TRV
Translation
King James Version
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.
KJV (with Strong's)
Complete Jewish Bible
But you do know this: had the owner of the house known when the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and not allowed his house to be broken into.
Berean Standard Bible
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.
American Standard Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through.
World English Bible Messianic
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Of this be sure, that if the good man of the house knewe at what watch the thiefe would come, he woulde surely watch, and not suffer his house to be digged through.
Young's Literal Translation
and this know, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief doth come, he had watched, and not suffered his house to be broken through;
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Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers . Public domain.
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DidacheAD 100
The Didache, Chapter 16
Watch for your life's sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ye ready, for ye know not the hour in which our Lord cometh. But often shall ye come together, seeking the things which are befitting to your souls: for the whole time of your faith will not profit you, if ye be not made perfect in the last time. For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate; for when lawlessness increaseth, they shall hate and persecute and betray one another, and then shall appear the world-deceiver as Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands, and he shall do iniquitous things which have never yet come to pass since the beginning. Then shall the creation of men come into the fire of trial, and many shall be made to stumble and shall perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved from under the curse itself. And then shall appear the signs of the truth; first, the sign of an out-spreading in heaven; then the sign of the sound of the trumpet; and the third, the resurrection of the dead; yet not of all, but as it is said: The Lord shall come and all His saints with Him. Then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.
Origen of Alexandria (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 253
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
The master of the household is the understanding, the house is the soul, the thief is the Devil. The thief is also every contrary doctrine which enters the soul of the unwary by other than the natural entrance, breaking into the house, and pulling down the soul's natural fences, that is, the natural powers of understanding, it enters the breach, and spoils the soul. Sometimes one takes the thief in the act of breaking in, and seizing him, stabs him with a word, and slays him. And the thief comes not in the day-time, when the soul of the thoughtful man is illuminated with the Sun of righteousness, but in the night, that is, in the time of prevailing wickedness; in which, when one is plunged, it is possible, though he have not the power of the sun, that he may be illuminated by some rays from the Word, as from a lamp; continuing still in evil, yet having a better purpose, and watchfulness, that this his purpose should not be broken through. Or in time of temptation, or of any calamities, is the time when the thief is most found to come, seeking to break through the house of the soul.
Hilary of PoitiersAD 367
Commentary on Matthew 26.6
To teach us that our ignorance of the date of his return (which his silence has kept hidden from everyone) is not without its usefulness, Christ warns us to keep all his commandments. We should also be occupied with constant prayer in order to guard against the coming of the thief. For the thief is the devil who seeks to invade our bodily homes with the darts of his thoughts and allurements in order to ruin us while we are sleepy and careless. It is good therefore that we be prepared. Our ignorance of the day of Christ’s return should provoke us to be careful as we eagerly await his coming.
Apostolic ConstitutionsAD 380
Apostolic Constitutions (Book VII), Section 2, XXXII
For in the last days false prophets shall be multiplied, and such as corrupt the word; and the sheep shall be changed into wolves, and love into hatred: for through the abounding of iniquity the love of many shall wax cold. For men shall hate, and persecute, and betray one another. And then shall appear the deceiver of the world, the enemy of the truth, the prince of lies, [2 Thessalonians 2:3-12] whom the Lord Jesus "shall destroy with the spirit of His mouth, who takes away the wicked with His lips; and many shall be offended at Him. But they that endure to the end, the same shall be saved. And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven;" [Isaiah 11:4; Matthew 24:1-51] and afterwards shall be the voice of a trumpet by the archangel; and in that interval shall be the revival of those that were asleep. And then shall the Lord come, and all His saints with Him, with a great concussion above the clouds, with the angels of His power, [Matthew 16:27] in the throne of His kingdom, to condemn the devil, the deceiver of the world, and to render to every one according to his deeds. "Then shall the wicked go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous shall go into life eternal," [Matthew 25:46] to inherit those things "which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, such things as God has prepared for them that love Him;" [1 Corinthians 2:9] and they shall rejoice in the kingdom of God, which is in Christ Jesus.
