And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.The Jews frequently divided the night into three watches, to which our Lord seems here to allude. read more
§ 47 THE SERMON TO THE MYRIADS, Luke 12:1-59 . Addressed partly to the disciples and partly to the multitudes, its subject is: The importance, as against the Pharisees, of deciding for Christ; which is urged especially in view of the judgment to come, at his SECOND ADVENT. It contains passages which had been previously delivered in Galilee, especially in his Sermon on the Mount; and passages resembling portions in the discourse on the Mount of Olives, Matthew 24:5. This discourse may be... read more
35. Let your loins be girded The lord of a household of servants has gone late at night to a wedding. What hour he will return is utterly uncertain. If when he returns he finds them prepared, alert, watching, and dutiful, rich will be their reward. But woe be to them if the reverse. Girded about you Ready for action in doing the honours of his return. When a servant was about to engage in active service, he first drew tight around his waist the girdle which bound his loose and flowing... read more
V. Gradually extending his address from the twelve to the multitudes, Jesus warns of his Second Coming, Luke 12:35-50. The Saviour’s address so imperceptibly expands to take in all alike, that Peter is at last induced to ask his Lord which he means, the twelve or the myriads? How beautifully calculated was this passage to make the hesitater between Jesus and the hierarchy tremble! It is the Son of man, it is himself before whom these myriads, and even these scribes and pharisees, are... read more
36. Knocketh, they may open Not be fast asleep, with their lights gone out, or low in the socket. read more
37. Blessed are those servants At the Roman Saturnalia the masters put on the servile dress and waited on and served their servants. As our Lord bases this parable upon the ancient relation of master and servant, so he uses this custom for an image to express the great honour he will confer upon his servants at the judgment day. He will indeed then have put off the “form of a servant;” and all the blessings accruing to his followers from his ever having worn it, he will then confer. read more
38. Second watch… third watch Our Lord here doubtless uses the old division by which the night was portioned into three watches. In the first would be the wedding; in the second or third the return. read more
39. The goodman of the house The householder. The image is now changed. Before, it was the servant, knowing not the hour of the coming of his Lord; now it is a householder, knowing not the hour of the coming of the thief. His house to be broken through Be digged through; for the walls of the eastern houses are often of clay, and the house would be attacked by excavation. read more
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Luke 12:37
Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.He will come and serve them — The meaning is, he will show them his love, in the most condescending and tender manner. read more