Luke 12:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: 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.

NIV: like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

NASB: You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks.

CSB: You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

NLT: as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.

KJV: And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

NKJV: and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.

Luke 9:51—19:27 is sometimes labeled as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem." The text does not give a detailed account of Jesus' travels from Galilee to Jerusalem, but recounts how He prepares His disciples to process His impending crucifixion and resurrection, and to build the church. Jesus wants them to recognize the signs of the coming kingdom of God and teach others, as well. Luke 12:35–40 includes a general warning to be alert and ready to serve when needed.

Jesus compares the disciples to servants of a man who is away at a wedding feast. The servants do not know when their master will return; wedding feasts in that culture could last up to a week. Good servants keep the home and themselves prepared to greet their master at any hour. This parable must confuse the disciples. They expect Jesus to gather followers, go to Jerusalem, and free Israel from Roman occupation. The parable, however, infers that Jesus will go away and return. The disciples don't yet grasp that Jesus will die, be raised again, and ascend into heaven while they build the church. Jesus tells them this parable so they will remember what to do when He does leave (John 14:26).

The wording used here resembles that of another parable. In Matthew 25:1–13, Jesus tells the story of ten virgins who await the arrival of the bridegroom who will take them to his wedding. They do not know when he will appear. Five of them have enough oil to last the night; the other five run out. The five who are alert and prepared go with the bridegroom; the five with no oil are rejected.

Much later, Jesus will tell John His judgment of the church at Laodicea. He says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). Jesus' servants can't open the door if they're not awake enough to hear His knock.

This parable is not meant to refer to the wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7). There, Jesus' followers will be present with Him, not awaiting Jesus' return.

Luke 12:35–40 explains that those who wish to live in God's kingdom need to be ready for its arrival. Jesus has told His disciples to hold their integrity more tightly than their lives (Luke 12:1–12). He has taught them to not worry about wealth or even the necessities of life. Instead, they should trust God for their needs while they wait like servants for their master's return (Luke 12:13–34). Next, He explains that leaders in God's kingdom will have even more responsibilities (Luke 12:41–48). Matthew and Mark also touch on the theme (Matthew 24:43–44; 25:1–12; Mark 13:34–37).

Jesus teaches the disciples about proper priorities. This includes recognizing that God knows all things, even secrets. Believers should honor God more than they fear death, or than they worry about things like food and clothes. Christians are to remain ready for Christ's return, even as faith separates those who believe from those who do not. These ideas revolve around the central theme of verse 34: that a person's heart reflects what they value most.

Luke 12:1—13:9 compares the world with the kingdom of God. Jesus has condemned the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 11:14–54). He now instructs His disciples to reject the fame and security that Pharisees crave, and hold lightly to their lives, wealth, security, and even family. He then warns the crowd to be wise about their relationships with other people and with God. The next two units each include a miracle and teaching on God's kingdom and salvation (Luke 13:10—15:32). Then the final section in the "travelogue" repeats that three-unit pattern (Luke 16:1—19:27) before Jesus arrives in Jerusalem.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.