As we come to the close of Matthew 24, we find the Lord giving His disciples a parable to push home the truth of their need to "watch" for His coming. Remember, the Lord is talking to his disciples right there with Him. They have asked Him questions concerning the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, His Parousia, and the end of the Jewish age.
Their question was basically twofold: (1) when will these things happen and (2) what signs will precede them? Yeshua has given them several signs already. He has told them that the gospel would be preached in all the world (vs. 14), He has told them that they would see the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by Daniel (vs. 15), He has told them that they would see the great tribulation (vs.21), and He has informed them that they would see the collapse of the heaven and earth of Jerusalem (vs. 29). All of these things would mark the ending the Jewish age and the manifesting of the parousia of Christ. And they would all happen in their generation.
Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Matthew 24:34 ESV
A generation was about 40 years, so they knew that the Lord would return in their life time. But just as Yeshua had told them, they did not know the "day or the hour."
"But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. Matthew 24:36 ESV
Because they did not know the day or hour, they were to always be ready and watching.
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:42 ESV
In light of His coming in judgment on Jerusalem, Yeshua cautioned His disciples to "stay awake." This exhortation to stay awake was not given to us twenty-first century Christians. It was given to those first-century Christians. We must understand this or we will never understand what our Lord is saying here.
The words "stay awake" are contained in the Greek word gregoreuo. It means to, keep awake, i.e. watch (lit. or fig.), be vigilant, be on the alert. I think it is best translated as "be on the alert." It is possible to be awake but not be alert. The Greek word found here is in the present imperative which gives the meaning of "to be constantly on the alert." Would it make sense for Yeshua to urge His disciples "to be constantly on the alert" for something that was not going to take place for another 2,000 years or so? Some think so.
Cook said, "The use of the second person does not necessarily imply, as Meyer maintains, that our Lord represents His presence in judgment as coming during the lifetime of the disciples. They, like the rest of mankind, are to be kept in ignorance of that day: this very ignorance is to be the ground of their watchfulness: and it is equally their duty, and that of all men, to watch, whether the day is fixed in God's counsels within their own lifetime or not."
I think the second person does imply that he was speaking to the disciples. But we do not need an implication when we have plenty of clear internal biblical evidence that He was to come during the lifetime of the disciples.
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom." Matthew 16:27-28 ESV
Their Lord had told them that He would come in their lifetime, but because they did not know the day or hour, they (first-century Christians) were to always be watching. Since we know the day was fixed in their lifetime, it was that generation and that generation alone that was to be on the alert for His coming. They were to be watching for His coming in judgment upon that wicked city of Jerusalem. Israel's house was to be destroyed. Christians who were alert could escape the judgment on the city by fleeing from it, as their Lord had instructed them.
"So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. Matthew 24:15-18 ESV
The lives of those early Christians were dependent upon their watchfulness. They were to be watching for their Lord's coming in judgment upon apostate Israel. Before we go any further, let me ask you this question: Who was to be watching/alert? Christians! Isn't that whom the Lord was talking to?
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:43-44 ESV
This comparison of the Lord's coming to that of a thief in the night is found in several places in the New Testament. As we look at these different texts, please take note of who is being addressed. Paul exhorts them to be always ready for the coming of Christ in judgment because it would come with suddenness and surprise.
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 ESV
Whom is he speaking to? Paul calls them "Brothers" and by that he means Christians. How did they know this about the day of the Lord? Their Lord had told them in His sermon on the Mount of. The phrase "day of the Lord" is an expression taken from the Tanakh where it is used many times in regards to the judgments and destruction of various nations. It usually meant a time when God Himself would punish or judge people by means of the armies of other people. The invading armies of other nations brought judgment and destruction upon various nations. These times were each called "the day of the Lord" when they were proclaimed of the Lord.
While the various references to "the day of the Lord" in the Tanakh referred to various nations, the reference in all such expressions in the New Testament are to that "day of the Lord" which came in A. D. 70 when the nation Israel was destroyed. The phrase "The day of the Lord," therefore, in 1 Thessalonians 5, refers to Jerusalem's destruction by the Roman armies. Paul taught that it would come "as a thief in the night." We can see by comparing the Thessalonian passage with Matthew 24 that the destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman armies in A. D. 70 and the coming of the Lord are synonymous events.
While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 1 Thessalonians 5:3-4 ESV
Notice the difference here between the "you" and the "they" ("They say," "destruction comes upon them," "they shall not escape," "but you, brothers."). The Lord is a thief in the night only to those who are not watching. Therefore, the Christians are admonished to watch.