John ChrysostomAD 407
Homily on the Gospel of Matthew 77
After this again, that they may not ask about it, He added, "Watch therefore, for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come." He said not, "I know not," but, "ye know not." For when He had brought them well nigh to the very hour, and had placed them there, again He deters them from the inquiry, from a desire that they should be striving always. Therefore He saith, "Watch," showing that for the sake of this, He did not tell it.
"But know this, that if the good man 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. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh."
For this intent He tells them not, in order that they may watch, that they may be always ready; therefore He saith, When ye look not for it, then He will come, desiring that they should be anxiously waiting, and continually in virtuous action.
But His meaning is like this: if the common sort of men knew when they were to die, they would surely strive earnestly at that hour.
In order therefore that they may strive, not at that hour only, therefore He tells them not either the common hour, or the hour of each, desiring them to be ever looking for this, that they may be always striving. Wherefore He made the end of each man's life also uncertain.
After this, He openly calls Himself Lord, having nowhere spoken so distinctly. But here He seems to me also to put to shame the careless, that not even as much care as they that expect a thief have taken for their money, not even this much do these take for their own soul. For they indeed, when they expect it, watch, and suffer none of the things in their house to be carried off; but ye, although knowing that He will come, and come assuredly, continue not watching, saith He, and ready so as not to be carried away hence unprepared. So that the day cometh unto destruction for them that sleep. For as that man, if he had known, would have escaped, so also ye, if ye be ready, escape free.
John Chrysostom (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 407
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
He would have them ever ready, and therefore He says, Watch.
In this He rebukes such as have less care for their souls, than they have of guarding their money against an expected thief.
Jerome (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 420
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
Having declared that of that hour knoweth no man, but the Father only, He shows that it was not expedient for the Apostles to know, that being ignorant they might live in perpetual expectation of His coming, and thus concluding the whole, He says, Watch therefore, &c. And He does not say, 'Because we know not,' but Because ye know not, showing that He Himself is not ignorant of the day of judgment.
And by the instance of the master of the household, He teaches more plainly why He keeps secret the day of the consummation.
JeromeAD 420
Commentary on Matthew
(Verse 42, 43.) Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know at what hour your Lord is coming. But understand this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Clearly, he is showing why he said earlier: But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only: because it is not expedient for the apostles to know, so that they may always believe he is coming in uncertain expectation, whom they do not know when he is coming. And he did not say, because we do not know at what hour the Lord will come; but you do not know. And by giving the example of the father of the family, why he keeps silent about the day of the end, he teaches more clearly, saying:
Therefore, you also must be ready, for you do not know at what hour the Son of Man will come. Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. He further emphasizes and repeats why he did not predict the day of judgment and hour to the angels or himself, but only to the Father, because it is not fitting for the apostles to know; and he uses the example of a householder, that is, himself and faithful servants, that is, the apostles, to encourage their anxious minds, so that they may provide spiritual nourishment to their fellow servants at the proper time.
Augustine of Hippo (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 430
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(Ep. 199, 3.) He said this Watch, not to those only who heard Him speak at the time, but to those who came after them, and to us, and to all who shall be after us, until His second coming, for it touches all in a manner. That day comes to each one of us, when it comes to him to go out of the world, such as he shall be judged, and therefore ought every Christian to watch that the Lord's coming may not find him unprepared; and he will be unprepared for the day of His coming, whom the last day of his life shall find unprepared.
(non occ.) Foolish are all they, who either profess to know the day of the end of the world, when it is to come, or even the end of their own life, which no one can know unless he is illuminated by the Holy Spirit.
Gregory the DialogistAD 604
Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 13
But to shake off the sloth of our mind, even external losses are brought forward through a comparison, so that through these the soul may be roused to guard itself. For it is said: "Know this, that if the master of the house knew at what hour the thief was coming, he would certainly watch and would not allow his house to be broken into." For while the master of the house is unaware, the thief breaks into the house, because while the spirit sleeps from guarding itself, unforeseen death coming bursts into the dwelling of our flesh, and slays as if sleeping the one it found as master of the house, because when the spirit fails to foresee the coming losses, death snatches him unknowing to punishment. But he would resist the thief if he were watching, because being on guard against the coming of the judge who secretly seizes the soul, he would meet him by repenting, lest he perish impenitent.
