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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
- Jas 5:7–8Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
- Rev 3:20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
- Lam 3:25–26The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
- Isa 64:4For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
- Matt 25:1–13Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
- Mark 13:34–37For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
- Gen 49:18I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
- Luke 2:25–30And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
- Song 5:5–6I rose up to open to my beloved; and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.
- Matt 24:42–44Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
- Matt 22:1–14And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
- 2 Pet 1:13–15Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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
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