Luke 6:21-25

Luke 6:21 (KJB)
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

The word “hunger” in the Greek text is in the present tense which means that this is not speaking of only a one time hunger. It is speaking of an ongoing desire for the Kingdom of God. The righteousness which the true believer seeks for is not the righteousness which was according to the law and taught by the Pharisees which taught that righteousness was attained by doing good works. Many false religions, denominations, and cults teach that works will help you attain the righteousness of God. Nothing could be farther from the truth. (Rom 10:4 KJV) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. First of all, Christ was the end of the law for righteousness, that is, He fulfilled the demands of God’s holy Law and when the believer is in Christ, that fulfillment is imputed to them making them identified with the sacrifice of Christ.

(Eph 4:24 KJV) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. The new man, that is, those who have become saved is created in righteousness which now gives the true believer the ability to live in purity of heart and a holy lifestyle apart from the world. (2 Pet 3:13 KJV) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Not only does the true believer hunger after righteousness in this life, but the New Heavens and Earth will be created in righteousness. (Mat 5:6 KJV) Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. If you notice, Jesus uses the term “hunger and thirst” which means that both food and water are essential for the life of the human body. Here He states that to hunger and thirst is to have righteousness as the focus of our total spiritual sustenance. The more the believer seeks these things, the more they are filled. (Psa 81:10 KJV) I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. The principle is that the wider we open our mouth, the more God can fill it. In other words, the more we continually seek, that is hunger and thirst, the more God fills us and teaches us and will bless us.

Luke 6:22 (KJB)
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

There is a great blessing being attached to the fact that the world will hate you for bringing the truth. If the world loves you, that would mean you are bringing a false gospel which is innocuous and cannot save. If you are bringing the truth, you will also be cast out of their assemblies and churches and their presence. If they hear you bring the true Gospel which threatens their worldly lifestyle, you will be cast out. The word in the Greek for “separate” carries with it the meaning of “exclude or excommunicate.” So if they don’t call you, realize you have been separated by them. Your name will also be spoken of as evil. They will call you divisive or something else derogatory and do what they can to ruin your reputation. The blessing comes from the fact that you are bringing the true Gospel which presents Christ as the central figure, not ceremonies or religion. The people will want their works gospel and not the gospel of Grace. If the preaching of Christ is first and foremost in your ministry, then you can expect to be cast out and ostracized.

Luke 6:23 (KJB)
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Rejoice and leap are both in the Imperative mood making them commands to be joyful. The world sees us as joyless, pathetic, religious fanatics and that is why the despise us, In Heaven, there is a totally different atmosphere. When a true believer holds to the truth and does not compromise it, it will be a great testimony for the Kingdom of God and for the Lord Jesus Christ that salvation is real. I don’t know what the reward will be in Heaven, but whatever it is it will be greater than anything the world can bestow upon a person. The same persecution was dealt out to the prophets of old like Jeremiah who spent much time in a watery prison cell or Micaiah who was hated by Ahab because he prophesied the truth about Ahab (2 Chronicles 18). Throughout history, the world has hated the truth of God and will continue to hate it until the last day.

Luke 6:24 (KJB)
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Jesus pronounces the first woe upon the rich who were partly responsible for the poor man’s condition. Jesus is warning the rich people that they have their comfort in this life and the poor people have had to struggle from day to day. The rich man’s comfort is revealed well in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. (Luke 16:25 KJV) But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

Luke 6:25 (KJB)
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

The second woe is pronounced upon those who are full. They are filled with all the worldliness possible. They may have an abundance of goods which has satisfied them but it is probably more of a filling with their own pride and ego. Many in this world think that they are good enough to go to Heaven and are filled with their good works and plan on presenting them to Jesus on judgment day and will expect to be allowed to walk right into Heaven. However, that self-fulfillment will be reduced to a hunger when they find out that works will not get them into Heaven. It will be like hunger when their stomachs are empty except their spiritual repositories will be empty and there will be no way at that time that they can be filled.

The third woe is pronounced against those who laugh. Now this is not an indictment against laughter but it is representing contentment and satisfaction. It also represents a mocking of the true Gospel by those who live in sin and pay no attention to the reality that they are unsaved. Their laughter is with the world. Their laughter and agreement with the world against the true Gospel will turn into mourning and weeping in an instant when they stand before the Lord on judgment day and be cast into outer darkness. (Mat 8:12 KJV) But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The true believer will be vindicated.

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