Luke 21 34

Luke 21:34 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.

Luke 21:34 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.

Luke 21:34 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.

Luke 21:34 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.

Luke 21:34 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,

Luke 21 verses

Luke 21 34 Meaning

Luke 21:34 serves as a potent warning from Jesus to His followers, urging them to maintain constant spiritual vigilance and preparedness for "that day"—His anticipated return or the moment of final judgment. He cautions against allowing their inner being, their hearts, to become dull, burdened, or unresponsive due to excessive indulgence, such as revelry and drunkenness, or due to debilitating anxieties and worries stemming from worldly preoccupations. The consequence of such unpreparedness is severe: that crucial day will arrive suddenly and unexpectedly, ensnaring the unready like an inescapable trap.

Luke 21 34 Context

Luke chapter 21 features Jesus' eschatological discourse, often referred to as the Olivet Discourse, delivered from the Mount of Olives shortly before His crucifixion. Following His prophecy of the temple's destruction (vv. 5-7), Jesus provides a detailed series of signs related to the end times, cosmic disturbances, and His glorious Second Coming (vv. 8-28). He uses the parable of the fig tree (vv. 29-33) to assure His disciples that these signs confirm the nearness of His return, just as the budding fig tree signals summer. Verse 34 then serves as a direct, urgent, and personal exhortation to His followers. It pivots from the discussion of future events to an immediate command for personal readiness and spiritual discipline. Historically, this discourse offered guidance and comfort to early Christians facing the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and provided a framework for believers throughout history to navigate periods of societal upheaval and the ultimate return of Christ, emphasizing continuous spiritual preparation over fearful speculation.

Luke 21 34 Word analysis

• But: ἀλλά (alla) - This Greek conjunction introduces a strong contrast or shift. Following the certainty of signs and events, it transitions to a direct, personal, and urgent command, contrasting divine activity with human responsibility.
• watch yourselves: προσέχετε (prosechete) - A present active imperative, meaning "Be on guard continually," "Take heed," "Pay attention," "Beware." It implies ongoing, active, self-supervision and spiritual discipline to protect the inner life.
• lest your hearts: μήποτε αἱ καρδίαι ὑμῶν (mēpote hai kardiai hymōn) - "Lest perhaps ever your hearts." Mēpote expresses a cautionary fear of a potential negative outcome. Kardiai (plural of kardia) refers to the deep center of a person's inner life, encompassing intellect, emotion, will, conscience, and moral character—not merely emotions but the entire core being. The warning is profound, targeting the seat of one's entire spiritual and moral existence.
• be weighed down: βαρηθῶσιν (barēthōsin) - From bareō, meaning "to burden," "to oppress," "to make heavy," "to make sluggish or dull." The passive voice suggests being overcome or made insensitive by external pressures or internal indulgence, leading to spiritual inertia or insensitivity. It signifies being dull-witted, benumbed, or insensible to spiritual truth.
• with dissipation: κραιπάλη (kraipalē) - Literally means "giddiness, sickness, or headache from drinking." It refers to the "hangover" or after-effects of debauchery and excessive indulgence, signifying moral and spiritual sluggishness or stupor that impairs clear thinking and spiritual awareness. It extends beyond just alcohol to general excesses.
• and drunkenness: μέθῃ (methē) - Signifies actual intoxication or habitual excessive drinking. Paired with kraipalē, it covers both the act of getting drunk and its immediate and prolonged effects on mind and body. Both deaden spiritual perception.
• and cares of this life: καὶ μερίμναις βιωτικαῖς (kai merimnais biōtikais) - "And worries/anxieties of life" or "worldly concerns." Merimnais (plural of merimna) describes distracting worries, anxieties, or preoccupations that pull the mind in multiple directions, creating inner turmoil. Biōtikais (from biotikos) means pertaining to life, livelihood, or temporal, worldly affairs. These are not inherently evil but become dangerous when they consume the heart, diverting focus from eternal realities and paralyzing spiritual vigilance.
• and that day: καὶ ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη (kai hē hēmera ekeinē) - "And that day." A universally understood eschatological idiom in the Bible, referring to the Day of the Lord, Christ's Second Coming, or the day of final judgment. It is "that day" because its ultimate significance outweighs all other days, marking the culmination of God's redemptive plan and judgment.
• come upon you suddenly: ἐφιστῇ ἐφ' ὑμᾶς αἰφνίδιος (ephistē eph' hymas aiphnidios) - "May come upon you suddenly." Ephistē (from ephistēmi) means to stand over, to be present, to appear unexpectedly. Aiphnidios emphasizes the abruptness, the complete lack of warning, highlighting the surprise element.
• like a trap: ὡς παγίς (hōs pagis) - "As a snare," "a fowler's trap." This powerful metaphor illustrates the suddenness and inescapable nature of the event for the unprepared. Just as an unsuspecting animal is suddenly caught, so too will those who are not vigilant be decisively taken by judgment, without recourse or escape.

