Luke 12:39
in Luke 12But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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 have left his house to be broken through.
KJV
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
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This verse in Luke 12
Commentary
13 notes on this verseIn the next parable also he makes a flagrant mistake, when he assigns to the person of the Creator that "thief, whose hour, if the father of the family had only known, he would not have suffered his house to be broken through." How can the Creator wear in any way the aspect of a thief, Lord as He is of all mankind? No one pilfers or plunders his own property, but he rather acts the part of one who swoops down on the things of another, and alienates man from his Lord.
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.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church5 voices
But know this, etc. Here thirdly he subjoins an incitement to watchfulness, which he introduces in this manner, namely by proposing a parabolic example and by concluding with the principal intent. As to the first, therefore, he sets forth the parabolic example when he says: …
But to shake off the sloth of our mind, even external losses are brought forward through a comparison, so that through these the soul may be roused to guard itself. For it is said: "Know this, that if the master of the house knew at what hour the thief was coming, he would certainly watch and would not allow his house to be broken into." For while the master of the house is unaware, the thief breaks into the house, because while the spirit sleeps from guarding itself, unforeseen death coming bursts into the dwelling of our flesh, and slays as if sleeping the one it found as master of the house, because when the spirit fails to foresee the coming losses, death snatches him unknowing to punishment. But he would resist the thief if he were watching, because being on his guard against the coming of the judge who secretly seizes the soul, he would meet him by repenting, lest he perish impenitent.
(ubi sup.) But to shake off the sloth of our minds, even our external losses are by a similitude set before us. For it is added, And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come.
(Hom. 13. in Ev.) Or else; unknown to the master the thief breaks into the house, because while the spirit sleeps instead of guarding itself, death comes unexpectedly, and breaks into the dwelling place of our flesh. But he would resist the thief if he were watching, because being on his guard against the coming of the Judge, who secretly seizes his soul, he would by repentance go to meet Him, lest he should perish impenitent.
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. From this preceding analogy, an exhortation is also implied when it …
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
So then, it is necessary to be watchful. For we are like the master of a house. If he does not sleep, the thief cannot steal anything from his possessions; but if he is drowsy, the thief will take everything and leave. Some understand here …
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.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And this know,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
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!"
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.
The words behind it
20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Τοῦτο | touto | This | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| δὲ | de | however | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| γινώσκετε | ginoskete | do know | G1097 → | 221 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| εἰ | ei | if | G1487 → | 508 times |
| ᾔδει | edei | had known | G1492 → | 374 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οἰκοδεσπότης | oikodespotes | master of the house | G3617 → | 12 times |
| ποίᾳ | poia | in what | G4169 → | 33 times |
| ὥρᾳ | hora | hour | G5610 → | 106 times |
| ὁ | ho | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| κλέπτης | kleptes | thief | G2812 → | |
| ἔρχεται, | erchetai | is coming, | G2064 → | 628 times |
| οὐκ | ouk | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| ἂν | an | maybe | G302 → | 165 times |
| ἀφῆκεν | apheken | he have allowed | G863 → | 143 times |
| διορυχθῆναι | dioruchthenai | to be broken into | G1358 → | |
| τὸν | ton | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| οἶκον | oikon | house | G3624 → | 112 times |
| αὐτοῦ. | autou | of him. | G846 → | 5565 times |
ΤοῦτοThis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
δὲhowever
deG1161 →2765 times
γινώσκετεdo know
ginosketeG1097 →221 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
εἰif
eiG1487 →508 times
ᾔδειhad known
edeiG1492 →374 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
οἰκοδεσπότηςmaster of the house
oikodespotesG3617 →12 times
ποίᾳin what
poiaG4169 →33 times
ὥρᾳhour
horaG5610 →106 times
ὁthe
hoG3588 →19766 times
κλέπτηςthief
kleptesG2812 →
ἔρχεται,is coming,
erchetaiG2064 →628 times
οὐκnot
oukG3756 →1664 times
ἂνmaybe
anG302 →165 times
ἀφῆκενhe have allowed
aphekenG863 →143 times
διορυχθῆναιto be broken into
dioruchthenaiG1358 →
τὸνthe
tonG3588 →19766 times
οἶκονhouse
oikonG3624 →112 times
αὐτοῦ.of him.
autouG846 →5565 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
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.”
it leads to
- Matthew 24:42–43
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:2–3
For you are fully aware that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
- Matthew 24:42–43
Through
2 Peter 3:10But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid…
it leads to
- 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.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 21:1
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
- Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
- 2 Peter 3:7
And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
- Revelation 16:15
Through
Revelation 3:3Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will…
it leads to
- 2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 2:5
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from…
- 2 Peter 3:10
Where this verse is studied
About Luke
This page draws on 11 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on 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); Tertullian, Against Marcion Book IV; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.