Luke 12:38 - Printer Friendly

ESV: If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

NIV: It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.

NASB: Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

CSB: If he comes in the middle of the night, or even near dawn, and finds them alert, blessed are those servants.

NLT: He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

KJV: And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

NKJV: And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

This is part of Jesus' parable about responsible servants (Luke 12:35–37). The servants are awaiting their master's return from a wedding. Jewish weddings could last up to a week, so the servants do not know when the master will arrive. They have kept the lights on, and they are dressed to receive and serve him. When the master returns and sees his servants waiting, he is so overjoyed that he sits them at the table and serves them. If he returns later in the night, and they are still up, he is even more pleased (Luke 12:35–37).

The disciples must be confused at this point. Who is the master? Why does he arrive home in the middle of the night? And why is he feeding his servants? That's highly irregular (Luke 17:7–10). Like the rest of the section, Jesus is talking about how His followers should act in their current situations, considering the coming fulfillment of the kingdom of God. They should not prioritize their lives, riches, pleasures, family, or honor above the rewards that will come when Jesus is king (Luke 12:1–34, 41–59). If they can focus on Him and hold lightly to the things of the world, then Jesus, Himself, will bless them.

The watches of the night are shifts when guards are on duty. The second watch is from 9 to 12 pm; the third watch is from 12 to 3 am. Some scholars interpret this verse to mean Jesus' return will be delayed. It's certainly true that the first generation of His followers expected to see His return in their lifetime. It's also true that God is gracious and wants to give everyone the chance they need to repent (Luke 13:6–9; 2 Peter 3:9).

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.