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV
Peter uses this same idea of the Lord's coming as a thief in the night:
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 2 Peter 3:10 ESV
Yeshua used it, Paul used it, Peter used it, and John uses it in quoting Yeshua:
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3 ESV
Notice what Yeshua taught. He would come as a thief if they were not watching.
("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") Revelation 16:15 ESV
Again, we see Christ's coming as a thief and the blessedness of those watching.
Common in all of these passages is the idea of suddenness and the unexpectedness of the coming; and consequently, the danger of unpreparedness on the part of those first- century saints who saw the promise of His parousia fulfilled.
To us, the idea of a thief means one who takes goods secretly and silently without doing violence. But the original word means one who does it by housebreaking or by highway violence. Yeshua had told them he was coming, and they were to be expecting so that they would be prepared for it. If a man knows the approximate time a thief may come to break into his house, he takes precautions and prepares accordingly.
Let me illustrate. When I was in youth work, several of the teens in the program would come by my house in the middle of the night and cover my trees with toilet paper. The precious little darlings would also take the wood from my wood pile and spread it all over my yard. These little visits of theirs would take me some time to clean up. This happened on several occasions. To say the least, I was not too thrilled with their expression of love. One night before a big youth activity, I received an anonymous phone call from someone telling me that the teens were going to TP my house that night.
I was thrilled! I waited up all night in the front bedroom ready for their arrival. Every time I heard a car, I would look to see if it was them. I fell asleep a couple of times, but I woke up at each sound I heard. I was ready for their coming. But they never came. That morning, as the teens were arriving for the activity and getting on the bus, one of them said to me with a big smirk on his face, "Did you get a good night's sleep last night?" They got me!
Well, let me say that the Lord is not like those kids. He was not pulling a prank on the first-century saints. He told them to be alert because He was going to come in their generation and destroy Jerusalem and the Old Covenant system.
In verse 44, the Lord told His disciples,
Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Matthew 24:44 ESV
The Greek word for "ready" is hetoimos. It is from an old noun heteos (fitness); adjusted, i.e. ready: prepared. Luke puts this same warning this way:
"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." Luke 21:34-36 ESV
Let me say that "whole earth" is a bad translation. It is translated from the Greek word ge and is best translated here as "land" (i.e. Jerusalem), as the context demonstrates.
"But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Luke 21:20 ESV
The subject here is Jerusalem not the whole earth. They were to always be watching and praying that they would be able to escape the coming judgment upon Jerusalem.
To drive home the need of watchfulness, the Lord gave His disciples a parable to contrast the difference there would be between those who were watching and those who were not.
"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:45-51 ESV
This parable intensifies the need to "watch." The contrast is extreme! Those who are faithful servants are blessed and put in charge of all the master's goods. Those who are not faithful are cut in half. That is a strong contrast.
Let me say a word here about parables. A parable is a brief story or narrative drawn from human life or from nature. Although it does not relate to some actual event, it is true to life and concerns something very familiar to the listeners. A parable is given for the purpose of teaching "a" spiritual truth. In other words, it is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The etymological meaning of the word parable is "a placing alongside of" for the purpose of comparison.
The intention of parabolic teaching is given by Christ in Matthew 13:11-17. First, it is a method of teaching the responsive disciple. The second intent of parabolic teaching was to hide the truth from the unresponsive and so aid in the hardening of their hearts as they continuously rebelled against God.
Bernard Ramm, in his book Protestant Biblical Interpretation, wrote: "The golden rule of parabolic interpretation is–Determine the one central truth the parable is attempting to teach. Practically all writers on the subject mention it with stress."
Dodd says, "The typical parable presents one single point of comparison, the details are not intended to have independent significance." Others have put the rule this way: Don't make a parable walk on all fours. So, our objective, as we study this parable, is to find its one central message.
It should be clear that this parable is an amplification of one word which our Lord gave to his disciples after he had outlined the course of events. He said to them, "Be alert!" That word is stressed throughout this whole passage. It is the one command Yeshua gives to those who are waiting for His coming. This parable tells us what it means to be alert.
What did our Lord mean when He said, "be alert?" Our Lord did not mean that they were to be standing forever gazing up into the heavens like an air raid sentry on duty. He meant that they were to live a life of faithfulness to His commands. The word "then" indicates the connection with the preceding verses as if to say, "such readiness implies faithfulness." The ever-present anticipation of His return was to keep them faithful in the midst of the apostasy that surrounded them. Lang says, "Watching is here indicated in its concrete form, as fidelity to the calling."
