You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the hatred isn't just random opposition, but a specific rejection for the sake of Christ's name. This implies that embodying His character and message would inherently provoke conflict with the world's values. It wasn't just about disagreeing with Jesus, but about the very identity and witness of His followers being an offense.
You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what signs will precede his coming. He warns them about widespread deception, wars, and famines, but also assures them that these are just the beginning of sorrows, and that his followers will endure intense persecution, even being handed over by their own families. This verse continues that prophecy, explaining that widespread hatred will be a defining characteristic of their experience for following him.
Jesus didn't sugarcoat the journey for His followers. He prepared them for a world that would actively oppose them.
This verse is a stark reminder that following Jesus isn't always popular. In fact, Jesus explicitly states, 'You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.' This isn't a casual prediction; it's a foundational truth about the Christian life.
A World Divided
The early followers of Jesus experienced this firsthand. The Roman historian Tacitus and others noted the widespread dislike and suspicion towards Christians. The early church was often called a 'sect' and was spoken against everywhere (Acts 28:22). This opposition wasn't random; it stemmed from the radical claims and distinct lifestyle that set believers apart.
For His Name's Sake
The crucial phrase here is 'for my name's sake.' The hatred wasn't for personal flaws or societal offenses, but because these individuals belonged to Christ and represented Him. Their allegiance to Jesus made them enemies of a world that rejected Him. This implies that the world’s opposition to us often reflects its opposition to Christ Himself.
Jesus predicted intense opposition, but His message also carried a powerful promise of divine support and ultimate victory.
While Jesus was clear about the hatred believers would face, His message wasn't one of despair. The passages surrounding Luke 21:17 reveal that this persecution served a purpose and that believers were equipped to endure.
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A Testimony to the World
This hatred and persecution weren't meant to crush believers but to serve as a 'testimony' (Luke 21:13). When followers of Jesus were brought before rulers and kings for their faith, their steadfastness and wisdom, empowered by the Holy Spirit, would actually serve as a powerful witness to the truth of the Gospel.
The Promise of the Spirit
Jesus assured His disciples that they would be given 'a mouth and wisdom, which all who oppose you will not be able to contradict or oppose' (Luke 21:15, paraphrase of parallel accounts). This highlights that endurance in the face of hatred isn't about relying on our own strength, but on the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit who would guide their words and actions.
The Ultimate Security
Ultimately, the hardships faced for Christ were temporary. While believers might suffer greatly, Jesus promised, 'not a hair of your head will be lost' (Luke 21:18, paraphrase). This points to a spiritual security and a future vindication that transcends earthly suffering. True possession comes through patience and trust in God's ultimate plan.
Understand the original words
miseo · Greek Verb
Deep-seated hostility or aversion, specifically directed toward believers because of their identification with Christ.
onoma · Greek Noun
A technical designation for the person, authority, nature, and reputation of Jesus Christ; it implies total allegiance to Him as Lord.
apollumi · Greek Verb
To be destroyed, lost, or ruined; it denotes a state of ultimate spiritual ruin or annihilation.
hupomone · Greek Noun
The steadfastness, patience, or perseverance under trial; a godly quality of remaining firm in faith despite external pressures or suffering.
psuche · Greek Noun
The inner life, breath, or soul; in this context, it refers to the person's true, eternal existence that is secure in God.
Jesus' words here speak directly to the intense, widespread opposition faced by his earliest followers. This wasn't just a few bad apples; historical accounts confirm that from both Jewish and Gentile circles, Christians were viewed with suspicion and hostility, often seen as a disruptive 'sect' or a dangerous superstition.
c. AD 33
Pentecost and the Birth of the Church
The Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the rapid spread of the gospel and the formation of the early Christian church in Jerusalem.
c. AD 30s-60s— this verse
Early Christian Persecution
The nascent Christian movement faces increasing hostility from both Jewish authorities and Roman officials, leading to arrests, trials, and sporadic persecution.
c. AD 50s-60s
Paul's Ministry and Epistles
The Apostle Paul travels widely, establishing churches and writing letters that address the challenges of persecution and encourage believers to stand firm.
c. AD 64
Nero's Persecution of Christians
Emperor Nero blames Christians for the Great Fire of Rome, initiating a brutal period of persecution marked by torture and martyrdom.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman legions under Titus destroy Jerusalem and its Second Temple, a cataclysmic event fulfilling Jesus' prophecy and marking the end of an era for Judaism.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' teaching about persecution, stating that his followers will be hated by all for his name's sake, emphasizing the continuity of this experience for disciples across different Gospels.
John 17:14In Jesus' prayer for his disciples, he acknowledges that the world will hate them, just as it hated him, underscoring that this animosity is a direct consequence of their belonging to Christ and not the world.
Acts 28:22This verse from Acts illustrates the reality of Luke 21:17, showing that early Christians were indeed 'spoken against everywhere,' confirming the widespread opposition and hatred they faced.
1 Peter 4:14Peter addresses the scattered believers, assuring them that if they are reproached for the name of Christ, they are blessed, highlighting that suffering for Christ's name is a mark of belonging to God.
Romans 8:35-37This passage powerfully contrasts the hatred and suffering believers face with the ultimate victory and security they have in Christ's love, showing that despite external opposition, they are more than conquerors.
pulpitLuke 21:17: "And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake."
Verse 17. - And ye shall be hated of all men for my Name's sake. All the records of early Christianity unite in bearing witness to the universal hatred with which the new sect were regarded by pagans as well as Jews. The words of the Roman Jews reported in Acts 28:22 well sum this up, "As concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against" (see, too, Acts 24:5 and 1 Peter 2:12). The Roman writers Tacitus, Pliny,…
jfbLuke 21:5-38: "And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,"
Lu 21:5-38. Christ's Prophecy of the Destruction of Jerusalem and Warnings to Prepare for His Second Coming, Suggested by It—His Days and Nights during His Last Week.5-7. (See on [1713]Mt 24:1-3.)
The verse highlights that the hatred isn't just random opposition, but a specific rejection for the sake of Christ's name. This implies that embodying His character and message would inherently provoke conflict with the world's values. It wasn't just about disagreeing with Jesus, but about the very identity and witness of His followers being an offense.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what signs will precede his coming. He warns them about widespread deception, wars, and famines, but also assures them that these are just the beginning of sorrows, and that his followers will endure intense persecution, even being handed over by their own families. This verse continues that prophecy, explaining that widespread hatred will be a defining characteristic of their experience for following him.
Jesus is answering his disciples' questions about when the temple will be destroyed and what signs will precede his coming. He warns them about widespread deception, wars, and famines, but also assures them that these are just the beginning of sorrows, and that his followers will endure intense persecution, even being handed over by their own families. This verse continues that prophecy, explaining that widespread hatred will be a defining characteristic of their experience for following him.
"You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives." — The verse highlights that the hatred isn't just random opposition, but a specific rejection for the sake of Christ's name. This implies that embodying His character and message would inherently pro…
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Last reviewed October 2026