This passage is a reminder that God has an agenda — Jesus and the prophets proclaim a comforting message for some and a challenging message for others.
In this episode, we peel back the flowery language that sometimes surrounds Jesus’s words and look at the heart of what he’s saying.
Luke 6:17-26
Jesus and his apostles went down from the mountain and came to some flat, level ground. Many other disciples were there to meet him. Large crowds of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon were there too. These people had come to listen to Jesus and to be healed of their diseases. All who were troubled by evil spirits were also healed. Everyone was trying to touch Jesus, because power was going out from him and healing them all.
Jesus looked at his disciples and said:
God will bless you people
who are poor.
His kingdom belongs to you!
God will bless
you hungry people.
You will have plenty
to eat!
God will bless you people
who are crying.
You will laugh!God will bless you when others hate you and won’t have anything to do with you. God will bless you when people insult you and say cruel things about you, all because you are a follower of the Son of Man. 2Long ago your own people did these same things to the prophets. So when this happens to you, be happy and jump for joy! You will have a great reward in heaven.
But you rich people
are in for trouble.
You have already had
an easy life!
You well-fed people
are in for trouble.
You will go hungry!
You people
who are laughing now
are in for trouble.
You are going to cry
and weep!You are in for trouble when everyone says good things about you. That is what your own people said about those prophets who told lies.
Photo by Brijesh Nirmal
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