In this parable, we have a household whose master is away and the household is waiting for him to return. The master has appointed certain servants and given them responsibility during the time of his absence. The only activity mentioned is that of feeding the household. These servants have the primary and important task of feeding the household at the proper time. That is the first essential, then, in being alert/watching. Watching included feeding and being fed by the Word of God. This is most obvious in the parable, is it not? The household must be fed the Word of God or they will, out of ignorance, turn back to Judaism and would thus be destroyed in its fall. That is basic, fundamental. If they do not eat, they will not survive; they will perish. They can do nothing else until they have established their health and strength by eating. Feeding the flock of God was the primary responsibility of the church's leaders.
When they had finished breakfast, Yeshua said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." He said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Yeshua said to him, "Feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 ESV
In this text, Yeshua said the following three times: "Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep." One of those times, the middle time, He used poimino (to shepherd). But the first and third times He used the word "bosco" instead of "poimino." The verb bosco was used both literally and figuratively for feeding animals or providing nourishment. The verb poimino included other duties of shepherding the flock such as guiding, guarding, and ruling (literally or figuratively). "Bosco," then, emphasizes the primary duty of the shepherd to feed the sheep.
for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Acts 20:27-28 ESV
Paul taught them the Word of God. He told these elders that their task was to "care for the church of God." "Care for" is from the Greek word "poimaino" which means "to shepherd." Shepherding can be boiled down to "feed and lead." In other words, a shepherd is to teach the Word of God and live out a godly example. The Puritans sparked renewal in large part through their commitment to preaching as the pastor's primary task. J. I. Packer states,
"To the Puritan, faithful preaching was the basic ingredient in faithful pastoring." He then cites John Owen, who wrote, "The first and principal duty of a pastor is to feed the flock by diligent preaching of the Word. This feeding is of the essence of the office of a pastor." [A Quest for Godliness, Crossway Books, p. 2830].
As the early church was taught the truth of the New Covenant, they were being protected from apostasy. The Word of God is truth. It is the unveiling of reality. It is the revelation of the way things really are. Thus, if you are going to live, you have got to know what life is all about and the way things really are. That is why the word of truth is also food. It is referred to as such in many places in Scripture. In his first letter, Peter exhorts us:
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation–1 Peter 2:2 ESV
There is a certain quality about the Word of God that is like milk to a baby. It feeds and establishes life. In another place, the writer of Hebrews mentions the strong meat of the word:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:12-14 ESV
It touches everything. You never can understand life unless you understand the Word of God. Paul told Timothy that in order to prevent apostasy, he was to continue in doctrine:
Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1 ESV
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Timothy 4:13-16 ESV
Timothy was to save himself and his hearers from apostasy by continuing in the Word. The faithful servants are those who were involved in teaching the truth of Scripture.
Notice that the faithful servants are blessed. Because of their faithfulness, they are made rulers over all the master's goods. We see this principle fleshed out in the life of many saints in the Tanakh. Joseph is just one example of this.
So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. Genesis 39:4 ESV
And not only Joseph, but David, Daniel, and Esther who became more than subjects under their respective masters.
This parable was to the first-century disciples in view of the coming of the Lord, but it applies to us in that God also calls us to be faithful and that faithfulness comes through being diligent students of His Word. The truth that God rewards faithful service still applies to us also. As we spend time in His Word, we will be strengthened in our faithfulness and thus be rewarded by our Lord.
In contrast to the faithful servant, there is the unfaithful servant.
But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,' and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:48-51 ESV
Notice that the wicked servant says, "My master is delayed." The wicked servant then proceeds to "beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards." But to the surprise of the "wicked servant," the master returned when he least suspected. The master did not return to cut the wicked servants distant relatives in pieces; he cut him in pieces. The wicked servant was alive when the master left, and he was alive when the master returned. In this context, "delayed" must be measured against a person's lifetime.
In context, two years could be considered a long time if the master usually returned within six months. It is not hard to imagine that the passage of several decades would lead some to doubt the reliability of the prophecy, especially as the promised generation was coming to a close. The horrendous events of A. D. 70 silenced those who thought his delay would go on.
This wicked servant failed to feed the household of God. The Lord tells us what happened. He began to beat them. He indulged his own appetite to extremes by eating and drinking with the drunken. When the master returned, he found the man failing in his primary task, and he is destroyed. He is cut in two.
This is quite a contrast to the blessing received by the faithful servant. The one was ready, watching, and faithful. The other was not ready, not watching, and unfaithful.