• "But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down": This phrase emphasizes the vital importance of continuous personal responsibility and inward discipline. The focus is not merely on outward behavior but on the internal condition of the "heart"—the core of one's spiritual, mental, and volitional life. The danger lies in allowing this inner sanctuary to become heavy, dull, or unresponsive, losing its spiritual alertness and sensitivity.
• "with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life": This segment outlines the dual threats to spiritual vigilance. "Dissipation and drunkenness" refer to various forms of sensual indulgence, excess, and carousing that numb the mind and deaden the spirit. These represent an unrestrained pursuit of worldly pleasures. In contrast, "cares of this life" point to anxious preoccupation with everyday needs and earthly affairs, which can equally distract, consume, and overwhelm the heart, diverting attention from eternal matters. Both extremes, self-indulgence and debilitating anxiety, lead to the same spiritual paralysis.
• "and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap": This climactic phrase underscores the severe consequence of unpreparedness. "That day" points to a definitive, divinely appointed moment, such as Christ's return or final judgment, which will arrive without advance notice. The powerful imagery "like a trap" vividly conveys the unexpected, decisive, and inescapable nature of this event for those who are spiritually unready, signifying immediate and complete spiritual downfall or condemnation rather than escape or blessed welcome. This drives home the urgency of vigilance.

Luke 21 34 Bonus section

This verse stands as a culminating admonition within Jesus' Olivet Discourse in Luke's Gospel, uniquely focusing on the internal state ("hearts weighed down") in conjunction with external threats. While parallels in Matthew's Gospel also emphasize watchfulness, Luke specifically broadens the scope of danger beyond just revelry to include "cares of this life," thereby encompassing both pleasure-seeking and anxiety as hindrances to spiritual readiness. This shows that preparedness is not just about avoiding overt sins, but also about managing legitimate-but-distracting life concerns. The command "watch yourselves" (προσέχετε) underscores personal accountability and proactive self-assessment, implying that spiritual preparedness is a deliberate and continuous choice rather than a passive waiting. It challenges believers to cultivate a lifestyle of active discernment and self-control, guarding the heart against anything that could impede spiritual perception or entanglement with transient earthly matters, ensuring they are always ready to meet the Lord.

Luke 21 34 Commentary

Luke 21:34 is a profound exhortation from Jesus for His followers to cultivate constant spiritual alertness and self-control in anticipation of "that Day"—the culmination of God's redemptive and judgmental purposes. It pinpoints the "heart," the deepest core of one's being, as the crucial battleground. Jesus identifies two primary antagonists that can "weigh down" the heart, making it sluggish and unresponsive: the excesses of pleasure ("dissipation and drunkenness") and the pressures of life ("cares of this life"). Both, in their distinct ways, ensnare the human spirit, leading to spiritual dullness and an inability to discern divine timing or prioritize eternal truths. The warning about "that day" coming "suddenly like a trap" powerfully underscores the unpredictability and finality of God's appointed time. It is a stark reminder that genuine spiritual readiness involves not only awaiting signs but actively guarding one's inner disposition against worldly attractions and anxieties that might numb spiritual vigilance. This requires a balanced life: not a grim denial of life's legitimate needs, but a sober watchfulness that avoids both unbridled indulgence and paralyzing worry, keeping the heart free and ready for the Lord's sudden appearing.

• Practical Examples: Regularly examine your media consumption and entertainment habits to ensure they are not fostering mental dullness or excessive indulgence. Practice gratitude and present-moment awareness to combat chronic worry and anxiety about the future, trusting God's provision. Intentionally prioritize quiet time for reflection, prayer, and reading God's word, safeguarding against the overwhelming demands of everyday life that can easily crowd out spiritual disciplines.