Matthew 24:43
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights that the thief's method is how they get in, not just that they get in. The "breaking into" (or "breaking through") implies a violent, forceful entry rather than a stealthy theft, emphasizing the destructive nature of being caught unprepared by the Lord's return. Knowing the "watch" (a specific segment of the night) is the key that allows the householder to prevent this violent breach.
Jesus is speaking directly to His disciples about His second coming, emphasizing the need for constant readiness. He has just explained that His return will be sudden and unexpected, like the coming of a thief in the night, and now uses this analogy to illustrate the consequences of being caught unprepared. This leads directly into His teaching about the faithful and wise servant who is rewarded, versus the wicked servant who is punished for assuming his master's delay.
Jesus uses a vivid analogy of a thief to make a critical point about His return. While we don't know the exact timing, the certainty of the event demands our attention.
Jesus likens His coming to that of a thief. The core of the analogy isn't about the thief's malice, but his unpredictability. A homeowner who knew the precise moment a thief would strike would obviously take precautions. But thieves, by nature, don't give notice.
Jesus applies this to His own return. The disciples knew that He would return, but not when. The "watch" refers to the divisions of the night, signifying that the timing is completely unknown to us. This unknowing is not a flaw in God's plan, but a deliberate call to constant readiness.
The reaction of the 'master of the house' to a potential thief is a powerful picture of what Jesus expects from His followers.
The homeowner's hypothetical knowledge of the thief's arrival leads to a specific action: he 'would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.' This isn't about a frantic, sleepless existence, but a state of alert preparedness. It implies:
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For us, this means being spiritually alert, actively engaging with God's Word and prayer, and protecting our hearts and minds from the 'thief' of sin and deception that seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.
Understand the original words
kleptes · Greek Noun
A term used in the New Testament to signify the sudden, unexpected, and potentially intrusive nature of Christ's return, comparing it to an unwelcome intruder who strikes when one is unprepared.
This passage directly connects the unknown coming of the Lord to the sudden arrival of a thief, echoing the core metaphor of Matthew 24:43.
2 Peter 3:10Peter describes the Day of the Lord coming like a thief in the night, reinforcing the urgency of being prepared, just as the homeowner would have been if he'd known the time.
Luke 12:39Luke's parallel account of Jesus' teaching presents the same thief analogy, emphasizing the unknown hour of the Son of Man's coming and the need for constant readiness.
Matthew 24:44Immediately following this verse, Jesus explicitly states the consequence: 'Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect,' directly applying the thief analogy.
Revelation 3:3This verse from Revelation applies the 'thief' imagery to a specific church, warning them to remember how they received and held onto the message, lest the Lord come upon them like a thief unexpectedly.
vincentMatthew 24:43: "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up."
Would come (ἔπχεται)Rev., was coming. But the present is graphically thrown in as in vv, Matthew 24:40, Matthew 24:41 : is coming or cometh.Broken up (διορυγῆναι)Rev., broken through. See on Matthew 6:19. Wyc., undermined.
barnesMatthew 24:43: "But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up."
But know this ... - If a man knew the hour, or "about the hour," when a robber would come, he would be ready for him. So you know not the exact hour, but you know it is near, when the Son of man will come. He will come suddenly, as a thief comes, without giving previous warning, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 ; 2 Peter…
This verse highlights that the thief's method is how they get in, not just that they get in. The "breaking into" (or "breaking through") implies a violent, forceful entry rather than a stealthy theft, emphasizing the destructive nature of being caught unprepared by the Lord's return. Knowing the "watch" (a specific segment of the night) is the key that allows the householder to prevent this violent breach.
Jesus is speaking directly to His disciples about His second coming, emphasizing the need for constant readiness. He has just explained that His return will be sudden and unexpected, like the coming of a thief in the night, and now uses this analogy to illustrate the consequences of being caught unprepared. This leads directly into His teaching about the faithful and wise servant who is rewarded, versus the wicked servant who is punished for assuming his master's delay.
Jesus is speaking directly to His disciples about His second coming, emphasizing the need for constant readiness. He has just explained that His return will be sudden and unexpected, like the coming of a thief in the night, and now uses this analogy to illustrate the consequences of being caught unprepared. This leads directly into His teaching about the faithful and wise servant who is rewarded, versus the wicked servant who is punished for assuming his master's delay.
"But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into." — This verse highlights that the thief's method is how they get in, not just that they get in. The "breaking into" (or "breaking through") implies a violent, forceful entry rather than a stealthy t…
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