Gregory the Dialogist (as quoted by Aquinas, AD 1274)AD 604
Catena Aurea by Aquinas
(Hom. in Ev. ii, 3.) To watch is to keep the eyes open, and looking out for the true light, to do and to observe that which one believes, to cast away the darkness of sloth and negligence.
(Hom. in Ev. xiii. 5.) Or, the thief breaks into the house through the neglect of the master of the house, when the spirit has slept upon its post of guard, and death has come in unawares into the dwelling house of our flesh, and finding the lord of the house sleeping, slays him; that is, the spirit, little providing for coming evils, is taken off unprepared, to punishment, by death. But if he had watched he would have been secure from the thief; that is, looking forward to the coming of the Judge, who takes our lives unawares, he would meet Him with penitence, and not perish impenitent. And the Lord would therefore have the last hour unknown, that it might always be in suspense, and that being unable to foresee it, we might never be unprepared for it.
CS LewisAD 1963
The World's Last Night (Essay)
His teaching on the subject quite clearly consisted of three propositions. One, that He will certainly return. Two, that we cannot possibly find out when. Three, and that therefore we must always be ready for Him. Note the therefore. Only because we cannot predict the moment, we must be ready at all moments. Our Lord repeated this practical conclusion again and again, as if the promise of the return had been made for the sake of this conclusion alone.
Watch, watch, is the burden of His advice. I shall come like a thief. You will not, I most solemnly assure you, you will not see Me approaching. If the householder had known at what time the burglar would arrive, he would have been ready for him. If the servant had known when his absent employer would come home, he would not have been found drunk in the kitchen. But they didn’t, nor will you. Therefore you must be ready at all times.
The point is surely simple enough. The schoolboy does not know which part of his Virgil lesson he will be made to translate. That is why he must be prepared to translate any passage. The sentry does not know at what time an enemy will attack, or an officer inspect his post. That is why he must keep awake all the time.
The return is wholly unpredictable. There will be wars and rumors of wars, and all kinds of catastrophes, as there always are. Things will be, in that sense, normal, the hour before the heavens roll up like a scroll. You cannot guess it. If you could, one chief purpose for which it was foretold would be frustrated. And God’s purposes are not so easily frustrated as that. One’s ears should be closed against any future William Miller in advance. The folly of listening to him at all is almost equal to the folly of believing him. He couldn’t know what he pretends, or thinks he knows.
Of this folly George MacDonald has written well. Do those, he asks, who say, lo here or lo there are the signs of his coming, think to be too keen for him, and spy his approach? When he tells them to watch, lest he find them neglecting their work, they stare this way and that, and watch lest he should succeed in coming like a thief. Obedience is the one key of life.
The doctrine of the second coming has failed, so far as we are concerned, if it does not make us realize that at every moment of every day in our lives Don’s question, ‘What if this present were the world’s last night?’...
