Blessings and Woes
Notes
Transcript
Open your bible with me to Luke 6:17-26
Jim Elliot was a young missionary who felt God’s call to reach the Huaorani tribe in Ecuador—a people known then for their fierce hostility to outsiders. In 1956, Jim and four of his missionary friends were tragically killed by the tribe during their first contact.
Many would see this as a heartbreaking failure. But Jim’s story didn’t end there. Inspired by Jim’s sacrifice, other missionaries, including Elisabeth Elliot—Jim’s wife—continued the mission. Elisabeth courageously lived among the Huaorani, sharing the gospel with the very people who had killed her husband.
Her faith and forgiveness helped transform the tribe, bringing many to Christ. Reflecting on her loss and her husband’s death, Elisabeth wrote: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
This profound truth echoes the words of Jesus in Luke 6:20–26. The blessed life often means embracing loss, poverty, and suffering now for a joy and reward that is eternal.
Elisabeth’s response models what it means to follow Jesus to the low place, to embrace kingdom poverty, and to reject the false security of earthly riches. This is the life Jesus calls us to—a life marked not by comfort now but by eternal blessing.
Sermon Summary: The blessed life is marked by present loss and eternal reward.
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
This is God’s word. Let’s pray.
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I. Follow Jesus to the Low Place (vv. 17–19)
I. Follow Jesus to the Low Place (vv. 17–19)
You know, the same thing that was said of Jim and Elizabeth Elliot could first be said of Jesus' disciples. When you think about the list of names we read and studied last week. Much of their stories are unheard of, even to us. We know of Matthew, Peter, and John, but beyond that, the list of the 12 disciples is pretty ambiguous, certainly in the pages of scripture. You have James, John’s brother, who gets one verse in Acts 12 that speaks of his death. You have Bartholomew, who we know little to nothing about, period. Just mentioned that he is likely the Nathanael of John’s Gospel, and we just don’t hear much more about him. But the larger point is that they would all be called to suffer for the cause of Christ. Peter was crucified upside down in Rome. John was exiled and died in isolation. The list goes on. And that’s fitting because even here, Jesus is showing His disciples the blessed life. And blessing within the kingdom doesn’t come through riches, but through service. It doesn’t come through earthly gain, but heavenly gain. It doesn’t come through living life your own way, but through the way of Christ. And Jesus not only teaches his disciples this, but also models it before them.
17 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
So here, we have Jesus coming down off the mountain, after he’d been praying, and then chooses his disciples. And now, he comes down off the mountain, and we have three groups. We have his Apostles, that is, the ones he just chose as His select disciples. Then you have a larger group of followers and disciples. People have been leaning into Jesus all throughout the gospel of Luke. And then you have a great multitude of people, coming from all over the place. Places like Judea, Jerusalem, and even the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, which would have also included not just Jews but also Gentiles.
So even in this picture, you have Jesus sitting down, He’s coming down from the mountain, it’s no accident that Luke shows us that. Jesus isn’t sitting in some ivory tower somewhere, just calling shots and making decisions. Instead, he’s active in coming to the people. But move over, everyone is placed on equal footing here. By Luke showing us the magnitude of the crowd, he’s showing us that no one had a leg up, if you will, in coming to Jesus. He’s come down, made himself available, even as we’ve seen in Luke – to the poor, the blind, and the lame. He hasn't isolated himself to only the religious elite, but comes to all people.
And the people come to listen, but that’s not all. They’ve come to be healed. They’ve come because they are troubled. They’ve come because they’re unclean. They’ve come because of some need they had. Such a large crowd, we can expect that there was much diversity and need within this group of people. Some come to listen, others come with a particular ailment, others with a specific disease, and with a particular issue. And they all have equal access to Jesus, so the crowd presses in on him, and power comes from Jesus, not like magic, but like divinity, because He’s God….and Jesus heals them all!
Luke provides us with language here that’s quite intentional and specific. As a Doctor, Luke knows the difference between sickness and those who need healing from a disease, and those who are troubled by an unclean spirit. And Jesus meets them all, in their trouble and trial, with compassion! This is because the heart of Jesus is one of compassion for those who are broken. Later in Luke, Jesus will meet a widow whose son has died. And Luke records Jesus' initial response to her in Luke 7:13
13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.”
Part of what Jesus is doing here is fulfilling prophecy - Matthew 8:17
17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”
Again, this is why Luke has shown us that Jesus has come in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy to proclaim good news to the poor, the captive, the oppressed, and the blind.
And Jesus meets them all and heals them all. Jesus meets them in their brokenness and heals them all. Here, you see the heart of the Savior! One of compassion. One who doesn’t rush and who doesn’t turn away. And who would doesn’t remain distant, but draws near, and invites us to do the same! To draw near to Christ for help!
This speaks of the condescension of Christ. What I mean by that is his willingness to come down and stand among the broken. His willingness to come down and be among the people. To be with the broken, the needy, the outcast, the sick, and possessed. Allowed them to touch him, and be changed by Him.
