Luke 12:39

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 allowed his house to be broken into.

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

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 allowed his house to be broken into.

BSB

But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

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.

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.

BBE

But be certain of this, that if the master of the house had had knowledge of the time when the thief was coming, he would have been watching, and would not have let his house be broken into.

Original Greek

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Τοῦτο Touto This G3778 δὲ de however G1161 γινώσκετε ginōskete do know G1097 ὅτι hoti that G3754 εἰ ei if G1487 ᾔδει ēdei had known G1492 ὁ ho the G3588 οἰκοδεσπότης oikodespotēs master of the house G3617 ποίᾳ poia in what G4169 ὥρᾳ hōra hour G5610 ὁ ho the G3588 κλέπτης kleptēs thief G2812 ἔρχεται erchetai is coming G2064 οὐκ ouk not G3756 ἐγρηγόρησεν egrēgorēsen he watched G1127 ἂν an maybe G302 καὶ kai and G2532 ἂν an maybe G302 ἀφῆκεν aphēken he have allowed G863 διορυχθῆναι dioruchthēnai to be broken into G1358 τὸν ton the G3588 οἶκον oikon house G3624 αὐτοῦ autou of him G846

The early church

(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.

Gregory the Dialogist · d. 604Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

(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.

Gregory the Dialogist · d. 604Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

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.

Theophylact of Ohrid · d. 1107Catena Aurea (Aquinas, 1274)

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 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.

Read Matthew Henry on Luke 12 →

Parallel passages

The same words or events elsewhere.

Matthew 24:43

Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.