What is important is not that we should always fear or hope about the end, but that we should always remember, always take it into account. An analogy may help here. A man of seventy need not be always feeling, much less talking, about his approaching death. But a wise man of seventy should always take it into account.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Matthew 24:43, a pivotal verse within Jesus' Olivet Discourse, serves as a profound warning regarding the unpredictable nature of His second coming and the paramount importance of spiritual readiness. Through the vivid and relatable analogy of a homeowner and an unannounced thief, Jesus underscores the critical necessity for His disciples to maintain constant vigilance, highlighting that foreknowledge of the exact timing would naturally lead to active preparation, thereby averting catastrophic loss. This parable encapsulates the core message that while the specific hour of the Lord's return remains unknown, the certainty of its occurrence demands an ongoing state of spiritual alertness and preparedness from all who await Him.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Matthew 24:43 primarily employs Analogy and Symbolism. The entire verse functions as an Analogy, drawing a direct comparison between the unexpected arrival of a thief and the unforeseen return of the Son of Man. This comparison is not about the character of the thief versus Christ, but about the manner of their coming—sudden, unannounced, and at an unknown time, demanding constant vigilance. The "thief" symbolizes the unexpectedness of Christ's return, while the "goodman of the house" symbolizes the disciples or believers who are responsible for their spiritual "house" or lives. The "house being broken up" symbolizes the spiritual loss, judgment, or unpreparedness that will befall those who are not watchful. There is also an element of Hypothetical Reasoning, as Jesus presents a "what if" scenario to illustrate the logical outcome of knowing versus not knowing the timing, thereby emphasizing the necessity of perpetual watchfulness in the face of uncertainty.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse serves as a timeless and urgent call to spiritual vigilance, deeply rooted in the eschatological teachings of Jesus. It underscores the theological truth that while God has revealed the certainty of Christ's return, He has deliberately withheld the timing, thereby compelling believers to live in a state of continuous readiness and faithfulness. The analogy of the thief highlights that the Lord's coming will be an intrusion into the ordinary flow of life, disrupting complacency and revealing true spiritual preparedness. This readiness is not driven by fear of the unknown, but by a sober understanding of divine sovereignty and the imperative to live in active anticipation of the Master's return, diligently stewarding the spiritual gifts and responsibilities entrusted to us.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 24:43 calls us to a profound and practical spiritual discipline: living in a constant state of readiness for Christ's return. This isn't about fear-mongering or date-setting, but about cultivating a lifestyle of intentional faithfulness and spiritual alertness. Just as a wise homeowner would guard their property if they knew a thief was coming, we are to guard our hearts, minds, and actions, knowing that our Lord will return at an hour we do not expect. This means actively pursuing holiness, engaging in diligent service, and maintaining a vibrant relationship with God through prayer and His Word. It challenges us to examine our priorities, ensuring that our lives are aligned with God's will, so that when He appears, we are not found spiritually asleep or unprepared, but actively engaged in His kingdom work, ready to welcome Him with joy.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why does Jesus use the imagery of a "thief" to describe His return? Does this imply something negative about His coming?
Answer: Jesus uses the "thief" imagery not to imply anything negative about His character or the nature of His return, but solely to emphasize the manner of His coming: it will be sudden, unexpected, and unannounced. A thief gives no warning, and neither will Christ's return. The point is the element of surprise and the consequent need for constant vigilance, rather than a moral comparison between Christ and a thief. This metaphor is consistently used in the New Testament to stress preparedness, as seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 and 2 Peter 3:10.
What does it mean for a Christian to "watch" or be "ready" for Christ's return?
Answer: To "watch" or be "ready" means to live a life of ongoing spiritual alertness and faithfulness, as if Christ could return at any moment. It involves more than just intellectual assent; it's a lifestyle. This includes actively pursuing holiness (1 John 3:2-3), diligently fulfilling one's God-given responsibilities (Matthew 25:14-30), maintaining a vibrant prayer life (Luke 21:36), and staying rooted in God's Word. It's about living in a way that honors God daily, rather than sporadically, ensuring one is not caught off guard by spiritual complacency or unconfessed sin.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Matthew 24:43 speaks directly to the manner of Christ's second coming, its deeper Christ-centered fulfillment lies in how His first coming, His atoning work, and His ongoing intercession make our readiness possible and meaningful. The "thief in the night" imagery, while a warning, is ultimately transformed by the finished work of Christ. It is because Jesus, the Lamb of God, willingly suffered and died on the cross, taking away the sin of the world, that believers can even be ready. His sacrifice provides the redemption and sanctification necessary for us to stand blameless before God (Ephesians 1:7). Furthermore, His resurrection and ascension mean that He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, actively interceding for us (Romans 8:34), empowering us through the Holy Spirit to live lives of vigilance and obedience. Thus, our watchfulness is not a frantic effort to earn salvation, but a joyful response of love and gratitude to the One who has already secured our eternal hope. The "thief" will indeed come, but for those who are "in Christ," His coming will be the glorious consummation of their salvation, ushering them into His eternal presence (Philippians 3:20-21).