Luke 12:39-40

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-Let me encourage you, to...

…turn in your Bibles, back to Luke 12...

And, we’ve come to verse 39, this morning.

Before last week’s sermon...

…James had asked me...

…if I was going to be...

…getting into a lot of eschatology (last things).

And, indeed I did...

…at least, in a technical sense...

…in that, the Return of Christ...

…was set before us...

…as the reward for faithful service...

And, by very definition...

…that is a matter of “Eschatology.”

But, it wasn’t the kind of sermon...

…that typically comes to mind...

When we hear the words...

Eschatology

End Times

Prophecy.

Well, today’s sermon is going to...

…dip into those subjects a little more deeply.

It will feel a little bit more...

…like an eschatological sermon .

But, it still won’t be a comprehensive survey...

And, it’s definitely not going to...

…address current events.

It’s only going to focus...

…on one key aspect...

…of our Lord’s Return.

But, it’s an aspect that...

…has pretty big implications...

…on a number of eschatological positions.

-Alright, let’s read our text.

It’s only two short verses:

This is the Word of God:

Luke 12:35–40 (ESV)

39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

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-So, last week, we had seen Jesus...

…giving the command...

…for his disciples to stay...

vigilant,

alert,

and ready...

…as they awaited His certain return.

He had told them (Verse 36), to...

Luke 12:36 (ESV)

36 ...be like men who are waiting for their master to come home...

And He had pronounced a beatitude...

…upon those who would obey:

Luke 12:37 (ESV)

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes...

Then, he had given them...

…that RADICAL, countercultural, but glorious promise.

He said:

Luke 12:37 (ESV)

37 ...Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

And, as we compared that...

…to similar passages in the Bible...

…we saw that this was...

…a promise of the full and final salvation...

…that Jesus would provide at His return.

-So, stated plainly...

That first section had contained:

A command to faithful service (in Christ’s absence)

The promise of reward for that faithfulness...

…upon his return.

-So, as far as I can tell, Verses 39-40...

…are showing us...

...the other side of that coin.

They're giving a warning...

…to those who would be tempted...

…to fall asleep:

Luke 12:39 (ESV)

39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

“broken into” = “dug through” (explain)

So notice, first of all...

…that Jesus is using a different metaphor now.

It’s similar

It’s connected (thematically)

But, it’s different.

He’s still describing...

…an unexpected arrival...

But this time...

…it’s the master of the house...

…who isn’t ready for his visitor...

And the visitor...

isn’t coming to bless...

but to burglarize.

He’s not coming as a friend, to give...

But as a thief, to take away!

-So, let’s be really clear, here:

Which character in the parable is representing...

The disciples? ....... The master of the house

Jesus? ....... The Thief!

-Now, if Jesus hadn’t been the one...

…to represent himself by a thief...

…We certainly would never do so.

(It sounds and feels a little blasphemous, doesn’t it?)

But, of course, it isn’t his nature...

…that he’s comparing...

…to the nature of a thief...

Rather, the similarity is between...

…the unexpected way...

…that both plan to arrive.

-You’re probably well aware...

…but this is a metaphor...

…that Jesus often used...

…to describe the nature of His Coming:

For example:

Revelation 16:15 (ESV)

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Notice the 2 consistent themes:

The mystery of the timing

The call to a constant state of preparation

We saw this one last week:

2 Peter 3:10–12 (ESV)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God,...

We’ll revisit this one later...

…but, for now notice:

1 Thessalonians 5:1–2 (ESV)

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (ESV)

6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

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The metaphor is constant...

Its application is consistent!

-Now, going back to the parable, itself...

What is the immediate lesson...

…that the disciples should have taken away from it...

…even before Jesus’ makes application from it...

…in the next verse?

That, if the man had been...

Awake

Dressed for action

Had his lamps burning

Watching, waiting, and...

…anticipating the coming of the thief...

…he could have prevented his burglary...

…and would have suffered no loss.

-So, from that lesson...

…Jesus makes this application in Verse 40:

Luke 12:40 (ESV)

40 You also must be ready...

Why?

Because, similar to the thief in the parable...

Luke 12:40 (ESV)

40 ...the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

-Now, there’s a lot that...

…we need to break down in this Verse.

Its overall point is pretty simple...

But, to feel the full force of it...

…we need to examine its various parts.

-To begin with, its primary subject is...

“The Son of Man”

His “Coming”

What do those denote?

Well, as I’ve told you many times before...

…that designation “The Son of Man” . . .

