Luke 12:40 (WEB)
Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”
Catechism · 1
“Vigilance is "custody of the heart," and Jesus prayed for us to the Father: "Keep them in your name."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 17:11; Cf. Mk 13:9, 23, 33-37; 14:38; Lk 12:35-40.
Fathers and councils · 29
Athanasius of Alexandria
- Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians III.5Discourse III
“It was on this account that the Saviour added, ‘Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come;’ and, ‘In such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.’” — editor's note: Matt. xxiv. 42; Luke xii. 40.
Read the whole comment “Putting off the old man and his deeds, let us put on the new man, which is created in God,’ in humbleness of mind, and a pure conscience; in meditation of the law by night and by day.” — editor's note: Luke xii. 40; 1 Cor. v. 8; Ephes. iv. 22–24.
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Basil the Great
“A Christian ought not to wait for an opportunity for his own amendment, because there is no certainty about the morrow; for many after many devices have not reached the morrow.” — editor's note: cf. Matt. xxiv. 14; Luke xii. 40.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord having taught His disciples moderation, taking from them all care and conceit of this life, now leads them on to serve and obey, saying, Let your loins be girded, that is, always ready to do the work of your…
Read the whole comment - Maximus the ConfessorCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, he teaches us to keep our lamps burning, by prayer and contemplation and spiritual love.
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, to be girded, signifies activity and readiness to undergo evils from regard to Divine love. But the burning of the lamp signifies that we should not suffer any to live in the darkness of ignorance.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, we gird our loins when by continence we control the lusts of the flesh. For the lust of men is in their loins, and of women in their womb; by the name of loins, therefore, from the principal sex, lust is…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, He teaches us also to gird our loins for the sake of keeping ourselves from the love of the things of this world, and to have our lamps burning, that this thing may be done with a true end and right intention.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But if a man has both of these, whosoever he be, nothing remains for him but that he should place his whole expectation on the coming of the Redeemer. Therefore it is added, And be ye like to men that wait for their…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Daily also in the heavens He betroths the souls of the Saints, whom Paul or another offers to Him, as a chaste virgin. (2 Cor 11:2.) But He returns from the celebration of the heavenly marriage, perhaps to all at the…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Now consider that He comes from the wedding as from a festival, which God is ever keeping; for nothing can cause sadness to the Incorruptible Nature.
Read the whole comment - Gregory of NyssaCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, when the wedding was celebrated and the Church received into the secret bridal chamber, the angels were expecting the return of the King to His own natural blessedness. And after their example we order our…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
For He comes when He hastens to judgment, but He knocks, when already by the pain of sickness He denotes that death is at hand; to whom we immediately open if we receive Him with love. For he who trembles to depart…
Read the whole comment - Gregory of NyssaCatena Aurea on Luke
For the sake then of keeping watch, our Lord advised above that our loins should be girded, and our lamps burning, for light when placed before the eyes drives away sleep. The loins also when tied with a girdle, make…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
When then our Lord coming shall find us awake and girded, having our hearts enlightened, He will then pronounce us blessed, for it follows, Verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself; from which we perceive…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
For He will be girded about His loins with righteousness.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
By which He girds Himself, that is, prepares for judgment.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, He will gird Himself, in that He imparts not the whole fulness of blessings, but confines it within a certain measure. For who can comprehend God how great He is? Therefore are the Seraphims said to veil their…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
He will then make them to sit down as a refreshment to the weary, setting before them spiritual enjoyments, and ordering a sumptuous table of His gifts. PSEUDO-DIONYSIUS. (Dion. in Ep. ad Tit.) The “sitting down” is…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
That is, Give back to them, as it were, an equal return, that as they served Him, so also He will serve them.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But He is said to be passing over, when He returns from the judgment to His kingdom. Or the Lord passes to us after the judgment, and raises us from the form of His humanity to a contemplation of His divinity.
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Our Lord knew the proneness of human infirmity to sin, but because He is merciful, He docs not allow us to despair, but rather has compassion, and gives us repentance as a saving remedy. And therefore He adds, And if…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
The first watch then is the earliest time of our life, that is, childhood, the second youth and manhood, but the third represents old age. He then who is unwilling to watch in the first, let him keep even the second.…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Of the first watch, however, he makes no mention, for childhood is not punished by God, but obtains pardon; but the second and third age owe obedience to God, and the leading of an honest life according to His will.
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, to the first watch belong those who live more carefully, as having gained the first step, but to the second, those who keep the measure of a moderate conversation, but to the third, those who are below these. And…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Or since the watches are the hours of the night which lull men to sleep, you must understand that there are also in our life certain hours which make us happy if we are found awake. Does any one seize your goods? Are…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
But to shake off the sloth of our minds, even our external losses are by a similitude set before us. For it is added, And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Some understand this thief to be the devil, the house, the soul, the goodman of the house, man. This interpretation, however, does not seem to agree with what follows. For the Lord’s coming is compared to the thief…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else; unknown to the master the thief breaks into the house, because while the spirit sleeps instead of guarding itself, death comes unexpectedly, and breaks into the dwelling place of our flesh. But he would…
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Cross-references · 4
Cited together with
Cited together in Theophylact of Ohrid on Luke 12:35–40 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Theophylact of Ohrid on Luke 12:35–40 (6) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Cyril of Alexandria on Luke 12:35–40 (3) (Catena Aurea).
Parallel passages
Matthew 12:8 and Luke 12:40 share the same wording (6 words).