Charles Ellicott Commentary Matthew 24:43

"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." — Matthew 24:43 (ASV)

But know this — The verses from Matthew 24:42 to Matthew 24:51 have no corresponding text in the reports of this discourse given by St. Mark and St. Luke. However, they are found almost verbatim in another discourse reported in Luke 12:42 and following. Here, as elsewhere, we have to choose between the assumption that the same words were repeated or that words spoken on one occasion were transferred to another. Of the two, the former hypothesis seems more probable.

It may be noted, however, that the variations in the three reports of this discourse indicate a comparatively free treatment of it. This was likely the natural result of it having been often reproduced, wholly or in part, orally before it was committed to writing. On ordinary grounds of evidence, St. Mark’s report, assuming his connection with St. Peter, would seem likely to come nearest to the very words spoken by our Lord.

The goodman of the house — Better, as in Matthew 20:1, householder.

In what watch — The night-watches were four in number, of three hours each. So in Luke 12:38, we have the second or the third watch specified. The allusion to the thief coming would seem to have passed into the proverbial saying that the day of the Lord would come as a thief in the night, quoted by St. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:2.