Luke 6:24-25
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The most striking thing here is that Jesus isn't just condemning the rich; he's highlighting that they've already received their reward. Their "consolation" means they have everything they'll ever get, and it’s all earthbound, leaving them utterly unprepared for eternity.
Jesus is preparing to deliver the Sermon on the Plain, a significant teaching moment for his disciples and a large crowd. He has just spent the night in prayer, deliberately choosing twelve men to be apostles from among the many who followed him. This verse, one of several "woes" that balance the preceding "beatitudes," directly addresses the wealthy, contrasting their current comfort with a future lack.
When Jesus says 'woe,' it might sound like a curse. But what if it's something else entirely?
The 'woe' Jesus pronounces on the rich here isn't a fiery curse meant to condemn. Instead, think of it as a profound lament, a compassionate cry over a dangerous spiritual condition. It’s like a doctor warning a patient about a serious illness, not out of malice, but deep concern. Jesus is highlighting how wealth can create a spiritual blindness, making it incredibly hard for people to see their true need for God. This warning is particularly poignant because it comes as a counterpoint to the 'blessed are the poor' statements just before. The rich are in danger of missing out on the very blessings Jesus just proclaimed, not because God dislikes wealth, but because wealth can become a substitute for Him.
What does it mean to have 'received your consolation'? It's not quite what you might think.
The Greek word translated 'consolation' here, and sometimes 'comfort' or 'encouragement,' carries a powerful idea: it means to have received enough, to have all you need, leaving nothing more to desire. When Jesus says the rich 'have received their consolation,' He means they've already gotten all the comfort, satisfaction, and security they think they want or need from their earthly possessions. Their earthly wealth is their reward, their satisfaction, their 'all.' This isn't just about having money; it's about where you place your ultimate trust and find your deepest fulfillment. If your riches provide all the solace you seek, you won't be looking for or accepting the true, eternal comfort that comes from God.
Understand the original words
ouai · Greek Interjection
A declaration of intense grief, distress, or impending judgment. It is the prophetic opposite of a 'blessing,' signaling the misery that follows spiritual self-sufficiency or disobedience.
plousioi · Greek Adjective
Possessing material wealth or earthly abundance; biblically, it often carries a warning regarding the temptation to trust in riches rather than God, potentially hindering one's entrance into the kingdom.
paraklēsin · Greek Noun
Comfort, relief, or encouragement. In a theological sense, it refers to the sense of satisfaction or peace one receives; those who rely on earthly comforts have already 'received' their final portion.
penthēsete · Greek Verb
Jesus' 'woes' to the rich weren't just a denunciation, but a compassionate warning, highlighting how wealth can insulate people from recognizing their need for God, a theme deeply relevant to anyone facing the temptations of prosperity.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and healing across Galilee and Judea. He gathers disciples and begins to challenge the religious and social norms of the day.
c. AD 28— this verse
Sermon on the Plain
Jesus delivers a major discourse to a large crowd and his disciples, known as the Sermon on the Plain. This sermon includes blessings (beatitudes) for the poor and persecuted, and woes for the rich and comfortable.
c. AD 30
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem and rises from the dead, marking the pivotal event of the Christian faith.
c. AD 30-60
Early Church Growth
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the rapid spread of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire.
This parable vividly illustrates the woe pronounced on the rich by showing a rich man who lived in luxury and received his 'good things' in this life, ending up in torment and lamenting his fate.
James 5:1-6James echoes Jesus' warning, directly rebuking the rich who have hoarded wealth, lived in luxury, and oppressed others, stating that their wealth will 'eat your flesh like fire' and condemning them for living in 'wantonness' and 'self-indulgence'.
Amos 6:1-7The prophet Amos pronounces a 'woe' on those who are complacent and at ease in Zion, reclining on luxurious couches and enjoying earthly pleasures, warning them that their comfort will be the first to be carried away into exile.
Matthew 6:19-21Jesus contrasts the pursuit of earthly riches, which can be lost, with the storing up of treasures in heaven, directly addressing the heart's true focus and implying that those whose 'consolation' is earthly wealth have missed the eternal investment.
clarkeLuke 6:24: "But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation."
But wo unto you that are rich! - The Pharisees, who were laden with the spoils of the people which they received in gifts, etc. These three verses are not found in the sermon, as recorded by Matthew. They seem to be spoken chiefly to the scribes and Pharisees, who, in order to be pleasing to all, spoke to every one what he liked best; and by finesse, flattery, and lies, found out the method of gaining and keepin…
jfbLuke 6:12-49: "And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God."
Lu 6:12-49. The Twelve Apostles Chosen—Gathering Multitudes—Glorious Healing.12, 13. went out—probably from Capernaum.all night in prayer … and when … day, he called, &c.—The work with which the next day began shows what had been the burden of this night's devotions. As He directed His disciples to pray for "laborers" just before sending themselves forth (see on…
The most striking thing here is that Jesus isn't just condemning the rich; he's highlighting that they've already received their reward. Their "consolation" means they have everything they'll ever get, and it’s all earthbound, leaving them utterly unprepared for eternity.
Jesus is preparing to deliver the Sermon on the Plain, a significant teaching moment for his disciples and a large crowd. He has just spent the night in prayer, deliberately choosing twelve men to be apostles from among the many who followed him. This verse, one of several "woes" that balance the preceding "beatitudes," directly addresses the wealthy, contrasting their current comfort with a future lack.
Jesus is preparing to deliver the Sermon on the Plain, a significant teaching moment for his disciples and a large crowd. He has just spent the night in prayer, deliberately choosing twelve men to be apostles from among the many who followed him. This verse, one of several "woes" that balance the preceding "beatitudes," directly addresses the wealthy, contrasting their current comfort with a future lack.
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To experience deep sorrow, lamentation, or regret, especially in the context of judgment or separation from the presence and favor of God.
c. AD 60-62
Luke Writes His Gospel
The Evangelist Luke, a physician and companion of the Apostle Paul, writes his Gospel. He meticulously documents Jesus' life, teachings, and the events surrounding his ministry for 'Theophilus'.
"“But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep." — The most striking thing here is that Jesus isn't just condemning the rich; he's highlighting that they've already received their reward. Their "consolation" means they have everything they'll ever…
