Luke 12:39

And this know, that if the good man of the house had knowen what houre the theefe would come, he would haue watched, and not haue suffred his house to be broken thorow. Luke 12:39 (KJV)

“But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.” In Luke 12 Jesus is teaching His disciples and a multitude about various aspects of discipleship, including trusting in God’s provision, avoiding hypocrisy, and being ready for His return.

This verse is part of the larger passage known as the Parable of the Faithful Servant (Luke 12:35‑48). In the parable Jesus uses the analogy of a master and his servants to teach about being prepared for His second coming and being faithful in the meantime.

Jesus employs the image of a householder, the “goodman of the house,” who does not know the exact hour when a thief will break into his home. If the householder had known the time, he would have remained watchful and guarded his house against intrusion.

The primary lesson conveyed through this analogy is the importance of readiness and vigilance. Jesus urges His disciples to be spiritually prepared for His return because, like a thief, His coming will be sudden and unexpected.

As believers we are called to be watchful and prepared for the Lord’s return. This involves living faithfully and consistently, being diligent in our spiritual lives, and actively seeking God’s will. We should avoid complacency or being caught off guard, just as the householder would not allow his house to be broken into if he knew when the thief would come.

Jesus used a similar analogy in Matthew 24:42‑44, emphasizing the need to be watchful and prepared for His coming. The apostle Paul also wrote about the second coming of Christ and the need for readiness in 1 Thessalonians 5:1‑11.