Luke 17:33

33 Whoever may seek to save his life, shall lose it; and whoever may lose it, shall preserve it.

Luke 17:33 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 17:33

Whosoever shall seek to save his life
By fleeing to some strong hold, or by continuing in the metropolis, and strongest city in the nation, Jerusalem:

shall lose it:
there he will be in the greatest danger:

and whosoever shall lose his life;
or expose it to danger, by fleeing to the mountains, or going to Pella, a small town beyond Jordan, of no strength, and where there might be thought no security;

shall preserve it; he shall be safe; (See Gill on Matthew 16:25).

Luke 17:33 In-Context

31 in that day, he who shall be on the house top, and his vessels in the house, let him not come down to take them away; and he in the field, in like manner, let him not turn backward;
32 remember the wife of Lot.
33 Whoever may seek to save his life, shall lose it; and whoever may lose it, shall preserve it.
34 `I say to you, In that night, there shall be two men on one couch, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left;
35 two women shall be grinding at the same place together, the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left;
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.