Does Jesus know when He will come back?

TL;DR:

Jesus didn’t know the day or hour of His return while on earth, showing the real limits of His humanity. Whether He knows now isn’t stated, but He is coming back.

When explaining when He would return, Jesus included Himself among those who did not know His return date (Matthew 24:36). At that time, in His humanity, Jesus did not know when He would return.

How it is that the Son of God, who is fully divine (Colossians 2:9) and knows everything (John 16:30; 21:17) but who is also fully human (Philippians 2:6–7) does not know when He is coming?It’s clear from Jesus’ statement that such limited knowledge in His humanity kept Him from knowing.

However, does Jesus now know when He will return? We don't know for sure. After the resurrection, when asked if the restoration time was at hand, Jesus did not repeat His previous statement of not knowing (Acts 1:7a). That may imply He now knows the time. However, Scripture never explicitly says that He does. Jesus is coming back, that is for certain, and the timing of it is grounded in the Father’s timing (Acts 1:7b).

from the old testament

When Jesus is coming back is not mentioned in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

Jesus had two natures. First and foremost, Jesus was fully and eternally divine (i.e., John 1:1). This means that He is omniscient in His divine nature, knowing everything perfectly (Colossians 2:3). Even after adding on humanity, Jesus kept His divine nature and thus, in His divinity, remained omniscient (i.e., John 16:30; 21:17).
In the incarnation (His birth), Jesus added on human nature (Philippians 2:6–7). In that second nature, He is fully human, being limited like all other humans. He has physical limitations like the need for food and water (Matthew 4:2; John 4:7) as well as knowledge limitations, and why Luke could comment that “Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man” (Luke 2:52). It is because of His limitations that He would ask genuine questions to learn information (John 11:34).
While we can't understand how Jesus could be fully unlimited in His divinity and yet humanly limited at the same time, we affirm that because that is what Scripture teaches. When asking whether or not Jesus knows when He will return, we are talking exclusively about whether He knows in His humanity. On that point, Jesus explicitly said He did not, at least before His death and resurrection. In Matthew 24:36, He said, “concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” In short, Jesus specifically said that He did not know.
Jesus did not repeat this lack of knowledge after the resurrection. After His resurrection and before He ascended, the disciples asked Him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Jesus answered, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). The suggestion is that Jesus no longer said He didn’t know because, in His post-resurrection state, He now knew. However, this is merely speculative.
Nothing in Scripture explicitly says that Jesus now knows or does not know when He will return. What we do know is that the Son is fully submitted to the Father (John 5:19; 6:38; 1 Corinthians 15:28), that He will return, and that the timing of His return is according to the Father (Acts 1:7b).

implications for today

When asked about the end-time events, Jesus emphasized that believers are to be watchful because the end will come suddenly. Whether or not Jesus knows now when He will return is of little importance. What matters is whether or not we are prepared.

In Matthew 25, Jesus gave a parable about ten virgins waiting for a wedding party to arrive. Half of them prepared themselves by buying plenty of oil in advance. That allowed them to keep their lamps lit for an unknown amount of time. The other half carelessly assumed they knew when the party would start and brought very little oil. That half was caught off guard and was shut out from the party.

Jesus’ point was that we are to be ready to wait out His return for an unknown period. The lack of specificity is intended to keep us watchful and in constant preparedness, like the five virgins. We remain prepared because we know that when He comes, it will be sudden. Those who are not prepared, who assume they have time to repent and get ready, will find themselves shut out.

If you are reading this and have not yet trusted in Jesus as your Savior, you are like the unprepared virgins. Perhaps you are reading this site because you are curious to know when Jesus will return. Put simply: we don’t know, but we know He is coming! What then should you do? Prepare for His unexpected arrival now. To do that, repent of your sin and trust in Him, and you will be saved and ready when He comes (Romans 10:9–10)!

understand

Jesus is fully divine and fully human, and His statement that He did not know the day of His return refers to the real limitations of His humanity during His earthly ministry.
Before His death and resurrection, Jesus did not know the timing of His return, while remaining fully omniscient in His divine nature.
The Bible does not explicitly state whether the risen Christ now knows the exact timing, but it emphasizes that the Father determines it.

reflect

How do you trust what Scripture clearly reveals about Christ, even when you cannot fully understand how His two natures work together?
How are you faithfully living for Christ today as you await His return?
How does seeking Christ’s return while trusting in the Father’s authority encourage or challenge you?

engage

How does the doctrine of the incarnation help us understand statements like Matthew 24:36 without diminishing Christ’s deity?
What biblical boundaries should guide us when Scripture is silent on questions such as whether the glorified Christ now knows the timing of His return?
How should the Father’s authority over the timing of Christ’s return shape our trust in Him?