…is usually a reference, to Jesus...

In His FULL humanity

And as the Divine/Messianic King.

Daniel 7:13–14 (ESV)

13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.

14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.

And guys, Jesus said plainly...

…that He was this King:

Mark 14:61–63 (ESV)

61 ...the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?”

62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 And the high priest tore his garments...

-Now, His “Coming” . . .

...denotes his coming to the earth...

…to carry out some purpose of his Kingdom.

It’s an event which is...

...often referred to as:

The Day of the Lord

The Bible equates these two, directly:

2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 (ESV)

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,

2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.

-And, Much like the designation, “The Son of Man” . . .

“The Day of the Lord,” also has its roots...

…in the OT prophets:

It signified a time, when...

…God would intervene in human history...

...Usually, to execute judgment.

For example:

Isaiah 2:10–17 (ESV)

10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of his majesty.

11 The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

12 For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low...

17 And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day.

But, other prophets were told things...

…that revealed a great mystery about the day:

Joel 2:11–32 (ESV)

11 The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?

12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.

14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him...

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...

32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

So, the day of the Lord, meant...

Wrath and Judgment for his enemies

Salvation and Vindication for his friends.

It is both/and.

Let me show you...

…a really pertinent example of that:

Luke 21:23–28 (ESV)

23 ...there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.

24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,

26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

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I hope you can see...

…that there’s a lot behind...

…the language of “the Son of Man’s coming”...

…and/or “the Day of the Lord.”

-Now, as I stated before...

…our text only specifies one thing in particular...

…about the nature of...

…the coming that Jesus has in mind:

(but this one thing...

…reveals more than what we might expect)

Luke 12:40 (ESV)

40 ...the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

What does this tell us?

1.) It will be a surprise to many

2.) It may be in an unexpected manner

3.) It will unfold decisively (not gradually)

4.) It can’t be predicted...

...Not even by his own people (Deuteronomy 18).

Brethren, Jesus said plainly:

Mark 13:32 (ESV)

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

That’s very specific!

Beware of date-setters!

Mark and avoid.

-Now, let me give you...

…two very important qualifiers:

1.) Though unpredictable...

…he won’t come in secret:

2 Peter 3:10 (ESV)

10 ...the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Luke 17:23–24 (ESV)

23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.

24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

Matthew 24:30 (ESV)

30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

(even if you think that’s talking about a different coming...

…it’s still saying that it will be...

Cataclysmic

Self-Evident!)

2.) While we can’t know the exact timing...

…God’s people will be able...

…to see it coming over the horizon:

1 Thessalonians 5:4–5 (ESV)

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

5 For you are all children of light...

2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 (ESV)

1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him...

3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed...

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(Brethren, that probably won’t look...

…the way it’s portrayed in the novels)

-Now, with that backdrop in mind...

…let’s try to figure out...

…which “coming” Jesus is referring to, here:

Possibilities include:

1.) His first coming in the incarnation?

nonsensical

2.) His return in the Resurrection?

Was given with temporal specificity (3 days)

3.) Pentecost?

Where was the judgment on the wicked?

4.) 70 ad?

Where was the visible (lightning-like) appearing?

Coming in the clouds of glory?

Where’s the unexpectedness for the wicked?

Where was the reward for the faithful?

5.) A Secret Rapture?

What about “every eye will see, etc.”

What about the judgment of the wicked?

6.) A return after the slow and steady christianizing of this current world?

Where’s the suddenness and surprise?

Where’s the redemption and deliverance?

Where’s the decisive victory?

Who’s left to judge?

7.) The literal, physical, bodily Parousia!

Seems like it to me

And, Jesus’ command to us...

…as we await it, is simply:

Luke 12:40 (ESV)

40 You . . . must be ready...

What does that look like?

Luke 21:34–36 (ESV)

34 “… watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

That’s the imperative of our text.

-Watch how Paul puts all of this together, in...

1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:11 (ESV)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep...

16 ...the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord...

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Our Confession says this:

Confessing the Faith: The 1689 Baptist Confession for the 21st Century (XXXII. The Last Judgment)

Christ desires that we be firmly convinced that a day of judgment will come, both to deter everyone from sin and to comfort the godly more fully in their adversity.

For this reason, He has determined to keep the day secret, to encourage people to shake off any fleshly security and always to be watchful, because they do not know the hour when the Lord will come...

...and so that they may always be prepared to say, “Come Lord Jesus; come quickly. Amen.”

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