Luke 12:38Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If, in those challenging times, you maintained a watchful spirit before God and adhered faithfully to His commandments, then indeed, He has found you vigilant ‘in the second and third watch,’ signifying a period of trials when careless souls succumb to the lethargy of spiritual death. Some interpret those who vigil in the first watch as being more attentive than others, while those in the second watch are seen as lesser in vigilance, and those in the third watch as even more diminished. Others understand these watches to represent different stages of life: the first watch correlating to youth, the second to the vigor of adulthood, and the third to the wisdom of old age. Blessed is the one who remains watchful, regardless of age, and does not neglect the pursuit of virtue.

You may desire to discern the significance of these words. This is why the night is divided into three or four watches. The sentinels on the city walls, observing for any signs of the enemy, hand over their watch to others after a period of vigilance lasting three or four hours. Similarly, we can observe three distinct stages of life: the first, childhood; the second, young adulthood; and the third, old age. The initial stage, childhood, is not held accountable by God, being deemed worthy of forgiveness due to the naivety of the mind and the limitations of understanding. However, the subsequent stages of maturity and elderhood demand obedience and righteous living in accordance with God's will. Therefore, anyone who finds themselves alert and prepared, whether still in youth or advanced in age, will be blessed. Such a person will be deemed worthy to receive the promises of Christ.

Therefore, if someone fails to be vigilant during the first watch, they should at least be attentive during the second, so those who neglected to turn from their sins in youth may still embark on the path of life in their later years. Likewise, if one does not remain alert in the second watch, let them not forfeit the opportunity for reward in the third, so that even if they do not walk in righteousness during youth, they may find restoration in old age.

Consider, dear brethren, that God's love surrounds us with a call to persevere. There is nothing left for humanity to claim as an excuse. God observes our disregard for Him, yet He beckons us to return and even offers rewards to those who turn back. However, let no one take His patience for granted; in the day of judgment, the severity of retribution will correspond to His earlier forbearance. As Paul reminds us, “Because of your hardness and unrepentant heart, you shall gather wrath to yourself in the day of wrath, and of the revelation of the righteous judgement of God” (Romans 2:5). Therefore, the Psalmist declares, “God is a righteous judge, and strong, and longsuffering” (Ps. 7:12). By calling Him righteous, he indicates that we should understand that the God we see being patient with the transgressions of the unrighteous will one day deliver a just judgment. Furthermore, it is stated by a wise man, “As the high one is over the high overseer” (Ecclesiastes 5:7). He is termed an overseer because He bears with the sins of humankind and enacts vengeance. Those for whom He permits a prolonged wait for repentance will face greater punishment if they fail to turn back.

Continuing from His earlier discourse with the disciples, He emphasized the inappropriateness of being consumed by worldly concerns, especially for those like the apostles who were called to a higher purpose. He encouraged them to pursue the treasures of heaven and the Kingdom of God, urging them not to falter even if the awaited Kingdom did not appear instantly. To illustrate His teaching, He presented the parable of servants who vigilantly awaited their master's return, ready to greet Him during the late hours of the night, and also referenced the parable of the thief who unexpectedly breaks into a house, symbolizing the suddenness of the Lord's return in judgment.

d, which Christ presented in reply to Peter's inquiry, "Do you speak this parable to us, or to all?" By this narrative, Christ makes a distinction between the apostles as stewards of His church and the general servants who are under their authority. The essence of the parable reveals that a servant is entrusted greatly by the master, being given authority over all the household's servants (42). If he proves to be faithful upon the master’s return, he will be entrusted with even greater responsibilities, being placed in charge of all the master's possessions (44). Conversely, if the master discovers him to be unfaithful, negligent, and wicked, he will be treated as if he had never fulfilled the role of a faithful servant.

Jesus declared, “Be ye also ready: for in what hour ye think not, the Son of man cometh.” Bishop Theophanes comments on this instruction, emphasizing the necessity of constant readiness: one must be prepared at all times, not knowing when the Lord will come, whether it be for the final judgment or to take you from this life—both outcomes are equivalent. Death determines everything; it is the culmination of life, and what you achieve will satisfy you for all eternity. If you have done good, goodness is your reward; if you have done evil, evil is your fate. This judgment can occur at any moment, even as you read these words; thereafter, everything will conclude, sealing your existence in a way that no one can alter. This is certainly worthy of consideration. It is astonishing how infrequently we ponder this truth. What a profound mystery surrounds us! We are all aware that death is inevitable and cannot be evaded, yet almost no one reflects upon it until it arrives unexpectedly and claims us. Even when faced with a terminal illness, we often fail to acknowledge that the end has come. Be ready, for at what hour you do not think, the Son of Man will come.

That day will arrive unexpectedly, serving as a day of reward for all devoted servants, while also being a day of reckoning for those who have failed to fulfill their responsibilities and are unready for that significant occasion. To impress this lesson of vigilance and fidelity upon their hearts even further and to caution them resolutely against the perils of neglect and the extinguishing of their spiritual light, He shared with them the parables of the ‘ten virgins’ and the ‘talents’ (Matthew 25:1-30).

Theodore, Bishop of Edessa, elucidated that ‘the true girdle for the loins, by which we can be quick and light, is temperance, united with humility of heart,’ referring to temperance as the eradication of all passions. He also stated that ‘pure prayer and perfect love provide fuel for the spiritual lamp.’ The reward for such diligence will be everlasting joy in Heaven, which the Lord depicted in earthly terms: Blessed are the servants of these, whose coming the Lord will find those who watch; Amen I say unto you, that he will gird himself, and will set them down, and will serve them afterwards. And if he shall come at the second watch, and at the third watch, and shall find them so, blessed are the servants of these. To further illustrate the suddenness of His coming, the Saviour employed another vivid metaphor found throughout Scripture (2 Pet. 3:10; 1 Sol. 5:2; Rev. 3:3; 16:15). Consider, if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief would arrive, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his home to be broken into. Therefore, be prepared, for your expectation should not be that the Son of Man will come at a predictable moment.