Lukas 12:40

12:40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” ¹ 

Lukas 12:45

12:45 But if ²  that ³  slave should say to himself, ⁴  ‘My master is delayed ⁵  in returning,’ and he begins to beat ⁶  the other ⁷  slaves, both men and women, ⁸  and to eat, drink, and get drunk,

Lukas 21:34-36

Be Ready!

21:34 “But be on your guard ⁹  so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap. ¹⁰  21:35 For ¹¹  it will overtake ¹²  all who live on the face of the whole earth. ¹³  21:36 But stay alert at all times, ¹⁴  praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must ¹⁵  happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

[12:40]  ¹ sn Jesus made clear that his coming could not be timed, and suggested it might take some time – so long, in fact, that some would not be looking for him any longer (at an hour when you do not expect him).

[12:45]  ² tn In the Greek text this is a third class condition that for all practical purposes is a hypothetical condition (note the translation of the following verb “should say”).

[12:45]  ³ tn The term “that” (ἐκεῖνος, ekeino") is used as a catchword to list out, in the form of a number of hypothetical circumstances, what the possible responses of “that” servant could be. He could be faithful (vv. 43-44) or totally unfaithful (vv. 45-46). He does not complete his master’s will with knowledge (v. 47) or from ignorance (v 48). These differences are indicated by the different levels of punishment in vv. 46-48.

[12:45]  ⁴ tn Grk “should say in his heart.”

[12:45]  ⁵ tn Or “is taking a long time.”

[12:45]  ⁶ sn The slave’s action in beginning to beat the other slaves was not only a failure to carry out what was commanded but involved doing the exact reverse.

[12:45]  ⁷ tn The word “other” is not in the Greek text, but is implied.

[12:45]  ⁸ tn Grk “the menservants and the maidservants.” The term here, used in both masculine and feminine grammatical forms, is παῖς (pais), which can refer to a slave, but also to a slave who is a personal servant, and thus regarded kindly (L&N 87.77).

[21:34]  ⁹ tn Grk “watch out for yourselves.”

[21:34]  sn Disciples are to watch out. If they are too absorbed into everyday life, they will stop watching and living faithfully.

[21:34]  ¹⁰ sn Or like a thief, see Luke 12:39-40. The metaphor of a trap is a vivid one. Most modern English translations traditionally place the words “like a trap” at the end of v. 34, completing the metaphor. In the Greek text (and in the NRSV and REB) the words “like a trap” are placed at the beginning of v. 35. This does not affect the meaning.

[21:35]  ¹¹ tn There is debate in the textual tradition about the position of γάρ (gar) and whether v. 35 looks back to v. 34 or is independent. The textual evidence does slightly favor placing γάρ after the verb and thus linking it back to v. 34. The other reading looks like Isa 24:17. However, the construction is harsh and the translation prefers for stylistic reasons to start a new English sentence here.

[21:35]  ¹² tn Or “come upon.”

[21:35]  ¹³ sn This judgment involves everyone: all who live on the face of the whole earth. No one will escape this evaluation.

[21:36]  ¹⁴ sn The call to be alert at all times is a call to remain faithful in looking for the Lord’s return.

[21:36]  ¹⁵ tn For the translation of μέλλω (mellw) as “must,” see L&N 71.36.