Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. New Living Translation 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. English Standard Version and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Berean Standard Bible 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. Berean Literal Bible and you⁺ be like men waiting for their master when he shall return from the wedding feasts, that, having come and having knocked, immediately they might open to him. King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible 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. NASB 1995 “Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. NASB 1977 “And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Legacy Standard Bible And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. Amplified Bible Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks they may immediately open the door for him. Berean Annotated Bible Then you⁺ will be like servants waiting for their master {kyrion} to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once. Christian Standard Bible You are to be like people 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. Holman Christian Standard Bible You must be like people 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. American Standard Version and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. Contemporary English Version just like those servants who wait up for their master to return from a wedding feast. As soon as he comes and knocks, they open the door for him. English Revised Version and be ye yourselves like unto men looking for their lord, when he shall return from the marriage feast; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may straightway open unto him. GOD'S WORD® Translation Be like servants waiting to open the door at their master's knock when he returns from a wedding. Good News Translation like servants who are waiting for their master to come back from a wedding feast. When he comes and knocks, they will open the door for him at once. International Standard Version Be like people who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding. As soon as he arrives and knocks, they will open the door for him. NET Bible be like people waiting for their master to come back from the wedding celebration, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. New Heart English Bible Be like people watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Webster's Bible Translation And ye yourselves like men that wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that, when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Weymouth New Testament and be yourselves like men waiting for their master--on the look-out till he shall return from the wedding feast--that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door instantly. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen 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. World English Bible Be like men watching for their lord when he returns from the wedding feast, that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand you [be] like to men waiting for their lord when he will return out of the wedding feasts, that he having come and knocked, immediately they may open to him. Berean Literal Bible and you⁺ be like men waiting for their master when he shall return from the wedding feasts, that, having come and having knocked, immediately they might open to him. Young's Literal Translation and ye like to men waiting for their lord, when he shall return out of the wedding feasts, that he having come and knocked, immediately they may open to him. Smith's Literal Translation And ye like men expecting their Lord, when he shall loose from the nuptials; that having come and knocked, they might quickly open to him. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately. Catholic Public Domain Version And let you yourselves be like men awaiting their lord, when he will return from the wedding; so that, when he arrives and knocks, they may open to him promptly. New American Bible and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. New Revised Standard Version be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd be like men who expect their master, when he will return from the wedding house; so that when he comes and knocks, they will immediately open the door for him. Aramaic Bible in Plain English “Be like people waiting for their Lord when he will return from the wedding chamber, so that whenever he comes and knocks, they may open to him at once.” NT Translations Anderson New Testamentand be like men that are waiting for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that, when he comes and knocks, they may open for him immediately. Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament and ye like men, expecting their master, when he shall return from the marriage; that when he comes and knocks, they may instantly open the door for him. Mace New Testament imitate those servants who stand waiting for their master's return from the wedding, to let him in as soon as he comes to the door. Weymouth New Testament and be yourselves like men waiting for their master--on the look-out till he shall return from the wedding feast--that, when he comes and knocks, they may open the door instantly. Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Be Ready for Service35Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 36Then 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. 37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.… Cross References Then you will be like servants Matthew 24:45-46 Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time? / Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. / Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. Matthew 20:26-27 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— waiting for their master Mark 13:34-37 It 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. / Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. / Otherwise, he may arrive without notice and find you sleeping. … James 5:7-8 Be 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. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath. to return from the wedding banquet, Matthew 25:10-13 But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. / Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ / But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ … Revelation 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. / She was given clothing of fine linen, bright and pure.” For the fine linen she wears is the righteous acts of the saints. / Then the angel told me to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Matthew 22:2-4 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. / He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come. / Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ so that when he comes and knocks, Revelation 3:20 Behold, 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. Songs 5:2 I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. they can open the door for him at once. Songs 5:5-6 I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt. / I opened for my beloved, but he had turned and gone. My heart sank at his departure. I sought him but did not find him. I called, but he did not answer. John 10:3-4 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. / When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Acts 12:14-16 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!” / “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” / But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astounded. Matthew 24:42-44 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. / But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. / For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect. Treasury of Scripture And you yourselves like to men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. men. Luke 2:25-30 And, 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… Genesis 49:18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. Isaiah 64:4 For 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. return. Matthew 22:1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. when. Song of Solomon 5:5,6 I 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… Revelation 3:20 Behold, 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. Jump to Previous Banquet Bride-Feast Door Feast Feasts Home Immediately Instantly Knocked Knocketh Knocks Marriage Master Once Open Quickly Returns Straightway Wait Waiting Watching Wedding Whenever YourselvesJump to Next Banquet Bride-Feast Door Feast Feasts Home Immediately Instantly Knocked Knocketh Knocks Marriage Master Once Open Quickly Returns Straightway Wait Waiting Watching Wedding Whenever YourselvesLuke 12 1. Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy13. and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns. 22. We must not worry about earthly things, 31. but seek the kingdom of God; 33. give alms; 35. be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes. 41. Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges, 49. and look for persecution. 54. The people must take this time of grace; 57. because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation. Then you will be like servants This phrase emphasizes the role of believers as servants, highlighting the importance of readiness and vigilance. In biblical times, servants were expected to be attentive and prepared for their master's needs at any moment. This reflects the Christian call to live in a state of spiritual readiness and service, echoing the teachings of Jesus in other parables such as the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). 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 Persons / Places / Events 1. ServantsRepresent believers who are expected to be vigilant and prepared for the return of their master, symbolizing Jesus Christ. 2. Master Symbolizes Jesus Christ, who will return at an unexpected time, and whose servants must be ready to receive Him. 3. Wedding Banquet A metaphor for the joyous occasion of Christ's return, often associated with the marriage supper of the Lamb in Revelation. 4. Door Represents the readiness and willingness of believers to welcome Christ upon His return. 5. Return The second coming of Christ, an event that believers are to anticipate with preparedness and faithfulness. Teaching Points Vigilance and ReadinessBelievers are called to live in a state of constant readiness for Christ's return, maintaining a lifestyle that reflects His teachings and commands. Faithful Service Like the servants in the parable, Christians are to be diligent in their service to God, using their gifts and resources to further His kingdom. Joyful Anticipation The return of Christ is a joyous event, akin to a wedding banquet, and believers should look forward to it with hope and excitement. Immediate Response The servants' readiness to open the door immediately upon the master's return highlights the importance of being spiritually prepared at all times. Spiritual Alertness Just as the servants are alert to the master's return, Christians must remain spiritually alert, discerning the times and living in accordance with God's will. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 12:36?2. How can we be like "servants waiting" for Christ's return in Luke 12:36? 3. What does Luke 12:36 teach about readiness for the Lord's coming? 4. How does Luke 12:36 connect with Matthew 24:42 about watchfulness? 5. In what ways can we "open the door" promptly for Jesus today? 6. How can Luke 12:36 inspire us to live with eternal perspective daily? 7. What does Luke 12:36 mean by "waiting for their master" in a modern context? 8. How does Luke 12:36 challenge our understanding of readiness and vigilance in faith? 9. What historical context influenced the message of Luke 12:36? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 12? 11. What parables did Jesus teach in the Bible? 12. Are they like God's angels in heaven? 13. Why does the command to release servants (Lev 25:39-46) appear inconsistent with other biblical passages endorsing servitude? 14. What responsibilities does a church trustee have? What Does Luke 12:36 Mean Then you will be like servants• “Then” links back to Jesus’ charge: “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning” (Luke 12:35). The picture is not of passive believers but of workers on duty. • Scripture continually identifies followers of Christ as servants (Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 4:1–2). We belong to a Master, not to ourselves. • This servant identity carries the call to faithfulness now so that “it will require an accounting” (Luke 16:2). waiting for their master • Waiting here is active, not idle. James 5:7–8 urges: “Be patient… strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near”. • Titus 2:13 speaks of “waiting for the blessed hope—the glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ”. • Biblical waiting involves prayer (Colossians 4:2) and holy living (1 Peter 1:13–16). to return from the wedding banquet • The master is at a joyful celebration, a hint of Christ’s exaltation after His resurrection. Revelation 19:7–9 describes the heavenly “marriage supper of the Lamb”. • John 14:2–3 promises that the risen Lord will come again to take His own home. • Because He is certain to return, the servants’ preparation is reasonable, not speculative. so that when he comes and knocks • The knock highlights personal encounter. Revelation 3:20 pictures the risen Christ saying, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock”. • Mark 13:35–37 repeats Jesus’ warning to stay alert “because you do not know when the master of the house will come”. • Readiness means no last-minute scrambling; obedience is settled beforehand. they can open the door for him at once • Immediate response shows hearts already aligned with the Master’s will. • 1 John 2:28 urges believers to “continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming”. • 2 Peter 3:14 adds, “Make every effort to be found at peace with Him, without spot or blemish”. • Prepared servants welcome their Lord with joy, not fear (1 Thessalonians 5:4). summary Luke 12:36 calls believers to live as alert, obedient servants whose constant readiness springs from love for their returning Lord. Because Jesus will surely come, our daily faithfulness, holiness, and expectancy are not optional extras but the normal Christian life. Greek Thenκαὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. you ὑμεῖς (hymeis) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. [ will be ] like ὅμοιοι (homoioi) Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 3664: Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar. [servants] ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois) Noun - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being. waiting for προσδεχομένοις (prosdechomenois) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Masculine Plural Strong's 4327: From pros and dechomai; to admit (figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await. their ἑαυτῶν (heautōn) Reflexive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself. master κύριον (kyrion) Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master. to return ἀναλύσῃ (analysē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 360: To unloose, unloose for departure, depart, return. From ana and luo; to break up, i.e. Depart. from ἐκ (ek) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. the τῶν (tōn) Article - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. wedding banquet, γάμων (gamōn) Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural Strong's 1062: A marriage, wedding, wedding-ceremony; plur: a wedding-feast. Of uncertain affinity; nuptials. so that ἵνα (hina) Conjunction Strong's 2443: In order that, so that. Probably from the same as the former part of heautou; in order that. when he comes ἐλθόντος (elthontos) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2064: To come, go. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. knocks, κρούσαντος (krousantos) Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Strong's 2925: To knock, beat a door with a stick, to gain admittance. Apparently a primary verb; to rap. they can open [the door] ἀνοίξωσιν (anoixōsin) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural Strong's 455: To open. From ana and oigo; to open up. for him αὐτῷ (autō) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. at once. εὐθέως (eutheōs) Adverb Strong's 2112: Immediately, soon, at once. Adverb from euthus; directly, i.e. At once or soon. Links Luke 12:36 NIVLuke 12:36 NLT Luke 12:36 ESV Luke 12:36 NASB Luke 12:36 KJV Luke 12:36 BibleApps.com Luke 12:36 Biblia Paralela Luke 12:36 Chinese Bible Luke 12:36 French Bible Luke 12:36 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 12:36 Be like men watching for their lord (Luke Lu Lk) |
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