Luke 17 31

Luke 17:31 kjv

In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

Luke 17:31 nkjv

"In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.

Luke 17:31 niv

On that day no one who is on the housetop, with possessions inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything.

Luke 17:31 esv

On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back.

Luke 17:31 nlt

On that day a person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return home.

Luke 17 verses

Luke 17 31 Meaning

This verse issues a profound warning from Jesus regarding the swiftness and urgency required when the Son of Man is revealed. It instructs believers to prioritize immediate spiritual readiness and flight over retrieving worldly possessions or looking back, highlighting that hesitation or attachment to earthly things can lead to spiritual loss during a critical moment of divine intervention. It emphasizes decisive action and a complete detachment from the world in the face of the Kingdom's sudden arrival.

Luke 17 31 Context

Luke 17:31 is part of a larger discourse by Jesus (Luke 17:20-37) regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God and, more specifically, "the day when the Son of Man is revealed." This teaching follows the Pharisees' question about the Kingdom's arrival and is given privately to the disciples. Jesus emphasizes that His coming will not be an observable event with outward signs, but rather like lightning, sudden and undeniable. He contrasts His revelation with the unexpected judgments in the days of Noah (a flood) and Lot (fire and brimstone), where life continued normally until judgment swiftly fell. Verse 31 directly follows the warning "Remember Lot's wife" (v. 32) and immediately precedes the saying about two in the field or two sleeping, where one is taken and the other left, reinforcing the theme of sudden division and the necessity for immediate spiritual preparedness. The historical and cultural context is crucial: flat rooftops (dōma) were common in ancient Judea, often equipped with an external staircase for quick descent to the street without entering the house. This detail emphasizes that even minor delays for possessions would be detrimental.

Luke 17 31 Word analysis

• In that day (ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ - en ekeinē tē hēmera): Refers to "the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (Lk 17:30), highlighting a specific, momentous future time of divine intervention and judgment. It implies a definitive, crucial point in history or eschatology.
• He who is on the housetop (ὁ ἐπὶ τοῦ δώματος - ho epi tou dōmatos): "Housetop" (dōma) refers to the flat roof of a typical Jewish home, often used for daily activities, sleeping, or prayer. An external stairway provided direct access to the street without going through the house. The implication is being in a place of immediate exit, making the delay for possessions inexcusable.
• And his goods are in the house (καὶ τὰ σκεύη αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ - kai ta skeuē autou en tē oikia): "Goods" (skeuē) means vessels, articles, or household possessions. This refers to a person's material wealth and belongings. The warning is against being preoccupied with retrieving earthly possessions when divine judgment or salvation demands immediate action.
• Let him not come down (μὴ καταβάτω - mē katabatō): An emphatic negative imperative. It signifies absolute prohibition, demanding rapid action and prioritizing escape over any attempt to secure material things. The instruction to not "come down" to "take them away" assumes one might be on the roof for various reasons but should use the most direct exit, not enter the house for belongings.
• To take them away (ἆραι αὐτά - arai auta): To lift up, take away, or carry off. It signifies collecting or removing one's belongings. The command is not to waste precious time attempting to salvage worldly possessions.
• And likewise (καὶ ὁ ἐν ἀγρῷ ὁμοίως - kai ho en agrō homoiōs): Extends the principle from the domestic setting to the occupational, rural context, demonstrating that the warning applies to all people, regardless of their location or occupation.
• He who is in the field (ὁ ἐν ἀγρῷ - ho en agrō): Refers to someone engaged in agricultural labor, typical of everyday life. This signifies someone involved in their ordinary work or routine when the Son of Man is revealed.
• Let him not return to things behind (μὴ ἐπιστρεψάτω εἰς τὰ ὀπίσω - mē epistrepsatō eis ta opisō): This is a direct echo of the warning to Lot's wife (Gen 19:26) and reinforced by the preceding verse in Luke (Lk 17:32). "To things behind" (eis ta opisō) refers to the place, the past, or past possessions one left. It implies not just physical return but a mental or emotional looking back, hesitation, or regret for what is being left behind, symbolizing a spiritual lack of commitment to God's immediate command.

• He who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away: This phrase emphasizes the absolute urgency and detachment from material possessions. There should be no detour, no lingering for anything worldly when the divine imperative comes. The immediate threat or call requires an unburdened, decisive flight.
• He who is in the field, let him not return to things behind: This reiterates the warning against hesitation and attachment to the former life or the familiar. Just as Lot's wife tragically looked back with longing, believers are called to move forward with unreserved faith, letting go of all that might hold them back from the Kingdom.

Luke 17 31 Bonus section

This verse carries a dual fulfillment perspective within biblical prophecy: it serves as a practical instruction for believers living through the catastrophic Roman siege and destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, urging Jewish Christians to flee swiftly to the mountains without collecting belongings (as historically advised by early Church fathers). However, its primary and broader meaning is eschatological, serving as a timeless spiritual injunction for all believers awaiting the sudden revelation of the Son of Man at the end of the age. The commands are present imperatives in Greek, denoting continuous action and constant readiness. This emphasizes that readiness is not a one-time event but an ongoing state of mind and spirit, continuously prioritizing God's call over worldly comforts and possessions.

Luke 17 31 Commentary

Luke 17:31 serves as a stark warning, stressing the imperative of readiness and swift, unreserved obedience when the Son of Man is revealed. Jesus demands an uncompromising detachment from worldly possessions and earthly comforts, even the seemingly necessary, for the sake of immediate spiritual salvation or discipleship. The dual examples—one at home on the roof, the other in the field—demonstrate that this principle applies universally to everyone, regardless of their current circumstances or station. The repeated command not to "go down" or "return" underscores that any delay, hesitation, or sentimental clinging to the past or material things will be fatal. This teaching is rooted in the tragic lesson of Lot's wife, a warning against prioritizing anything over the urgent call of God. It calls believers to a posture of constant spiritual vigilance and preparedness, willing to forsake all for Christ and His coming Kingdom, signifying a shift in ultimate allegiance from the temporary to the eternal.