Luke 17:33

Whosoever shall seek to save his life, &c.— As in the whole of this discourse our Lord is speaking of the temporal calamities which were to befal the Jewish nation, his words in this verse must be interpreted accordingly intheir primary meaning: "Whoever, in order to save his life, shall flee into the city, because it is strongly fortified and garrisoned, shall meet with the destruction from which he is flying; whereas they shall be safe who flee into the open towns, and defenceless villages, which, in the opinion of many, may be thought equal to throwing away their lives." At the same time the words may undoubtedly be considered as of general interpretation, and be profitably applied to every private Christian.