Luke 21:35

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(35) As a snare . . .—The word is not found in the other Gospels, but is used several times by St. Paul (Romans 11:9; 1Timothy 3:7; 1Timothy 6:9; 2Timothy 2:26).

Them that dwell . . .—Elsewhere in the New Testament, the verb is used in its literal meaning of “sitting.” In the sense of “dwelling” or “residing,” we find it, probably, again in Acts 2:2.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:29-38 Christ tells his disciples to observe the signs of the times, which they might judge by. He charges them to look upon the ruin of the Jewish nation as near. Yet this race and family of Abraham shall not be rooted out; it shall survive as a nation, and be found as prophesied, when the Son of man shall be revealed. He cautions them against being secure and sensual. This command is given to all Christ's disciples, Take heed to yourselves, that ye be not overpowered by temptations, nor betrayed by your own corruptions. We cannot be safe, if we are carnally secure. Our danger is, lest the day of death and of judgment should come upon us when we are not prepared. Lest, when we are called to meet our Lord, that be the furthest from our thoughts, which ought to be nearest our hearts. For so it will come upon the most of men, who dwell upon the earth, and mind earthly things only, and have no converse with heaven. It will be a terror and a destruction to them. Here see what should be our aim, that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things; that when the judgements of God are abroad, we may not be in the common calamity, or it may not be that to us which it is to others. Do you ask how you may be found worthy to stand before Christ at that day? Those who never yet sought Christ, let them now go unto him; those who never yet were humbled for their sins, let them now begin; those who have already begun, let them go forward and be kept humbled. Watch therefore, and pray always. Watch against sin; watch in every duty, and make the most of every opportunity to do good. Pray always: those shall be accounted worthy to live a life of praise in the other world, who live a life of prayer in this world. May we begin, employ, and conclude each day attending to Christ's word, obeying his precepts, and following his example, that whenever he comes we may be found watching.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

As a snare - In Matthew and Mark Jesus compares the suddenness with which these calamities would come to the deluge coming in the days of Noah. Here he likens it to a snare. Birds are caught by a snare or net. It is sprung on them quickly, and when they are not expecting it. So, says he, shall these troubles come upon Judea. The figure is often used to denote the suddenness of calamities, Psalm 69:22; Romans 11:9; Psalm 124:7; Isaiah 24:17.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

34-37. surfeiting, and drunkenness—All animal excesses, quenching spirituality.

cares of this life—(See on [1714]Mr 4:7; [1715]Mr 4:19).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 21:34"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For as a snare shall it come,.... In which a bird is suddenly taken, and cannot get out again; the Persic version renders it, "as lightning and the splendour of the sun"; which break out at once, and enlighten the whole earth; so the destruction of the Jewish nation should be sudden and unavoidable, and universal; for it should come

on all them that dwell upon the face of the whole earth: or land of Judea; and so it was, for not only Jerusalem, but all Judea, and Galilee, suffered in this desolation.

Geneva Study Bible

For as a snare shall it come {h} on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

(h) On all men wherever they may be.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 21:35. ὡς παγὶς, as a snare, joined to the foregoing clause in R.V[179] (“and that day come upon you suddenly as a snare”). Field objects that the verb following (ἐπεισελεύσεται) does not seem sufficiently strong to stand alone, especially when the verb ἐπιστῇ is doubly emphasised by “suddenly” and “as a snare”. He therefore prefers the T.R., which connects ὡς παγὶς with what follows, the arrangement adopted in all the ancient versions. The revisers, as if conscious of the force of the above objections, insert “so,” “for so shall it come,” etc., which virtually gives ὡς παγὶς a double connection. The figure of a snare, while expressive, is less apposite than that of a thief (Luke 12:39).—καθημένους ε. π., etc., sitting on the face of the earth; the language here has a Hebrew colouring.

[179] Revised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

35. as a snare] Ecclesiastes 9:12 “as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so are the sons of men snared in an evil time.” There is the same metaphor in Isaiah 24:17. The common metaphor is “as a thief” 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15; but St Paul uses this metaphor also, Romans 11:9; 1 Timothy 3:7.

them that dwell] Literally, “them that sit.” A Hebraism (Genesis 19:30, &c.), but perhaps with the collateral notion of ‘sitting at ease,’ Jeremiah 8:14; Jeremiah 25:29 (LXX.). ‘Face of the earth’ is also a Hebraism, 2 Samuel 18:8.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 21:35. Ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς καθημένους ἐπὶ πρόσωπον πάσης τῆς γῆς) LXX. in Jeremiah 25:29, has ἐπὶ πάντας τοὺς καθημένους ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. Comp. ὑμᾶς, you, the antithesis to this, in Luke 21:34, where see the note.

Luke 21:35

Vincent's Word Studies

As a snare

Join with the previous sentence: "come suddenly as a snare." Compare entangle, Matthew 22:15.