“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)
Jesus isn't just talking about physical hunger and sadness; he's highlighting a dangerous spiritual blindness. The "fullness" here isn't just having enough to eat, but a soul satisfied with worldly comforts, making it impossible to recognize spiritual emptiness or a need for God. Similarly, those who "laugh now" are reveling in superficial joy, completely unaware of the deeper, eternal sorrow that awaits those who reject God's kingdom.
“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)
After choosing the Twelve Apostles, Jesus descended from a mountain prayer retreat and began teaching a large crowd from a plain, inverting the world's expectations of blessing and woe. He contrasts those who are currently comfortable and joyous, like the wealthy and self-satisfied, with the poor and suffering who will ultimately inherit God's kingdom. These pronouncements of "woe" are a stark warning to those who live only for present pleasures, foreshadowing a future of hunger and sorrow.
Jesus declares 'woe' to those who are 'full.' What kind of fullness is he talking about, and why does it lead to hunger?
Jesus' 'woes' in Luke 6:25 are not just casual pronouncements; they are serious declarations of divine judgment and a stark contrast to the 'blessings' he just proclaimed.
Satiety of Self
The 'fullness' Jesus addresses here isn't just about having enough to eat. The commentaries highlight that this fullness refers to the 'satiety of over-indulgence.' It’s about a life lived for self-gratification, where physical comforts and worldly pleasures become the ultimate goal.
This kind of self-satisfaction leads to a spiritual emptiness. When we are so focused on accumulating and enjoying the 'fullness' of this world, we miss out on the true satisfaction that comes from God. The hunger Jesus speaks of is the profound, unending longing that only He can fill, a longing that comes when our desires are misdirected.
The Price of Laughter
Similarly, 'laughing now' points to a shallow, carefree existence built on worldly happiness. This isn't about genuine joy, but a superficial mirth that ignores spiritual realities and potential judgment. Such laughter will be replaced by 'mourning and weeping'—a deep sorrow that acknowledges the consequences of a life lived without regard for God.
Jesus flips the world's definition of success on its head. How does this radical re-evaluation impact our understanding of true happiness?
Ask a follow-up
Jesus’ 'woes' serve as a crucial counterpoint to his 'blessings.' While the world often celebrates wealth, pleasure, and comfort, Jesus presents a completely different value system.
A Divine Reversal
The people Jesus pronounces 'woe' upon are those who are currently 'full' and 'laughing.' These are the very things society often strives for. However, Jesus warns that this earthly prosperity is temporary and will ultimately lead to sorrow and want.
Conversely, he just blessed the 'poor' and those who 'hunger and weep' (Luke 6:20-21). This indicates a divine reversal where God’s kingdom prioritizes the humble, the needy, and those who recognize their dependence on Him, over the self-sufficient and worldly prosperous.
Temporal vs. Eternal
The commentaries reveal that the 'hunger' and 'mourning' Jesus speaks of could refer to both immediate consequences (like the destruction of Jerusalem within decades, as noted by PULPIT) and eternal separation from God. The laughter and fullness of today can blind people to the eternal reality that awaits, a reality where true satisfaction and joy are found only in God's presence.
Understand the original words
penthēsete · Greek Verb
To experience deep sorrow, lamentation, or regret, especially in the context of judgment or separation from the presence and favor of God.
Jesus' pronouncements of woe were not just abstract warnings but pointed to a tangible reversal of fortune, tragically realized for many in the catastrophic Jewish-Roman War that followed within a generation.
c. AD 30-31— this verse
Jesus Preaches the Sermon on the Plain
Jesus delivers a significant sermon, including blessings and woes, shortly after choosing his twelve apostles. This context highlights the contrast between the values of God's kingdom and worldly prosperity.
c. AD 30-40
Growing Roman Influence and Social Tension
Judea experienced increasing Roman control and taxation, leading to significant social and economic disparities. This likely exacerbated the feelings of hardship among the poor and the self-satisfaction of the wealthy.
c. AD 60s
James Writes His Epistle
The apostle James echoes Jesus' teachings, warning against favoring the rich and urging believers to consider their present laughter as potentially leading to mourning.
AD 66-73
First Jewish-Roman War
This devastating war led to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in AD 70, causing immense suffering, hunger, and mourning for the Jewish people, fulfilling Jesus' warnings for those who clung to worldly riches and status.
This passage directly connects pride and 'fullness of bread' (over-indulgence) to a city's iniquity, mirroring Jesus' 'woe' to those who are 'full' now for self-indulgence.
James 4:9James echoes Jesus' words here, urging his readers to 'Be wretched and mourn and weep' instead of laughing, highlighting the spiritual reversal Jesus is speaking about.
Luke 6:21This verse directly contrasts with Luke 6:25, showing Jesus' pattern of presenting 'blessed are you' scenarios for those who are currently hungry and weeping, setting up the 'woe' for those in the opposite situation.
Proverbs 14:13This proverb points out that even in laughter, the heart may hold sorrow, and the end of joy can be grief, which aligns with Jesus' warning that present laughter can lead to future mourning.
Matthew 5:4The concept of 'mourn and weep' here is directly linked to the Beatitudes in Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus pronounces a blessing on those who mourn, indicating a spiritual paradigm shift where present sorrow can lead to future comfort.
pulpitLuke 6:25: "Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep."
Verse 25. - Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. This saying points to men who used their wealth for self-indulgence, for the mere gratification of the senses. "The fulness," writes Dean Plumptre, "is the satiety of over-indulgence." Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. These are they who, proudly self-satisfied, dreamed that they needed nothin…
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…
Jesus isn't just talking about physical hunger and sadness; he's highlighting a dangerous spiritual blindness. The "fullness" here isn't just having enough to eat, but a soul satisfied with worldly comforts, making it impossible to recognize spiritual emptiness or a need for God. Similarly, those who "laugh now" are reveling in superficial joy, completely unaware of the deeper, eternal sorrow that awaits those who reject God's kingdom.
After choosing the Twelve Apostles, Jesus descended from a mountain prayer retreat and began teaching a large crowd from a plain, inverting the world's expectations of blessing and woe. He contrasts those who are currently comfortable and joyous, like the wealthy and self-satisfied, with the poor and suffering who will ultimately inherit God's kingdom. These pronouncements of "woe" are a stark warning to those who live only for present pleasures, foreshadowing a future of hunger and sorrow.
After choosing the Twelve Apostles, Jesus descended from a mountain prayer retreat and began teaching a large crowd from a plain, inverting the world's expectations of blessing and woe. He contrasts those who are currently comfortable and joyous, like the wealthy and self-satisfied, with the poor and suffering who will ultimately inherit God's kingdom. These pronouncements of "woe" are a stark warning to those who live only for present pleasures, foreshadowing a future of hunger and sorrow.
"“Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry.
“Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep." — Jesus isn't just talking about physical hunger and sadness; he's highlighting a dangerous spiritual blindness. The "fullness" here isn't just having enough to eat, but a soul satisfied with worldly c…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026