If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
English Standard Version (ESV)
What's truly striking here is that the servants are called blessed even if the master returns during the "second" or "third" watch of the night. This means they're rewarded not just for the ideal scenario of being ready at midnight, but for faithfully enduring the long, weary hours when it's hardest to stay awake and watchful. It highlights that obedience and perseverance, even when tested by delay and difficulty, are what truly please God.
If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is illustrating what it means to be ready for His return, a concept prompted by a man greedily asking for an inheritance. He's just described servants who will be blessed if their master finds them awake and prepared when he comes home unexpectedly from a wedding feast. This verse highlights that readiness is blessed regardless of how late the master returns, even into the deeper, more difficult hours of the night.
The parable paints a picture of a master returning home. But what does it mean that he might return in the second or third watch, and why is this significant?
The master in Jesus' parable is expected to return at some point after a wedding feast. The text specifically mentions the 'second watch' (roughly 9 PM to midnight) and the 'third watch' (midnight to 3 AM). The absence of the first watch (the time of the feast itself) and the fourth watch (when dawn breaks) is key.
A Gradual Revelation
This isn't about a surprise midnight raid. It's about a master who might return later than expected. The implication is that the servants shouldn't just be ready for the earliest possible moment. Their faithfulness is tested over a longer, more uncertain period. It's easy to be alert when the party is still going, but staying vigilant through the quiet, weary hours of the night requires deeper commitment.
Jesus calls the servants 'blessed' if they are found awake. What kind of blessedness is this, and why is it tied to an active, waiting state?
The word 'blessed' here points to a deep, profound happiness and favor from God. It's not just a fleeting good feeling, but a state of well-being and divine approval.
The Reward of Vigilance
This blessedness is directly linked to the servants being 'awake.' This means they are alert, prepared, and actively engaged in their duties as overseers of the household in their master's absence. They haven't succumbed to sleep or complacency. Their readiness isn't passive; it's an active demonstration of their loyalty and trust in the master's eventual return. Even if the master comes late, their faithful watch means they are ready to greet him, and thus they receive his blessing and favor.
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The parable Jesus tells, referencing second and third watches of the night, reflects a blend of traditional Jewish understanding and the encroaching Roman system of dividing the night. This highlights how Jesus' teachings engaged with the contemporary social and political realities of his audience.
c. 63 BC - AD 14
Roman Rule in Judea
The Roman Republic, and later the Empire, exerted significant influence and control over Judea. This period saw the imposition of Roman laws, taxation, and governance, often through client kings or directly appointed prefects.
c. 27 BC - AD 68
Herodian Dynasty's Influence
Herod the Great and his descendants ruled parts of Judea under Roman authority. Their reigns were marked by extensive building projects but also political intrigue and varying degrees of local autonomy.
c. AD 25-30
Jesus' Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples throughout Galilee and Judea. His message often challenged the religious and social norms of the time.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Teaches Parables of Watchfulness
Jesus delivers teachings, including parables like the one found in Luke 12, emphasizing the need for readiness and vigilance in light of the coming Kingdom of God. He addresses themes of faithfulness, stewardship, and the unexpected nature of divine judgment.
c. AD 30-33
Roman Division of Night Watches
While the traditional Jewish night was divided into three watches, the Roman system of four watches was becoming more common in Judea during this period. This influenced the understanding of time and the likely duration of night patrols or waiting periods.
c. AD 66-73
The First Jewish Revolt
A major uprising against Roman rule erupted in Judea, leading to widespread conflict and devastation, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple.
This passage directly parallels the parable in Luke, emphasizing the need for constant readiness because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
Mark 13:35It echoes the call to be watchful, stating 'Therefore, stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning,' highlighting the uncertainty of the timing.
1 Thessalonians 5:2This verse connects the unexpected coming of the Lord to the 'night' and 'theft,' underscoring the surprise element and the need for believers to be vigilant, not caught unaware.
Revelation 16:15It offers a direct warning about staying awake and clothed, lest one be exposed and shamed when Christ returns, reinforcing the spiritual preparedness called for in Luke's parable.
barnesLuke 12:38: "And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants."
See the notes at Matthew 24:42-51 . Second watch - See the notes at Matthew 14:25.
jfbLuke 12:13-53: "And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me."
Lu 12:13-53. Covetousness—Watchfulness—Superiority to Earthly Ties.13. Master, &c.—that is, "Great Preacher of righteousness, help; there is need of Thee in this rapacious world; here am I the victim of injustice, and that from my own brother, who withholds from me my rightful share of the inheritance that has fallen to us." In this most inopportune intrusion upon the sole…
What's truly striking here is that the servants are called blessed even if the master returns during the "second" or "third" watch of the night. This means they're rewarded not just for the ideal scenario of being ready at midnight, but for faithfully enduring the long, weary hours when it's hardest to stay awake and watchful. It highlights that obedience and perseverance, even when tested by delay and difficulty, are what truly please God.
Jesus is illustrating what it means to be ready for His return, a concept prompted by a man greedily asking for an inheritance. He's just described servants who will be blessed if their master finds them awake and prepared when he comes home unexpectedly from a wedding feast. This verse highlights that readiness is blessed regardless of how late the master returns, even into the deeper, more difficult hours of the night.
Jesus is illustrating what it means to be ready for His return, a concept prompted by a man greedily asking for an inheritance. He's just described servants who will be blessed if their master finds them awake and prepared when he comes home unexpectedly from a wedding feast. This verse highlights that readiness is blessed regardless of how late the master returns, even into the deeper, more difficult hours of the night.
"If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!" — What's truly striking here is that the servants are called blessed even if the master returns during the "second" or "third" watch of the night. This means they're rewarded not just for the ideal sce…
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Last reviewed October 2026