This same condescension is seen in Luke 2, of the incarnation. God, who comes down to dwell among men. This is the same compassionate Christ meets our needs today. In a world filled with anxiety, isolation, illness, and spiritual confusion, we, too, are part of that great crowd—desperate for healing, truth, and hope. Just as He welcomed the broken then, He welcomes us now. Jesus does not remain far off; He still comes near, through His Word, His Spirit, and His people, offering grace, healing, and restoration to all who seek Him. His condescension is not just a moment in history—it’s an ongoing invitation for us to draw near and be made whole.
And the condescension of Christ lies at the very heart of the gospel. Though He is eternally God, equal with the Father in glory and power, He humbled Himself by taking on human flesh, entering our broken world as a servant(Philippians 2:6–8). He entered our world of suffering and brokenness. He did not come in majesty or demand the honor He rightly deserved, but instead lived among sinners, touched the unclean, bore rejection, and ultimately died a shameful death on the cross. This descent was not weakness—it was love in its fullest expression. In the gospel, we see that Christ came down to lift us up. His humility secured our salvation, making a way for sinners to be reconciled to God, not by our own merit, but through His grace. The gospel is the storyof the Holy One stooping low so that the lowly might be brought near.
And this is the call of Jesus to his disciples. To go to the broken, the weak, the lame, and the sick….NOT in DEMAND…But by his very example. This is what it looks like to live as blessed in the Kingdom. The gospel goes to others in compassion and mercy.
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II. Embrace the Blessing of Kingdom Poverty (vv. 20–23)
II. Embrace the Blessing of Kingdom Poverty (vv. 20–23)
The scene slightly shifts from Jesus’ actions to Jesus’ teaching. And Luke gives us a snapshot of Jesus’ teaching. Some believe this is the Sermon on the Mount. It’s somewhat minor, but I don't believe this is the same sermon, although much of the content is shared. It’s likely that Jesus taught a similar message in multiple places. By and large, it’s a minor detail of whether or not it was the same sermon. But it appears that Jesus was teaching on the Mount at the Sermon on the Mount, and here he has come down the Mount, in what I and others call the Sermon on the Plain. Nonetheless, again, much of the content is the same.
And again, the message of Jesus is, What does it mean to be blessed by the Lord. What is the blessed life? Is it fame, fortune, worldly comfort? Prosperity? What is it? And Jesus shows us, The blessed life is marked by present loss and eternal reward. It is a life concerned with eternal life, rather than this present life.
And Jesus looks to his disciples…He’s not speaking to the crowds, but to those who look to Christ. And says
20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.
When Jesus calls His disciples “blessed” in Luke 6, He is not describing a fleeting emotion, but declaring a settled condition of divine favor. The Greek word makarios means one who is approved and favored by God—regardless of earthly circumstances. This blessing is rooted not in external comfort but in covenantal grace. It echoes the language of Psalm 1, which opens with, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,” showing that true blessing is defined by one’s relationship to God and His Word. Jesus’ words in Luke also fulfill the prophetic hope of Isaiah 61, where the Messiah proclaims good news to the poor, binds up the brokenhearted, and gives “the oil of gladness instead of mourning.” This blessing, Jesus speaks, belongs to those who are united to Christ by faith—those who may be materially poor or socially rejected, but are spiritually rich in Christ. To be “blessed” is to be known by God, upheld by His promises, and destined for His kingdom. It is a statement of objective reality: those in Christ, though they appear to receive less now, are eternally favored.
And He gives us here – the Beatitude…or at least some of them. Some believe it was a summary of them, but again, Jesus was teaching a similar message everywhere he went.
Blessed are the poor– Now this isn’t just the financially poor. Though that’s not just outright wrong. Jesus does a concern for the financially poor. He has come to preach good news to the poor, but that’s not all he’s talking about. Jesus means the spiritually poor. This is poverty as it pertains to the gospel. There are many who would look to their financial success and think I’m blessed by God, and therefore I have abundance. This is the error of the Prosperity Gospel. But the poor, or the poor in Spirit, look to God and say I have nothing that I can bring of merit. But owe everything to Christ for spiritual riches and my inheritance, to them is the kingdom!
That, though, as disciples, they may be poor according to this world, they have an abundance of wealth in Christ. And are therefore content with what they have on this earth. They aren’t longing for more treasures on earth, but instead seek a heavenly kingdom to come!
Blessed are the hungry now – That is, that the same God who provides for the poor, is the God who sustains the hungry with food, and with bread. That is true literally. Psalm 37:25-26
25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. 26 He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing.
But just like there is more than physical poverty. There is more than physical hunger. There is also spiritual hunger. A longing and desire for God. Those who desire more of God, now! That is more than they need to supply for their physical body; they need spiritual nourishment for their soul through Christ. A longing for mercy, and grace, and forgiveness, peace, and purity, and holiness that can only be found in the Lord. For when you seek your hunger in God - for you shall be satisfied.
