BLESSINGS AND WOES

Passage: Luke 6:20-26

Key verse: 6:20

NIV

20 Looking at his disciples, he said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    for yours is the kingdom of God.(A)
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be satisfied.(B)
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.(C)
22 Blessed are you when people hate you,
    when they exclude you(D) and insult you(E)
    and reject your name as evil,
        because of the Son of Man.(F)

23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,(G) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.(H)

24 “But woe to you who are rich,(I)
    for you have already received your comfort.(J)
25 Woe to you who are well fed now,
    for you will go hungry.(K)
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.(L)
26 Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you,
    for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.(M)

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ESV

The Beatitudes

20 And (A)he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, (B)and said:

“Blessed are you who are poor, for (C)yours is the kingdom of God.

21 (D)“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

(E)“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

22 “Blessed are you when (F)people hate you and when they (G)exclude you and revile you and (H)spurn your name as evil, (I)on account of the Son of Man! 23 (J)Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for (K)so their fathers did to the prophets.

Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 (L)“But woe to you who are rich, (M)for you (N)have received your consolation.

25 “Woe to you who are full now, for (O)you shall be hungry.

“Woe to (P)you who laugh now, (Q)for you shall mourn and weep.

26 “Woe to you, (R)when all people speak well of you, for (S)so their fathers did to (T)the false prophets.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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First, four blessings (2

-23). As Jesus surveyed the crowds, he looked at his disciples and began to teach them. He began with four blessings. Those who are poor, hungry, weep and hated, do not seem blessed at all. But poverty, hunger, tears and persecution can help us recognize our deep need for Jesus. These can drive us into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Jesus gives us the kingdom of God. He satisfies us and gives us joy. We may be despised on earth because of our faith but we will have a great reward in heaven. Second, four woes (24-36). Jesus also pronounced four woes. Those who are rich, well-fed, laugh and spoken of well, are not necessarily cursed. But these good things in the world can be very serious barriers to faith in Jesus. People who are satisfied with what the world offers do not know their own need for Christ. We ought not to envy those in good human conditions but pray for them to know their spiritual need and turn to God.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for teaching us how to be truly blessed. Help me to be poor in spirit and to live for your name and praise.

One Word: Blessed are you....