Luke 6: 24 – 26 The Woes

Luke 6: 24 – 26 The Great Discourse, continued

But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.

The other day when I wrote about the “blesseds” I made the case that the “blesseds” were promises (not observations) on Jesus’ part to the poor – assurances that their present was not their future. But what about the woes? Are they observations of fact or promises (of retribution)? Again if they are an observation, they are pretty judgmental and even damning. That wouldn’t seem to be Jesus’ way. Jesus is here to call people to change their lives, to repent and turn back to God, to live in the Kingdom today. I take the woes as I take the blessings - as a promise, or in this case, a warning. If we center our lives on what we have and the false sense of security that brings and do not live as Jesus calls us to live – loving God and loving others – then all the things of the world will not bring us salvation. Jesus never promises happiness or comfort. He promises salvation and resurrection for those who remain in him and he in them. In this case are happiness and comfort false gods? If that’s what we dedicate our time and energy and resources towards. By putting aside Jesus’ commands to love God and each other we are definitely heading in a dangerous direction. “Choose Life” says God in Deuteronomy by loving God and following in God’s ways.