Luke 12:40
in Luke 12You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
KJV
Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
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This verse in Luke 12
Commentary
14 notes on this verseWhat is the mark of a Christian? It is to watch daily and hourly and to stand prepared in that state of total responsiveness pleasing to God, knowing that the Lord will come at an hour that he does not expect.
This site's exposition
If the homeowner had known
on Luke 12:39-40
The thief adds an edge of danger to the call to readiness. Whether the one coming is pictured as master or thief, the withheld timing of the Son of Man is the point of both pictures.
This site's exposition
the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect
Gregory the Great taught that the Lord kept the last hour unknown, so that men would always expect it and be ready without ceasing. Theophylact reads the Son of Man here as the thief of verse 39, who comes to the house at an hour no one knows.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church5 voices
Our Lord willed that the final hour be unknown to us so that it might always be regarded with suspicion, so that since we cannot foresee it, we might prepare ourselves for it without ceasing. Therefore, my brothers, fix the eyes of your mind upon the condition of your mortality; prepare yourselves for the coming Judge through daily weeping and lamentation. And since certain death awaits all, do not think about the uncertain provision of temporal life. Let not the care of earthly things weigh you down. For however great the masses of gold and silver that surround the flesh, however precious the garments in which it is clothed, what is it other than flesh? Therefore do not consider what you have, but what you are. Do you wish to hear what you are? The prophet declares, saying: "Truly the people are grass." For if the people are not grass, where are those who celebrated with us the feast of blessed Felix's birthday a year ago, which we celebrate today? O how many and how great were the thoughts they had about provision for the present life, but when the moment of death crept upon them, they were suddenly found in those circumstances they had been unwilling to foresee, and they lost all the temporal things at once which, having been gathered together, they seemed to hold securely. If therefore the multitude of the human race that has passed flourished in the flesh through birth and withered to dust through death, it was evidently grass. Since therefore the hours flee with their moments, act, dearest brothers, so that they may be retained in the reward of good work. […]
And here too, look how the Lord explains who the thief is. "Therefore be ready, you also," He says, "for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." Some say that by those watching in the first watch are understood …
Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. For while the master of the house is unaware, the thief breaks into the house: because while the spirit sleeps, neglecting self-guarding, an unexpected death comes, …
(Hom. 13. in Ev.) But the last hour our Lord wishes to be unknown to us, in order as we cannot foresee it, we may be unceasingly preparing for it.
Some understand this thief to be the devil, the house, the soul, the goodman of the house, man. This interpretation, however, does not seem to agree with what follows. For the Lord's coming is compared to the thief as suddenly at hand, according to the word of the Apostle, The day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. (1 Thess. 5:2.) And hence also it is here added, Be ye also ready, for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Then he concludes the principal intention. And you also be ready, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of man will come. The Gloss: "The Lord always wished the last hour to be unknown, so that it might always be suspected, and …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
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.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
Be ye therefore ready also - It is pretty evident that what is related here, from Luk 12:35 to Luk 12:49, was spoken by our Lord at another time. See Mat 24:42 (note), etc., and the notes there.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
loins . . . girded--to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (2Ki 4:29; The meaning is, Be in readiness. lights, &c.--(See on Mt 25:1).
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase+unbalanced-parens
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
Let us mark, firstly—what a gracious word of consolation this passage contains for all true believers. The Lord Jesus well knew the hearts of His disciples. He knew how ready they were to be filled with fears of every description: fears because of the fewness of their number, fears because of the multitude of their enemies , fears because of the many difficulties in their way, fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness . He answers these many fears with a single golden sentence—"Fear not, little flock—it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!" Luke 12:32 Believers are a "little flock." They always have been, ever since the world began. Professing Christians have sometimes been very many. Baptized people at the present day are a great company. But true Christians are very few. It is foolish to be surprised at this. It is vain to expect it will be otherwise until the Lord comes again. "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leads unto life—and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:14.) All true believers have a glorious "kingdom" awaiting them! Here upon earth—they are often mocked and ridiculed, and persecuted—and, like their Master, despised and rejected by men. But "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed to us!" "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear—then shall you also appear with Him in glory." (Romans 8:18, Colossians 3:4.) Believers are tenderly loved by God the Father. It is "the Father's good pleasure" to give them the kingdom. He does not receive them grudgingly, unwillingly and coldly. He rejoices over them as members of His beloved Son in whom He is well pleased. He regards them as His dear children in Christ. He sees no spot in them.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
Let us mark, firstly—what a gracious word of consolation this passage contains for all true believers. The Lord Jesus well knew the hearts of His disciples. He knew how ready they were to be filled with fears of every description: fears because of the fewness of their number, fears because of the multitude of their enemies , fears because of the many difficulties in their way, fears because of their sense of weakness and unworthiness . He answers these many fears with a single golden sentence—"Fear not, little flock—it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom!"
The words behind it
14 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | Also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ὑμεῖς | humeis | you yourselves | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| γίνεσθε | ginesthe | do be | G1096 → | 667 times |
| ἕτοιμοι, | hetoimoi | ready, | G2092 → | 17 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | for | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ᾗ | he | in the | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| ὥρᾳ | hora | hour | G5610 → | 106 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| δοκεῖτε | dokeite | you expect | G1380 → | 62 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| υἱὸς | huios | Son | G5207 → | 377 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀνθρώπου | anthropou | of Man | G444 → | 549 times |
| ἔρχεται.¶ | erchetai | comes. | G2064 → | 628 times |
καὶAlso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ὑμεῖςyou yourselves
humeisG4771 →2973 times
γίνεσθεdo be
ginestheG1096 →667 times
ἕτοιμοι,ready,
hetoimoiG2092 →17 times
ὅτιfor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ᾗin the
heG3739 →1405 times
ὥρᾳhour
horaG5610 →106 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
δοκεῖτεyou expect
dokeiteG1380 →62 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
υἱὸςSon
huiosG5207 →377 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
ἀνθρώπουof Man
anthropouG444 →549 times
ἔρχεται.¶comes.
erchetaiG2064 →628 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Mark 13:35–37
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
- 1 Corinthians 15:34
Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
Through
Matthew 24:44For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.
it leads to
- Matthew 24:42
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Matthew 24:42
Through
Matthew 25:13Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
it leads to
- Matthew 24:42–44
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
- Revelation 16:15
“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed.”
- Matthew 24:42–44
Where this verse is studied
About Luke
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Basil of Caesarea, THE MORALS 22; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 12; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 13; Gregory the Dialogist, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.