Luke 12:35–40 ESV
35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 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. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Discussion Question
We have three distinct but related pictures in these verses. The first is of servants waiting for their master to return. The second is a master who turns himself into a servant and the third is of a homeowner whose house is broken into. What do these three pictures teach us about the Lord’s return?
Discussion Summary
Verses 35, 36: It is difficult for modern people to relate to the role and responsibilities of servants/slaves in the classical world. This level of watchfulness and attention seems to be centered on the unique celebration the master was returning home from – a wedding, perhaps even his own.
The servants were to remain awake throughout the night which reminds us of the call to action that the Christian is to respond to. Ephesians 5:14.
The servants were to have their clothes gathered and belted so that they would be ready to work. This reminds us of how we wear the spiritual “belt of truth” enabling us to be engaged in God’s work. Ephesians 6:4. Just like soldiers are always dressed in uniform, with their clothes properly buttoned and tucked in so that they are in a mental state of energetic readiness.
The servants were to keep their lamps burning reminding us that we are to keep our inner lamps burning for others. Matthew 5:14-16. We are also to be engaged in the study of God’s word. Psalms 119:105.
Verse 37: Jesus is portrayed as a servant in Isaiah 42. It is a very striking image to think that Jesus would be serving his people instead of the other way around. It is a special honour and reward to his faithful servants. At Jesus’ return he invites his faithful ones to a celebratory supper, the marriage feast of Revelation 19:9. But in this passage in Luke we see a slightly different picture as shown in Revelation 3:20. This is related to John 14:3, “I will come again and take you to myself.”
Verses 38-40: Jesus is here portrayed as a thief breaking into a house unexpectedly. The emphasis is on the unexpected time of the break-in. Therefore, the homeowner has to be ready at all times. This picture is also referred to in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.
We note in Revelation 3:3 a slightly different idea in that returning like a thief is in punishment for not watching properly.
The question for all of us is: What do we do on a daily basis to show our readiness?
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