Luke 12:40

In such an hour as you think not, that is, such an hour as they who are unready and unprepared, think not (v. 50); nay, such an hour as the most lively expectants perhaps thought least likely. The bridegroom came when the wise were slumbering. It is agreeable to our present state, that we should be under the influence of a constant and general expectation, rather than that of particular presages and prognostications, which we are sometimes tempted vainly to desire and wish for.That the children of this world are thus wise in their generation, that, when they know of a danger approaching, they will keep awake, and stand on their guard against it. This he shows in a particular instance, v. 43. If the master of a house had notice that a thief would come such a night, and such a watch of the night (for they divided the night into four watches, allowing three hours to each), and would make an attempt upon his house, though it were the midnight-watch, when he was most sleepy, yet he would be up, and listen to every noise in every corner, and be ready to give him a warm reception. Now, though we know not just when our Lord will come, yet, knowing that he will come, and come quickly, and without any other warning than what he hath given in his word, it concerns us to watch always. Note, First, We have every one of us a house to keep, which lies exposed, in which all we are worth is laid up: that house is our own souls, which we must keep with all diligence.

12:22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Mt 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten ourselves with thoughts of evil to come, and put ourselves upon needless cares how to avoid it. If we value the beauty of holiness, we shall not crave the luxuries of life. Let us then examine whether we belong to this little flock. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants; not only working servants, but waiting servants. We must be as men that wait for their lord, that sit up while he stays out late, to be ready to receive him. In this Christ alluded to his own ascension to heaven, his coming to call his people to him by death, and his return to judge the world. We are uncertain as to the time of his coming to us, we should therefore be always ready. If men thus take care of their houses, let us be thus wise for our souls. Be ye therefore ready also; as ready as the good man of the house would be, if he knew at what hour the thief would come.

Be ye therefore ready also,.... Not habitually, but actually, in the exercise of grace, and the discharge of duty, with loins girt, and lights burning. This may be understood either of a readiness to meet the Lord in the way of his judgments, and particularly the destruction of Jerusalem, which was to be in a few years; or of a preparation for death, and the last judgment, which lies in the righteousness of Christ imputed, and his grace imparted: and to have a comfortable view of the one, and a gracious experience of the other, as they will engage to the performance of good works, to which such are ready; so they make meet for the coming of Christ, be it in what way, and whensoever it will: and the rather, a concern should be had for such a preparation, because of the following reason, for the son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not; in either of the above ways; See Gill on Matthew 24:44.

38. second … third watch—To find them ready to receive Him at any hour of day or night, when one might least of all expect Him, is peculiarly blessed. A servant may be truly faithful, even though taken so far unawares that he has not everything in such order and readiness for his master's return as he thinks is due to him, and both could and would have had if he had had notice of the time of his coming, and so may not be willing to open to him "immediately," but fly to preparation, and let his master knock again ere he admit him, and even then not with full joy. A too common case this with Christians. But if the servant have himself and all under his charge in such a state that at any hour when his master knocks, he can open to him "immediately," and hail his "return"—that is the most enviable, "blessed" servant of all.

[Bible] 24:36. But of that day and hour no one knoweth: no, not the angels of heaven, but the Father alone. 24:37. And as in the days of Noe, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 24:38. For, as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, even till that day in which Noe entered into the ark: 24:39. And they knew not till the flood came and took them all away: so also shall the coming of the Son of man be. 24:40. Then two shall be in the field. One shall be taken and one shall be left. 24:41. Two women shall be grinding at the mill. One shall be taken and one shall be left. 24:42. Watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come. 24:43. But this know ye, that, if the goodman of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would certainly watch and would not suffer his house to be broken open. 24:44. Wherefore be you also ready, because at what hour you know not the Son of man will come. 24:45. Who, thinkest thou, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath appointed over his family, to give them meat in season? 24:46. Blessed is that servant, whom when his lord shall come he shall find so doing. 24:47. Amen I say to you: he shall place him over all his goods. 24:48. But if that evil servant shall say in his heart: My lord is long a coming: 24:49. And shall begin to strike his fellow servants and shall eat and drink with drunkards: 24:50. The lord of that servant shall come in a day that he hopeth not and at an hour that he knoweth not: 24:51. And shall separate him and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew Chapter 25 The parable of the ten virgins and of the talents. The description of the last judgment. 25:1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride. 25:2. And five of them were foolish and five wise.

for all these things do the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that ye have need of these things; but seek his kingdom, and [all] these things shall be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it has been the good pleasure of your Father to give you the kingdom. Sell what ye possess and give alms; make to yourselves purses which do not grow old, a treasure which does not fail in the heavens, where thief does not draw near nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. Let your loins be girded about, and lamps burning; and ye like men who wait their own lord whenever he may leave the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those bondmen whom the lord [on] coming shall find watching; verily I say unto you, that he will gird himself and make them recline at table, and coming up will serve them. And if he come in the second watch, and come in the third watch, and find [them] thus, blessed are those [bondmen]. But this know, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be dug through. And ye therefore, be ye ready, for in the hour in which ye do not think [it], the Son of man comes. And Peter said to him, Lord, sayest thou this parable to us, or also to all? And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and prudent steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give the measure of corn in season?

36. Lest coming suddenly lie find you sleeping. This is the conclusion of the charge in the first clause of the preceding verse, the residue of that verse forming a parenthesis, in which the reason is assigned for watching, namely, that they knew not when their master would return. That reason is in fact, though not in form, here carried out by showing why their ignorance should make them watchful. Lest (for fear that) coming suddenly (without immediate warning or affording time for preparation) he find you sleeping, and thereby neglecting his express command as well avS treating him with insolent indifference. The assumption here that they were bound to watch or sit up for their master, which is not the ordinary duty of all servants, seems to show that he considers his apostles as doorkeepers or porters, whose charge it was to watch in this way, and of whom he made specific mention in the close of v. 34. As if he had said, 'you will soon be like servants left at home by their master, and especially hke porters left to guard the door and watch for his return.' The fitness and propriety of this particular comparison, besides the general one to servants, is another delicate but admirable stroke in this inimitable picture. 37. And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watcli.

[Reformed Biblical] ye also ready. Luke 21:36 says, that he charged them to pray always, that they might be accounted worthy to escape those things—the judgments coming upon the wicked—and to stand before the Son of man—i. e. to stand there approved by him, or admitted to his favour. He also charged them Luke 21:34 to take heed, and not to suffer their hearts to be overcharged with surfeiting, or too much eating, or drunkenness, or the cares of this life, lest that day should come upon them unawares; things improper if there were no judgment— peculiarly mad and wicked when the judgment is near. ## THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW - Chapter 24 - Verse 45 Verses 45—51. This passage is in fact a parable, though it is not expressly so called. The design is to show that his disciples should act as if they were each moment expecting his return. This he illustrates by the conduct of a servant who did not expect his master soon to return, who acted with great impropriety, and who was accordingly punished. Verse 45. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, etc. By the conduct o

Matt. xxiv. " watch and pray." Let this doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ be always before our eyes: " Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart. My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow- servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Let these things, I say, be ever before our eyes and minds: and let us pray that God will grant us his principal Spirit ^, and increase it in us day by day; so that by his inspiration and guidance we may discharge the ofiice, which the Lord has assigned us, faithfully and very fruitfully.