20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. 22 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. 25 Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (Luke 6:20-26 KJV)
The Beatitudes
This passage begins a practical discourse of Christ, continued through the rest of the chapter. Most of it is found in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Some believe this was preached at a different time and place, but it is likely an abridgment by the evangelist, similar to Matthew’s. The beginning and conclusion match closely, and the healing of the centurion’s servant follows in both accounts.
Jesus, addressing his disciples (Luke 6:17, 20), declared blessings upon suffering believers, encouraging them amid the hardships they would face by following him. “Blessed are you poor,” he said. They had left everything to follow Christ, lived humbly, and could expect no worldly rewards, yet they were blessed because “yours is the kingdom of God.” The poor in spirit are rich in faith (James 2:5), and what they lack now will be made up in spiritual blessings.
“Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied” (Luke 6:21). Whether physically lacking or sacrificing due to ministry, they would be filled in the world to come. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.” Their tears of repentance or compassion would lead to future joy (Psalm 126:5-6; Job 8:21).
Christ’s followers could expect hostility: hatred, exclusion, insults, and being labeled as evil for his sake. Religious leaders would excommunicate them, treating them as offenders under solemn pretense, aiming to make them feel condemned. Others would slander them and try to make the name “Christian” contemptible. Yet, Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people hate you… Rejoice in that day and leap for joy” (Luke 6:22-23). Such treatment aligns them with the prophets of old and shows they are in the same mission and spirit. Their reward in heaven will far outweigh their suffering, making every hardship worth enduring.
In contrast, Jesus pronounced woes upon those who prosper now, though the world envies them. These mirror the blessings but in reverse, and are best illustrated by the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16). Lazarus experienced the blessings of the poor and sorrowful, while the rich man embodied the woes.
“Woe to you who are rich” (Luke 6:24), who trust in wealth and indulge your desires instead of serving God. You’ve received your comfort already and have no lasting treasure from God. It’s a tragedy when people make temporary riches their consolation and ignore the lasting comfort found in God. When they lose their wealth, nothing remains but eternal suffering.
“Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry” (Luke 6:25). Those who are content with worldly abundance, who feel full and need nothing, are spiritually empty. They will soon be stripped of what they depend on, and the cravings they take into eternity will never be satisfied.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.” Those who live for carnal pleasures, shunning godly sorrow, are fooling themselves. Their joy is short-lived; their future holds eternal grief and regret.
“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you” (Luke 6:26). Those who seek only human praise, avoiding offense by never confronting sin, mirror the false prophets who flattered the people and were celebrated. Genuine servants of God will face criticism when they confront evil. While it is good to be respected by the wise, it is dangerous to seek the applause of the ungodly.
These blessings and woes reveal the upside-down nature of God’s kingdom. Present suffering for Christ’s sake leads to eternal joy, while present indulgence without God leads to eternal loss.