Luke 12:37Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Blessed are those servants whom the Lord will find vigilant upon His return. Truly, I tell you, He will prepare Himself to serve them. Thus, fortunate is the one whom He discovers with their waist girded, symbolizing readiness to serve God through the active practice of Christian wisdom and maintaining a vibrant lamp of speech and thought. This servant not only does good but excels in their deeds and has received insight, akin to a guiding light. The girding of the loins allows for both the inner light of contemplation and an outward expression of illumination.

When He arrives and discovers us vigilant and illuminated in spirit, He will instantly bestow upon us His blessings, for He will "gird up His loins, and serve them." This teaches us that His rewards will be commensurate with our efforts; recognizing our exhaustion from toil, He will offer us solace through spiritual banquets, laying out a lavish array of His blessings before us.

The Lord instructs us to remain vigilant not only in the midnight hour but at all times. He arrives in the evening, at the second and third watches, and knocks at the door; blessed are those servants who are found alert when their master comes. If you desire the Strength of God to empower and serve you, it is essential to stay awake continually. Numerous temptations and severe somnolence call to us; if the spirit succumbs, it risks losing its vitality. Awaken from slumber and knock on the door of Christ, which Paul implores to be opened. He not only prays on his own behalf but also seeks the support and prayers of the faithful, that the door may be opened to him for the proclamation of Christ's mysteries.

Blessed are those servants who the master finds vigilant upon his return. They remain alert because they have passed away in a state of watchfulness. Vigilance, as a noble quality of the soul, remains with it eternally. Some interpret this in light of the master’s second coming, the arrival, and the knocking at the door, believing that Christ will come not only for the righteous but also for the unjust, supported by God’s words to the wealthy man, ‘Madman, this night your soul will be taken from you’ (Luke 12:20). Others who embrace this interpretation view Christ's coming as His word, which will summon the righteous to joy and condemn the sinners to grief. Truly, I tell you, He will clothe Himself in righteousness and will seat the faithful, and drawing near, He shall serve them. He shall adorn Himself with the robe of recompense, granting them eternal peace in recognition of their toil, and He shall serve them, bestowing just rewards.

Thus, it is stated: Blessed are those servants, for when the Lord arrives, He will find them alert and watchful. The one who has been granted sight to perceive the true light, who lives in accordance with his faith, and who dispels the shadows of laziness and apathy. Hence, Paul also states, Let your conduct be honorable, and do not sin (1 Corinthians 15:34). Furthermore, Paul urges, It is time for us to awaken from slumber (Rom. 13:11). Now, let us contemplate the actions of the coming Lord towards His vigilant servants: Truly I tell you, He will fasten His robe, seat them, and serve them.

As He conversed with His disciples, a man approached Him, requesting assistance in dividing his inheritance with his siblings. The Lord had never claimed the authority of a civil court, and in this instance, He did not fulfill the request. Instead, He pointed out how self-interest can fracture the bonds, even among brothers, speaking critically about the foolishness of those who seek to amass wealth by any means. He illustrated this with the parable of the foolish rich man. Shifting back to the earlier discussion with the disciples and connecting it to His teaching in the parable, He further disclosed to the apostles how misplaced concerns for earthly matters can distract devoted followers like them.

In relation to the necessity of a complete and unrestrained pursuit of the heavenly treasures, Jesus Christ instills in His disciples a continual alertness regarding their spiritual state and an eagerness to welcome the returning Lord. To achieve this, He presents several parables: a) the story of the servants awaiting their master's arrival, which conveys joy to the faithful servants who will be found vigilant upon the master's return; b) the tale of the homeowner at risk of a thief, illustrating that the timing of Christ's return remains a mystery; c) the account of the diligent and negligent steward.

The Parable of the Servants Awaiting their Master's Return As He shared further instruction with His disciples, Christ urged them to live in a manner reflective of God's abundance, always prepared to leave this life and face the judgment of the Almighty. He illustrated the readiness of servants who remained dressed and held lamps in anticipation of their master's return from a wedding celebration, emphasizing the uncertainty of the hour of his arrival. Jesus declared, ‘Be ye also ready: for in what hour ye think not, the Son of man cometh.’ Bishop Theophanes remarked on these profound words, stating, ‘One must be prepared at all times: not knowing when the Lord will arrive, whether for the final judgment or to take you from this earth, which ultimately amounts to the same.

They must remain vigilant and repentant in their spiritual lives (Luke 12:36-40). "Be like men who wait for their master from the wedding feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes and knocks, will find awake." He will reward them and honor them with a magnificent feast, serving them with joyful generosity. However, if the servants fail to anticipate his return and he discovers chaos, injustice, and conflict among them, those who are at fault will face the appropriate retribution.

For their spiritual alertness and preparedness, they are assured of joy - ‘blessed are those servants’. This joy is further illustrated through metaphorical language. ‘He shall overcome them and dismiss them,’ etc. It seems that the master, pleased with the alertness and preparation of the servants, will reward them by inviting them to dine at his table and will take on the role of servant for them - a profound honor bestowed upon slaves according to Eastern tradition. The expression suggests that those who are vigilant and always prepared to welcome the Lord will receive joy in His heavenly kingdom. The depiction of a slave or servant is spiritually applied to Christ at His first coming by the Apostle Paul (Phil. 2:7): as God, He humbled Himself, taking on the form of a servant and lowering Himself to the point of death on the cross, in order to achieve the salvation of sinful humanity.