Blessings & Woes

Jesus calls those who follow Him to see suffering from a different perspective. Jesus declares the poor, hungry and weeping blessed.

“Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.” [1]

“The poor are not promised wealth – but something more valuable: God’s kingdom. The hungry and weeping will have their present situations reversed, becoming filled and laughing. Their current situation does not reflect their actual blessed state. Jesus promises blessings to those who face persecution.

The woes are a warning to those who place their trust in their comfortable situation. It is this independence from God that places them in a woeful situation, possibly without them even realizing it.” [2]

“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” [3]

The blessings and woes of Jesus are comparable to the blessings and curses of Moses. [4] Both messages encourage us to make obedience to God the main issue. Jesus encourages obedience to God even when obedience doesn’t seem to yield blessings.

Jesus clarified the kind of obedience that God is looking for when He went on to say, “Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore, be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” [5]

Selfless love in a world full of hatred and greed is bound to incur some blow back, but in the end, such a person will be greatly rewarded by God for all eternity.

[1] Luke 6:20-23
[2] Julia Van Den Brink: “Luke’s beatitudes and woes: are they covenant blessings and curses?”
[3] Luke 6:24-25
[4] See Deuteronomy 28
[5] Luke 6:35-36