humanity.
Answer
Jesus’ lack of knowledge regarding the time of the second coming does not challenge the omniscience of God.
If there is a problem, it could be in our understanding.
Explanation
I keep out any of my philosophical inclinations. I leave all the theories and creeds behind. I focus on the Scripture.
When talking about Jesus, the Scripture states:
“having taken the form (morphe) of a servant” (Phlp 2:7; BibleHub).
History states that Jesus was 100% a human being. Hardly people deny this. So, this much is sure.
Thus, morphe of a servant means a human being.
But there is more in the above statement. He actively “took” the form of a human being.
No human has ever taken a form of something at his volition before birth. We are all simply born as human beings unaware of any wishes or ambitions on our part before birth.
Only a Person who existed before can “take” a form He wants!
Do we have any such information like that?
Yes, here it is:
“Christ Jesus who existing in the form (morphe) of God” (Phlp 2:6; BibleHub).
Scripture reveals that Jesus Christ was pre-existing before His incarnation as God.
If morphe of servant is 100% human being, then morphe of God is 100% God. This is an undeniable logical conclusion.
Morphe cannot mean two different things in the same place!
Other Scripture verses prove the same thing:
“The Word was God” (John 1:1)
“And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
So, things are clear to me now. Jesus as the Word existed before His incarnation as God Himself but later, as the Almighty God He took upon Himself the low form of a physical human being.
But what happened in between?
“not considered the to-be-equal-with-God something to be grasped (something to be held on) but EMPTIED Himself” (Phlp 2:6-7; BibleHub).
Who can “empty” himself?
Can a human being empty himself? No.
Can a mighty lion empty itself? No.
Can a tiny ant empty itself? No.
Only an Almighty God can empty Himself! And that is exactly what the Almighty God did and He became a human being!
What did He empty Himself of?
“Empty” is “κενόω” (kenoō) in Greek. BibleHub gives the following explanation under the heading “Usage”:
“The verb κενόω primarily means "to empty" or "to make void." In the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to describe the act of making something of no effect or rendering it powerless. It can also imply the act of divesting oneself of status or privilege.” (https://biblehub.com/greek/2758.htm)
The same Greek word is used in these verses: “void” (Rom 4:14), “made of none effect” (1 Cor 1:17), “void” (1 Cor 9:15), and “in vain” (2 Cor 9:3).
The word clearly shows that God forsook all the glory, power, status and privileges of Godhead.
The same word does not refer to any “concealment” or “putting on something above an existing something”, “union of 2 things” etc. It simply means “putting off what was before”.
So, when Jesus Christ walked on the earth as a man, He was 100% a human being without any attributes of a powerful God. He hungered, felt thirsty and got tired. Anybody could hurt Him (in fact they killed Him). He prayed to His Father God.
Please don’t misunderstand: He is the same Person who was God. So, in that sense, Jesus is God but without the glory and power of Godhead.
Scripture confirms:
“Jesus Christ, the same (Person) yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8).
As a 100% human, Jesus said:
“I am able to do nothing from Myself; just as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, for I do not seek My will, but the will of the One sending Me, the Father” (John 5:30).
As a 100% human without Godly power, Jesus said:
“But concerning that day and the hour, no one knows, not the angels, those in Heaven, nor the Son, except the Father” (Mar 13:32).
So how did Jesus do the mighty things?
Jesus Himself answers:
“And Jesus lifted His eyes upward and said, Father, I thank You that You heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me” (John 11:41-42).
“…I cast out the demons by the Spirit of God…” (Mat 12:28).
So, Jesus was able to do many mighty miraculous acts through the help of God the Father.
Yes, Jesus did everything through His Father who was ever ready to hear and help His Son.
Does Jesus know the day and hour now?
Yes, He knows. After His resurrection, He declared:
“All authority in Heaven and on earth was given to Me” (Mat 28:18).
A Person who has started wielding ALL authority in Heaven and on earth (as before the incarnation) will definitely know the day and hour of His second coming.
“Because you kept the Word of My patience, I also will keep you out of the hour of trial which is going to come on all the habitable world in order to try those dwelling on the earth” (Rev 3:10).
This is talking about the Great Tribulation that is to come at the end of the world. How can Jesus protect His followers if He doesn’t know when that “hour” is coming?
So, He knows now!
Conclusion
“with God all things are possible” (Mat 19:26).
Problem is with the limitations of human understanding.
Yes and no. Humanly he was "in every way" one of us. So humanly, he didn't know, yet in his divinity, he knew.
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil-- ... 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. [Heb 2:14, 17 NIV]
In the boat, he slept as humans do and was unaware of the storm. Yet, when awoken, he got up and rebuked the storm as only God can do.
37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. 38 But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" 39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. [Mar 4:37-39 NKJV]
It's beyond all of us!
116 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. [1Ti 3:16 NKJV]