Who is this wicked servant? Many say it represents an unbeliever and his punishment in hell. But does that fit the context? Who is told to be alert/watch? Are unbelievers told to watch? No, it was believers who were to watch for His coming. In Matthew 24, we know that the Lord was talking to His disciples. But notice what Luke adds:
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?" Luke 12:39-41 ESV
The Lord didn't answer Peter directly. He gave the parable now under consideration in Matthew. But Mark's Gospel account gives more details.
Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake–for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning– lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake." Mark 13:33-37 ESV
So, we see that Yeshua was addressing all believers when he said, "watch." He warned them not to get caught sleeping but to be found watching. The idea of sleeping was not to be taken literally. I think the idea is that of morally sleeping, in other words, not being faithful to the Word of God. This idea is seen many places in the New Testament.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
Here Paul is exhorting the believers to walk in love. Walk is speaking of their conduct. They are to put away sin and walk in holiness.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Ephesians 5:3 ESV
They are to do this because they are light and they are to live as children of light.
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8 ESV
They are light. That is their position, their identity. Because of who they are, they are to walk as children of light. That is to be their practice.
for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 5:14-17 ESV
The Greek word used here for sleep is katheudo. It means to lie down to rest, i.e. (by impl.) to fall asleep (lit. or fig.). This is the same word used in Mark. This is a call for believers to "watch," to awake out of sleep. He is speaking about their conduct. They are to wake up and be careful how they walk. The word addresses their practical lives. Notice also:
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5 ESV
Again, he affirms their identity, their position. They are children of light and because of that, they are to stay awake.
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV
"So then"–because of who we are. The word "sleep" here is katheudo and the word "watch" is gregoreuo. These are the same words that our Lord used in the parable of the wicked servant. It is believers who are not to sleep.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:7-9 ESV
The wrath considered here is not speaking of Hell but of the destruction of Jerusalem, a destruction they can escape if they watch. Notice carefully what he says in the next verse:
who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:10 ESV
Whom did the Lord die for? His elect! These are the same Greek words. If they awake or sleep, they will still live together with Yeshua the Christ. The difference is that if they sleep, they will suffer great harm physically.
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Revelation 3:3 ESV
The word "if" is a third-class condition denoting "maybe you will and maybe you won't." If those in Sardis did not wake up, Christ would come to them as a thief (speaking of judgment). If they watched, His coming would not take them by surprise.
Let's go back to our text and see what happens to the wicked servant.
and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:51 ESV
He is cut in pieces–that is physical punishment. It does not say that he is a hypocrite but that he shares in their punishment. Many see the weeping and gnashing of teeth as a reference to hell. I think it is a picture of the pain and torment that was experienced in the Jewish war in A. D. 70. In Luke's version of the parable of the wicked servant, he records Yeshua as saying this:
"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! Luke 12:49 ESV
The fire the Lord kindled is on the ge (land). He is referring to judgment at the hand of the Romans. Each time this phrase is used it is used in relation to Israel and their punishment for rejecting Christ. Their city was burned, destroyed forever.
while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 8:12 ESV
Then the king said to the attendants, 'Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 22:13 ESV
and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 24:51 ESV
And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 25:30 ESV
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. Luke 13:28 ESV
In this closing section, Yeshua is again stressing the need to watch and be ready for his coming. When they saw the signs approaching, they were to flee. He warned them that if they turned back to the decaying system of the Old Covenant, they would greatly suffer for it. They were to "Remember Lot's wife" (Luke 17:32). He would come in their lifetime and bring destruction on Jerusalem. If they were faithful and watched, they could escape.
All of this underscores the importance of feeding on and knowing the Word. That is the whole thrust of this parable. It is what our Lord wants to emphasize. What does the Word of God accomplish that makes it so absolutely, fundamentally necessary?
The Word of God reveals Yeshua as the Savior of all who will put their trust in Him. And it thus strengthens and refreshes the human spirit. That is its primary purpose. If it does nothing else than that, it has achieved its major task. It is not to give us information, primarily; it is to help us to see a Person, the Lord Yeshua. What the Son says to us is the ultimate revelation of life. To see the Son through the medium of the Word is to find your own heart attracted and drawn to this marvelous personality, this magnificent One, this spotless, unsullied Son of God in all the magnificence of his strength and greatness. That is the Bible's primary purpose. When you read it, read it for that. Read it to find Christ because He is on every page of the Tanakh and the New Testament. The Bible is all about Yeshua who is the Christ.