Luk 12:35 | KingComments | STEP | Whoever has a treasure in heaven, knows that he himself is still on earth. He also knows that his time on earth has an end and that he may then take possession of his treasure in heaven. Whoever has a treasure in heaven, is therefore waiting for the Lord. He is not surprised by His coming, but is ready for it. That is why his loins are girded about. Girding the loins used to mean pulling up the long clothing and tying it around the loins so that one could walk unhindered and also quickly. The Israelites were given that command when they were about to leave Egypt ( ). The Lord Jesus uses this picture with a view to our departure out of the world. If our heart is attached to the things of this life, we have not girded the loins. Besides being ready to depart, the disciple also gives a clear testimony about where he lives for and what he looks forward to. His lamp burns brightly in a dark world where God is not taken into account. We also see this with the Israelites when the ninth plague, the darkness, comes over the land of Egypt ( ). Believers give a clear testimony of their real interests. They don’t depend on the things of this life that they can leave behind at any moment, apart from the fact that he can lose all these things all of a sudden. At the same time they do not engage in world avoidance and testify in it of their expectation of the Lord ( ). The Lord tells His disciples that they should be like men waiting for their master. This means that these people are slaves. The disciples are the slaves and the Lord Jesus is their Master. Waiting means: looking forward in expectation. The phrase “when He returns from the wedding feast” is not easy to explain. It may be that it is the wedding of the Lamb that took place in heaven ( ). It may also be about the Lord’s wedding with the earthly Jerusalem ( ). In any case, the Lord speaks to us as disciples whom He wants to enter into the kingdom to celebrate the wedding with Him. In view of the wedding, He urges us not to be tempted to seek the things of the world. When He comes, He expects disciples who have looked forward to Him and waited for Him. He calls the slaves blessed, whom He will not only find waiting, but also on the alert. ‘Waiting’ is what we do in view of the Lord, ‘on the alert’ is what we do in view of the thief. Looking forward to the coming of the Lord should not make us careless, imprudent or naive for the presence of the enemy who wants to distract our eye from the Lord and cause us spiritual damage. This attitude of waiting and being on the alert is so valuable to the Lord that He personally will give those believers a place of rest and fellowship with Him and serve them Himself. He switches places with His own, just as the Samaritan stepped off the donkey to put the man who had fallen into the hands of robbers on it ( ). They have served Him on earth without being distracted by all prosperity; He will serve them in heaven. He will “gird” himself (cf. ) in order to serve them unhindered and “come up“, which indicates intimacy and a confidential relationship. His service consists of making them increasingly familiar with the glories of His own Person.

‏ Luke 12:35

Waiting and Being On the Alert

Whoever has a treasure in heaven, knows that he himself is still on earth. He also knows that his time on earth has an end and that he may then take possession of his treasure in heaven. Whoever has a treasure in heaven, is therefore waiting for the Lord. He is not surprised by His coming, but is ready for it.

That is why his loins are girded about. Girding the loins used to mean pulling up the long clothing and tying it around the loins so that one could walk unhindered and also quickly. The Israelites were given that command when they were about to leave Egypt (Exo 12:11). The Lord Jesus uses this picture with a view to our departure out of the world. If our heart is attached to the things of this life, we have not girded the loins.

Besides being ready to depart, the disciple also gives a clear testimony about where he lives for and what he looks forward to. His lamp burns brightly in a dark world where God is not taken into account. We also see this with the Israelites when the ninth plague, the darkness, comes over the land of Egypt (Exo 10:23).

Believers give a clear testimony of their real interests. They don’t depend on the things of this life that they can leave behind at any moment, apart from the fact that he can lose all these things all of a sudden. At the same time they do not engage in world avoidance and testify in it of their expectation of the Lord (1Thes 1:8-10).

The Lord tells His disciples that they should be like men waiting for their master. This means that these people are slaves. The disciples are the slaves and the Lord Jesus is their Master. Waiting means: looking forward in expectation. The phrase “when He returns from the wedding feast” is not easy to explain. It may be that it is the wedding of the Lamb that took place in heaven (Rev 19:7). It may also be about the Lord’s wedding with the earthly Jerusalem (Song 3:11).

In any case, the Lord speaks to us as disciples whom He wants to enter into the kingdom to celebrate the wedding with Him. In view of the wedding, He urges us not to be tempted to seek the things of the world. When He comes, He expects disciples who have looked forward to Him and waited for Him.

He calls the slaves blessed, whom He will not only find waiting, but also on the alert. ‘Waiting’ is what we do in view of the Lord, ‘on the alert’ is what we do in view of the thief. Looking forward to the coming of the Lord should not make us careless, imprudent or naive for the presence of the enemy who wants to distract our eye from the Lord and cause us spiritual damage.

This attitude of waiting and being on the alert is so valuable to the Lord that He personally will give those believers a place of rest and fellowship with Him and serve them Himself. He switches places with His own, just as the Samaritan stepped off the donkey to put the man who had fallen into the hands of robbers on it (Lk 10:34). They have served Him on earth without being distracted by all prosperity; He will serve them in heaven. He will “gird” himself (cf. Jn 13:3-5) in order to serve them unhindered and “come up“, which indicates intimacy and a confidential relationship. His service consists of making them increasingly familiar with the glories of His own Person.