Luke 21:14

Luke 21:14, in plain English

Jesus tells them: decide right now not to worry about what you'll say in your defense. Don't rehearse speeches — just trust Me.

Why it's here

This is radical trust. When you're standing before a king or a court, your instinct is to prepare. Jesus says: don't. I've got something better for you.

Who's speaking

Jesus gives a command that requires deep faith: stop worrying about tomorrow's words.

Where it sits in the story

Imagine being told not to prepare for the most important speech of your life. That's what Jesus says. Why? Because He's going to speak through you in that moment.

The scholarly reading

Jesus commands them to resolve beforehand (prothete en tais kardiais hymōn) not to premeditate their defense. The instruction is to trust divine provision in the moment rather than rely on human preparation.

Language and setting

The command to 'make up your mind' (literally, 'place it in your hearts') is an act of faith decided in advance. This connects to the promise in the next verse about divinely provided speech.

Voice

Jesus instructs the disciples to make a prior commitment not to worry about their defense.

Significance

Jesus gives a counterintuitive command: don't prepare your defense in advance. In a world that says prepare for everything, Jesus says trust Me for this one. What you need will be given when you need it.

12But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. On account of My name they will deliver you to the synagogues and prisons, and they will bring you before kings and governors.

13This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses.

14So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.

15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you will be put to death.

Read all of Luke 21 — A widow drops two coins into the treasury, and Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple. The end is coming, but so is redemption.