Luke 12:40 (ASV)

Passage

Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Nearby Context

Luke 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, and if in the third, and find [them] so blessed are those [servants].

Luke 12:39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.

Luke 12:40 Be ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.

Luke 12:41 And Peter said, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even unto all?

Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "ready", "hour", "think", and "cometh". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "ready" and "hour", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 39's "But know this that if the master..." into verse 41's "And Peter said Lord speakest thou this...", so "ready" and "hour" belong inside that flow. In Luke context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "ready" and "hour" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.