33 Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.

Other Translations of Luke 17:33

King James Version

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

English Standard Version

33  Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it.

The Message

33 If you grasp and cling to life on your terms, you'll lose it, but if you let that life go, you'll get life on God's terms.

New King James Version

33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

New Living Translation

33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 17:33

Commentary on Luke 17:20-37

(Read Luke 17:20-37)

The kingdom of God was among the Jews, or rather within some of them. It was a spiritual kingdom, set up in the heart by the power of Divine grace. Observe how it had been with sinners formerly, and in what state the judgments of God, which they had been warned of, found them. Here is shown what a dreadful surprise this destruction will be to the secure and sensual. Thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. When Christ came to destroy the Jewish nation by the Roman armies, that nation was found in such a state of false security as is here spoken of. In like manner, when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the world, sinners will be found altogether regardless; for in like manner the sinners of every age go on securely in their evil ways, and remember not their latter end. But wherever the wicked are, who are marked for eternal ruin, they shall be found by the judgments of God.