Luke 12:38

And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. AND IF HE SHALL COME IN THE SECOND WATCH, OR COME IN THE THIRD WATCH, AND FIND THEM SO, BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS. To find them ready to receive Him at any hour of day or night, when one might least of all expect Him, is peculiarly blessed. A servant may he truly faithful, even though taken so far unawares that he has not everything in such order and readiness for his master's return as he thinks is due to him, and as he both could and would have had if he had had notice of the time of his coming. In this case he would not be willing to open to him "immediately," but would fly to preparation, and let his master knock again before he admit him, and even then not with full joy. A too common case this with Christians. But if the servant have himself and all under his charg...

22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Matthew 6:25. 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 thi...

Verse 38. _IF HE SHALL COME IN THE SECOND WATCH_] Matthew 14:25, Matthew 14:25....

See the notes at Matthew 24:42. SECOND WATCH - See the notes at Matthew 14:25....

EXPOSITION LUKE 12:1 _The Lord_,_ after leaving the Pharisee_'_s house_,_ speaks at great length to a numerous crowd waiting for him_,_ addressing his words principally to his own disciples. _The foregoing scene (Luke 11:1.), when the Master addressed his bitter reproaches to the learned and cultivated of the great Pharisee party, took place in a private house belonging to an apparently wealthy member of this, the dominant class. The name of the large village or provincial town where all this happened is unknown. The crowd who had been listening to the great Teacher before he accepted the Pharisee's invitation still lingered around the house. Many from the adjoining villages, hearing that Jesus was in this place and was publicly teaching, had

AND IF HE SHALL COME IN THE SECOND WATCH,.... Of the night, that is, after nine o'clock, or any time between nine or twelve; for the second watch was from nine o'clock till twelve; and this was coming early from an entertainment, or a wedding, which were commonly kept in the night, and late; OR COME IN THE THIRD WATCH, or after twelve o'clock, or any time between twelve and three; for the third watch was from twelve o'clock to three, which was late; Matthew 14:25 The Persic version reads, "in the second, or third part of the night"; and the Ethiopic version, "in the second or third hour of the night"; AND FIND THEM SO. The Arabic version adds, "doing"; as above described, with their loins girt, lights burning, and they watching for their Lord's coming: BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS; since they shall be used and treated as before rela

In this chapter, our Saviour dispels the fears of his disciples concerning temporal things, and especially their fear of persecution and their fear of want. Luke 12:1. _In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid; that shall not be known._ What, therefore, can be the use of hypocrisy? Hypocrisy leads a man to pretend to be what he is not. His only hope lies in not being discovered; but, as Christ declares that «there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known;» hypocrisy becomes insanity as well as iniquity. Therefore, keep clear of it in every shape and form....

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. Warning Against Hypocrisy. (Luke 12:1)_ 2. Encouragements. (Luke 12:4) 3. Warning Against Covetousness. (Luke 12:15) 4. Warning Against Anxiety. (Luke 12:22) 5. The Disciples Comfort and Hope. (Luke 12:32) 6. The Parable of the Steward. (Luke 12:41) 7. The Purpose of God and the Resulting Division. (Luke 12:49) 8. Concerning signs.

LUKE 12:35 THREE REFERENCES TO THE PAROUSIA. Luke 12:35 (with Luke 12:47 F.). THE NEED OF WATCHFULNESS. These verses, like Luke 13:25, are clearly akin in thought to Mt.'s parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (_cf._ also Mark 13:33)* Loisy thinks we have here reminiscences and echoes of that parable; Wellhausen thinks Lk.'s form the earlier; the fermentation in Lk. has in Mt. settled down and disappeared. But it is quite possible that Mt. and Lk. are independent of each other here, especially if we disregard the return from the marriage feast in

THE CREED OF COURAGE AND OF TRUST (Luke 12:1-12)...