Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.
Parallel translations
- WEB Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him.
- KJV And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
- NKJV and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
- NASB You are also to be like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door for him when he comes and knocks.
- NLT as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Be like servants watching for their master's return from a wedding feast, ready to open at his knock. Faithful disciples eagerly await and welcome their Lord.
Overview
Jesus pictures servants whose readiness lets them respond instantly when their master arrives at an unknown hour. The point is wakeful, expectant service rather than complacency. This anticipates Christ's own return, calling His people to live in joyful readiness to receive Him whenever He comes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Jude 1:20–21But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
- Jas 5:7–8Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.
- Rev 3:20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.
- Lam 3:25–26The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
- Isa 64:4From ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
- Matt 25:1–13“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
- Mark 13:34–37It is like a man going on a journey who left his house, put each servant in charge of his own task, and instructed the doorkeeper to keep watch.
- Gen 49:18I await Your salvation, O LORD.
- Luke 2:25–30Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
- Song 5:5–6I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.
- Matt 24:42–44Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.
- Matt 22:1–14Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:
- 2 Pet 1:13–15I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of my body,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 12:36 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.