The Meaning of Luke 12:40 Explained

Luke 12:40

KJV: Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

YLT: and ye, then, become ye ready, because at the hour ye think not, the Son of Man doth come.'

Darby: And ye therefore, be ye ready, for in the hour in which ye do not think it, the Son of man comes.

ASV: Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Be  ye  therefore  ready  also:  for  the Son  of man  cometh  at an hour  when ye think  not. 

What does Luke 12:40 Mean?

Study Notes

Son of man
.
(See Scofield " 1 Corinthians 15:45-475 ") . Our Lord thus designates Himself about eighty times. It is His racial name as the representative Man, in the sense of 1711643458_66 as Son of David is distinctly his Jewish name, and Son of God His divine name. Our Lord constantly uses this term as implying that his mission (e.g.); Matthew 11:19 ; Luke 19:10 . His death and resurrection (e.g.); Matthew 12:40 ; Matthew 20:18 ; Matthew 26:2 and His second coming (e.g.); Matthew 24:37-44 ; Luke 12:40 transcended in scope and result all merely Jewish imitations. When Nathanael confesses him as "King of Israel," our Lord's answer is, "Thou shalt see greater things.. . the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." When His messengers are cast out by the Jews, His thought leaps forward to the time when the Son of man shall come, not then to Israel only but to the race; Matthew 10:5 ; Matthew 10:6 ; Matthew 8:23 . It is in this name, also, that universal judgment is committed to Him John 5:22 ; John 5:27 . It is also a name indicating that in Him is fulfilled the O.T. foreview of blessing through a coming man. See Scofield " Genesis 1:26 "; Genesis 3:15 ; Genesis 12:3 ; Psalms 8:4 ; Psalms 80:17 ; Isaiah 7:14 ; Isaiah 9:6 ; Isaiah 9:7 ; Isaiah 32:2 ; Zechariah 13:7 ; Isaiah 32:2 ; Zechariah 13:7 .

Verse Meaning

Jesus concluded by applying the illustrations. By using the title "Son of Man" Jesus may have been implying that the coming of the Son of Man that Daniel had predicted was in view ( Daniel 7:13-14). That prophecy dealt with His coming in glory to rule. Elsewhere Jesus said He did not know the time of His return ( Matthew 24:36). However, it would be unexpected because the exact day and hour were unknown, and His return would surprise many people (cf. Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:42; Matthew 24:44; Matthew 25:13; Mark 13:32-33; Mark 13:35).

Context Summary

Luke 12:35-48 - Ever On The Watch
The Lord leads our thoughts on to His advent, when He will call His servants to account. The day may pass into the evening, the evening into the night, and the night may even begin to wear away to the morning, but the faithful servants keep their watch. Their loins are girt to serve, and the house is radiant with their trimmed lights. Presently He comes, and He raises His slaves to sit at His table! They are henceforth His friends-and His highly honored friends-whom He serves with His own hands. The grandeur of the reward seems to have been too much for Peter to grasp, Luke 12:41. Surely it couldn't be for all. Yes, said our Lord in effect, to all who are faithful to their possibilities and use their position and gifts for others.
How abrupt and awful the contrast in Luke 12:45-48! The greater our responsibility, the greater our condemnation, if we fail. Retribution is the inevitable penalty of infidelity to trust; but it will be precisely proportioned to our knowledge of the Lord's will. There are degrees or grades in retribution as in glory. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 12

1  Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13  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

Greek Commentary for Luke 12:40

Be ye [γινεστε]
Present middle imperative, keep on becoming. [source]
Cometh [ερχεται]
Futuristic present indicative. See Matthew 24:43-51 for details in the comparison with Luke. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 12:40

Luke 12:39 The thief [ο κλεπτης]
The change here almost makes a new parable to illustrate the other, the parable of the housebreaking (Luke 12:39, Luke 12:40) to illustrate the parable of the waiting servants (Luke 12:35). This same language appears in Matthew 24:43. “The Master returning from a wedding is replaced by a thief whose study it is to come to the house he means to plunder at an unexpected time” (Bruce). The parallel in Matthew 24:43-51 with Luke 12:39-46 does not have the interruption by Peter. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 12:40 mean?

Also you be ready for in the hour not you expect the Son - of Man comes
καὶ ὑμεῖς γίνεσθε ἕτοιμοι ὅτι ὥρᾳ οὐ δοκεῖτε Υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἔρχεται

καὶ  Also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἕτοιμοι  ready 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἕτοιμος  
Sense: prepare ready.
  in  the 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ὅς 
Sense: who, which, what, that.
ὥρᾳ  hour 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ὥρα  
Sense: a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year.
δοκεῖτε  you  expect 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: δοκέω  
Sense: to be of opinion, think, suppose.
Υἱὸς  Son 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: υἱός  
Sense: a son.
τοῦ  - 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀνθρώπου  of  Man 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
ἔρχεται  comes 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.