“Let
your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”
Luke 12:35-40
Luke 12 [30.] For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. Sell that which you have, and give gifts to the needy. Make for yourselves purses which don’t grow old, a treasure in the heavens that doesn’t fail, where no thief approaches, neither moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luke 12 [35.] “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”
Luke 12 [41.] Peter said to him, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everybody?”
Meaning:
Jesus has just told his “little flock” not to be afraid, because the Father is pleased to give them the Kingdom, and to store up treasure in heaven (Luke 12:32-33). Since their hearts belong where their treasure is, they must live as people who expect their Lord. In two short pictures, servants waiting for their master and a householder surprised by a thief, Jesus calls his disciples to constant readiness for his return.
- “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.”
In Jesus’ day men wore long, loose robes. To work, run or travel, they gathered the robe up and tucked it into a belt. Israel ate the first Passover ready to leave Egypt at a moment’s notice (see Exodus 12:5-8 and the verses that follow). Burning lamps meant servants stayed awake through the night. Together the two images describe people alert and prepared for action.
- “Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast”
Wedding celebrations could last for days, and no one knew when the master would set off for home. Faithful servants did not go to bed; they waited so that “when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.” Mark records a similar parable of a man who went to another country and told his doorkeeper to keep watch: “Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming” (Mark 13:35).
- “he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them”
This is the astonishing heart of the passage. In ordinary life, servants served their master, not the other way round. But this master, finding his servants ready, ties up his own robe, seats them at his table and waits on them himself. Jesus is describing himself. At the Last Supper he said, “But I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27), and in John’s Gospel he wrapped a towel around his waist and washed his disciples’ feet (John 13:4-5). When he returns, he will honour his faithful servants beyond anything they could imagine.
- “if he comes in the second or third watch”
The night was divided into watches. The second and third watches covered the darkest hours, from about nine at night until three in the morning, when it was hardest to stay awake. Even if the master comes late, those still watching are blessed.
- “if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming”
The second picture changes the tone. A thief does not announce his arrival. If a householder knew the hour, he would stay awake and protect his home. Since no one knows the hour of Christ’s coming, the only safe course is to be ready always. Paul wrote, “the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:2). Matthew records the same saying (Matthew 24:43-44).
The Significance of Luke 12:35-40
- Faithful waiting
Readiness is not anxious watching of the sky but faithful living: serving, praying and doing the Lord’s work each day.
- The Lord who serves
The promise that Christ will serve his people reveals his humility and love. It encourages believers to persevere.
- No time for delay
Because the hour is unknown, repentance and faith should not be postponed. Today is the time to be ready.
Cross-References:
Matthew 24:43-44: "Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come." The parallel in Matthew.
Mark 13:35: "Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming," The watchful doorkeeper.
Matthew 25:1-5: The parable of the ten virgins waiting with their lamps for the bridegroom.
1 Thessalonians 5:2: "the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night." The sudden coming of the Lord.
Conclusion: Jesus called his disciples to keep their robes tucked in and their lamps burning, like servants waiting through the night for their master to return from a wedding. Those found watching will be blessed, and the Lord himself will serve them at his table. Because his coming will be as unexpected as a thief, his followers must be ready at every hour.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible