Luke 17:25
What does Luke 17:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 17:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 17:25 means
Before the blazing revelation of His day, Jesus declares that He must suffer many things and be rejected by “this generation.” The path to glory runs through the cross. This is not an accident but a divine necessity. Rejection now sets the stage for vindication later. In Luke’s narrative, this points to Jesus’ approaching passion in Jerusalem, where He will bear sin’s curse and rise. The New Testament reveals that His suffering secures salvation, and His return consummates it. Disciples must therefore set expectations rightly: present opposition does not negate the kingdom; it is the very means by which the King brings it.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But first, he will have to undergo much and be put on one side by this generation.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and first it behoveth him to suffer many things, and to be rejected by this generation.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But first he must suffer many things and be rejected of this generation.
Context
This crucial note follows the promise of a visible, sudden coming (verse 24) and anchors it to Jesus’ impending death. With that foundation, He turns to historical parallels—the days of Noah and of Lot (verses 26–29)—to teach about human unawareness and the suddenness of judgment, culminating in the Son of man’s revealing (verse 30). The flow moves from necessity (suffering first) to illustration (Noah and Lot), to application (urgent detachment and readiness, verses 31–33).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 10:33
saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests and the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him unto the Gentiles:
- Matthew 16:21
From that time began Jesus to show unto his disciples, that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
- Luke 9:22
saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.
- 1 Samuel 10:19
but ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saveth you out of all your calamities and your distresses; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before Jehovah by your tribes, and by your thousands.
- Matthew 21:42
Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?
- Mark 8:31
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
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