What Did Jesus Mean When He Said, "Not Even the Son Knows, Only the Father"?

Jesus’ Return, His Humanity, and Omniscience

About His return, Jesus told His disciples, But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, Not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Now, if Jesus is divine, why didn't He know when He'd return?

That's kind of a problem, right? How can we say that Jesus is the all-knowing, all-powerful God, One with the Father, if there's something He didn't know? Well, when Jesus, who is very God and very man, Said not even the Son knows, only the Father, He spoke from His humanity, not His divinity.

Christ’s Humiliation in Philippians 2

Philippians 2, 6 through 8 says that Jesus, Though He was in the form of God, Did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, But emptied Himself by taking the form of a servant Being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form, He humbled Himself By becoming obedient to the point of death, Even death on a cross. So Jesus, who is God, Willingly emptied Himself and took on human flesh, And He accepted the limitations of being human.

He grew hungry and tired, was tempted, experienced sorrow, For crying out loud He was put to death. The Creator of the universe willingly laid down His own life, so we shouldn't be surprised There were things He gave up knowing In submission to His Father.

Jesus Made Like His Brothers and Revealed by the Father

Hebrews 2, 17 says,. Therefore He had to be made like His brothers In every respect, so that He might become A merciful and faithful High Priest In the service of God, to make propitiation For the sins of the people.

He has since ascended back to the right hand of God, Waiting from that time until His enemies Should be made a footstool for His feet. We read at the start of Revelation that the Father Has revealed to Him what must soon take place.

When we understand the text.