Luke 21:34 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “But 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.

NIV: Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.

NASB: But be on your guard, so that your hearts will not be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that this day will not come on you suddenly, like a trap;

CSB: "Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life, or that day will come on you unexpectedly

NLT: Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware,

KJV: And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

NKJV: “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

Here, the chapter transitions from prophetic warning to personal warning. Jesus has given a big picture of catastrophically violent events that will occur before He returns. He warns against being "weighed down:" burdened or heavy with something, in this case "dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life." He does not want them so consumed by the things of this world that they fail to pay attention to the signs of His coming kingdom. People cannot know in advance precisely when Jesus will return (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:6–7). But those who pay no attention will be caught unaware and suffer for it. They will be caught quickly, like in a trap.

Jesus is speaking to Peter, James, John, and Andrew (Mark 13:3). They will not be alive when He returns, but they have given us Jesus' words so that we can pass them on. Because God will not tell us when Jesus will return, everyone needs to be prepared.

This call to be alert is woven into the New Testament. Matthew doesn't include this statement, instead relating several of Jesus' parables which illustrate the same message (Matthew 24:45—25:30). In Luke, Jesus has already given similar warnings like the parable of the master returning from the wedding feast (Luke 12:35–40), the parable of the wise manager (Luke 12:41–48), the parable of the great banquet (Luke 14:16–24), and the parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11–27).

Most of these parables describe people living normal lives, seeking good—or at least neutral—things. Their problem is their goals are earthbound and, therefore, temporary; they don't prioritize their relationship with God. Like the parable of the rich fool, they're distracted with their lives and don't consider eternity (Luke 12:13–21). Jesus warns us all to be prepared to meet Him, whether at His return or our deaths (Luke 21:36).

"Dissipation" refers to uncontrolled debauchery, especially in the context of a drinking party. The King James Version uses "surfeiting," which means doing something to an excessive degree.

Luke 21:34–36 records Jesus telling His followers how to live as they await His second coming. They must be alert to what is going on around them: to how God and the enemy are working in the world. They must remain sober minded so that when they meet Him, whether at His return or their death, they will be found faithful. Matthew and Mark use parables to give this message while Luke uses more direct language.

Luke 21 records the last of Jesus' teachings before the Last Supper, His arrest, and His crucifixion. Luke 21:1–4 fits well with the themes of Luke 19:28—20:47. Luke 21:5–11 describes how false messiahs, war, and natural disasters will become normal. Luke 21:12–24 prophesies challenges prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Luke 21:25–28 moves to the tribulation. Luke 21:29–36 is Jesus' instructions about the disciples' lives and ministries with respect to the delayed kingdom. Luke 21:37–38 is a note about Jesus' schedule in the days between the triumphal entry and His arrest.

Luke 21 finishes the presentation of Jesus in Jerusalem as the Messiah of the Jews. This lays a foundation for the Passion Narrative: the final days before Jesus is crucified. Luke 19:28—20:47 covered most of the discussions about His authority which are completed with His words about the widow's sacrificial offering (Luke 21:1–4). The rest of the chapter records His warnings to the disciples about the violence they, the temple, Jerusalem, and the world will face between His ascension and His return. Matthew 24 and Mark 12:41—13:37 cover the same material.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.