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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Luke 6:24 - 6:26
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A threefold woe:
v. 24. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
v. 25. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
v. 26. Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
Woe unto you rich people! for you have your solace in advance. This is spoken, as often in Scripture, Mar_10:23; 1Ti_6:9, of those that place their trust in their money. The Christian that is rich does not think of putting his faith in mammon. He knows that he is not in reality the owner of the goods entered under his name, but the steward of God, with the greater responsibilities, the greater the amount of riches which men call his. And he must give an account on the last day. Those people, therefore, that consider their wealth their own to do with as they please, and who use it with this idea in mind, to receive their good things in the present lifetime, Luk_16:25, have the only solace that they will ever get, Job_31:24. They may seem satisfied and try to persuade themselves and others that they are happy; but what about the world to come? Woe unto you that are filled up; for ye shall hunger. Those that seek the satisfaction of all their desires in this life and are rewarded in such a way that they get all that they have longed for, have their ambition realized. But they will have to suffer hunger throughout eternity. Woe unto you that laugh now; for ye shall mourn and weep. Those that have the motto: Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we shall be dead, and live in accordance with it, may assume a boisterous happiness in the enjoyment of the pleasures of this world. But the time is coming when they must render account of every moment foolishly spent in the lust of the flesh, in the lust of the eyes, in the pride of life. Then there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The last woe is one directed especially to the apostles. If every one speaks well of them, praises them, the chances are that they have omitted some part of their duty, that pertaining to the fearless denunciation of sin. That has ever been a special feature of the false prophet's work that they preach to the itching ears of the people, 2Ti_4:3; Eze_13:18-20; Isa_56:10. That is no recommendation, but the strongest censure that could be spoken upon a pastor's work, that he hurts no one, and that no one hurts him.