Luke 12:36

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 Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples during his final teaching, instructing them to maintain readiness for his return. He frames the instruction around servants anticipating their master's arrival from a wedding banquet.

The words — The Greek προσδεχομένοις (prosdechomenois) denotes active, expectant waiting for the κύριον (kurion), or master. This participle emphasizes continuous vigilance rather than passive anticipation.

The thread — The expectation of a master's return aligns with James 5:7, which urges patience like a farmer awaiting the soil's fruit. Lamentations 3:25 similarly records that the Lord is good to those who wait for Him.

Why it lands — The text commands immediate readiness to open the door when the master knocks, without delay or hesitation. It requires believers to sustain active watchfulness rather than assuming a predictable timeline for his arrival.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
James 5:7 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.
Lamentations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
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.
Isaiah 64:4 From 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.
Matthew 25:1 “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 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.
Song of Solomon 5:5 I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh on the handles of the bolt.
Matthew 22:1 Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:
Matthew 24:42 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.