Luke 6:25

Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213} that are full {G1705}! for {G3754} ye shall hunger {G3983}. Woe {G3759} unto you {G5213} that laugh {G1070} now {G3568}! for {G3754} ye shall mourn {G3996} and {G2532} weep {G2799}.

"Woe to you who are full now, for you will go hungry! "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and cry!

Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Commentary

Luke 6:25, part of Jesus' Sermon on the Plain, delivers a stark warning contrasting present worldly satisfaction with future spiritual deprivation and sorrow. It serves as a direct counterpart to the preceding blessings, highlighting the kingdom's values which often invert earthly standards.

Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' blessings (the Beatitudes) pronounced upon the poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted (Luke 6:20-23). It introduces a series of "woes" directed at those who are currently comfortable, full, laughing, and well-regarded by the world. This section of Luke's Gospel (often compared to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount) outlines the radical nature of God's kingdom and its different perspective on suffering and prosperity.

Key Themes

  • Reversal of Fortunes: The central theme is the dramatic inversion of circumstances between the present and the future kingdom reality. Those who find their comfort and satisfaction in the temporary things of this world will face future hardship.
  • Warning Against Worldly Comfort: The verse serves as a caution against being content with earthly fullness, laughter, or approval, as these can lead to spiritual neglect and future judgment.
  • Future Suffering and Sorrow: It predicts a future state of hunger, mourning, and weeping for those whose present is marked by self-satisfaction and lack of spiritual preparedness.
  • Contrast with God's Kingdom Values: This woe emphasizes that true blessedness is often found in states of humility, need, and persecution, which drive people towards dependence on God, rather than in earthly prosperity and pleasure.

Linguistic Insights

The word "Woe" translates the Greek word ouai (οὐαί). This is a strong interjection expressing intense grief, lament, or impending judgment. It's not merely a statement of misfortune but carries the weight of divine disapproval and the certainty of future negative consequences.

Reflection and Application

Luke 6:25 challenges us to examine where we find our true satisfaction and security. Are we complacent because we are "full" in a worldly sense – possessing wealth, comfort, or social approval? Jesus warns that such temporary states, if they lead us away from God, will ultimately result in spiritual hunger and sorrow. This verse calls us to seek lasting fulfillment in Christ and to be mindful of the eternal consequences of our present choices. It reminds us that earthly treasures and comforts are fleeting, while the blessings of God's kingdom endure.

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Cross-References

  • Isaiah 65:13 (8 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:

  • James 4:9 (6 votes)

    Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and [your] joy to heaviness.

  • Proverbs 14:13 (5 votes)

    ¶ Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth [is] heaviness.

  • Luke 16:14 (4 votes)

    And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.

  • Luke 16:15 (4 votes)

    And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

  • Revelation 18:7 (3 votes)

    How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

  • Revelation 18:11 (3 votes)

    And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: