Well, if you read the whole chapter of Matt 24, then you readily see Jesus is telling the disciples to always be on the watch for him because no one knows his return time. They earlier pose the question about when the things he's relating will happen.
Matthew 24:3 GW
As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will this happen? What will be the sign that you are coming again, and when will the world come to an end?"
Jesus does his parables to answer them. He keeps going into the next chapter.
It's not for any other purpose.
Out of context, as usual, the verse has little meaning and can be used for any nefarious purpose.