Blessed are those who weep now – Which, I think, we all feel the sorrows of life. And life in a fallen world. Christians are not immune to this reality. In fact, they often experience it to an even greater degree. God means this as a means of growth that we might look more to Christ. I mean, you just look around, there is a lot to weep about, is there not? Consider your own sin. How you fail the Lord daily. Look around in our world, of people constantly turning their backs on the Lord and His grace. Consider those you know and love who are separated from Christ and lost, destined to perish in sin, and because of their sin. Consider those suffering. Consider those suffering for the sake of Christ...Natural disasters, wars, injustices in our world, a world of suffering, death, loss.
It's easy to wonder if we will ever smile again. It’s easy in this life to do what – lose our joy….Ah, but not with Christ! It doesn’t mean we don’t have trials, temptations, and struggles, but despite these things, we still have a reason for joy! And even as we weep, we cling to the promises that joy is coming! We will laugh again. And moreover, that we have that joy, right now in Christ! But in the future, Jesus says – I love this, you who weep now, for you shall laugh. I love that Jesus says that, because laughter in the bible usually isn’t associated with much good. You either have God laughing at evil and wicked men, or evil and wicked men laughing and mocking God’s people. It’s perhaps the reason you don’t see the gospel writers record Jesus laughing, but you know He did laugh. He was human, that’s part of what we do when we are joy-filled and lighthearted. When we are relieved of our sadness and pain, it’s like we forget about our hardships for a moment. Where our bodies erupt into quick series of breathless gasps—air catching and breaking free from the lungs in short bursts, like your body trying to keep up with sudden joy.
God designed us this way. And will fill those who hope in him with laughter. That though we know sorrow now. And though we may know weeping now. Then we shall be filled with joy! Psalm 30:11-12
11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, 12 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Blessed are you when people hate you…when they exclude you, and revile you, and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man. The Messiah who possesses all authority! Yet, whose authority is questioned and subjected by nonbelievers, and those faithful to Christ are often maligned, hated, excluded, reviled, and called evil. There is a particular and specific suffering Jesus knows, and that is suffering for the sake of the gospel. This was the path of Jesus’ disciples. And specifically for his Apostles. And this is the way for those who seek to follow Jesus. To follow Him in his suffering and affliction. To follow him in the way of the cross! That often the hatred, exclusion, reviling, and spurning for Christ’s sake is often proof of discipleship of Christ.
And there is a difference between being hated and spurned because you’re just a jerk. I’m sure, in my flesh, I’ve been guilty of that. Jesus isn’t speaking of that. He’s speaking of suffering for gospel devotion and allegiance to Christ. Christian, you won’t be loved by everyone. In fact, you’ll often be hated by this world. You won’t please everyone. You aren’t always going to be affirmed in the eyes of man, so you shouldn’t expect it or look for it. Rather, to be faithful to Christ. And, from there, let the chips fall where they may, and trust the Lord. And when the hardship comes on account of Christ –
Jesus says REJOICE! LEAP for JOY!Both imperatives! Jesus tells us to rejoice and be glad, even in difficult times, because our reward in heaven is great. This joy isn’t based on what we feel now, but on trusting God’s promise. Like the prophets before us, enduring hardship leads to lasting blessing in the world to come! This is the example of the Apostle in Acts 5:40-41
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.
But this promise is not only for them. It’s for all those who are persecuted for Jesus' sake. That is why we endure suffering, hardship, affliction, and difficulties on account of following Jesus. And there will be many. And don’t be surprised if more come very near to us here, and sooner than we think. Whenever we suffer and whatever we suffer. May we not forget the hope we have and the reason to rejoice we have because of Christ, that we might appeal to a higher court. And greater judge than an earthly kingdom.
Jesus turns the world’s values upside down, declaring blessings not on the rich or powerful, but on the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the persecuted. He reminds us that dependence on God—not material wealth—is the path to the kingdom. Jesus brings hope to the marginalized, assuring them that for those who look to Him in their current suffering, it is not the end of the story. That in Christ we are to endure trials with joy, knowing that our reward in heaven is great. These blessings are not just future promises—they’re present encouragements that God sees us, honors faithfulness, and brings eternal purpose out of temporary pain. This is the blessed life in Jesus—not defined by comfort or applause, but by a deep, unshakable joy found in Him, even in the midst of struggle. In Christ, what the world sees as weakness, heaven calls blessed.
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III.Reject the False Security of Earthly Joys (vv. 24–26)
III.Reject the False Security of Earthly Joys (vv. 24–26)
Here, Jesus intends these woes to serve as a clear contrast to the blessings within the kingdom of God. Further, these woes come as a surprise as the thought runs counter to worldly thinking. The world would tend to think the poor man is to be pitied, but instead, Jesus says they are blessed, and the rich man ought to be concerned. The same for the hungry, the weeping, and the despised. Instead, Jesus calls them blessed, and those who appear to have earthly blessings, Jesus pronounces woe!
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
Here, these WOES act as a means of God’s authoritative declaration. It’s not merely a future pronouncement, but like the blessings, is God’s declared verdict of their pursuit. But this word for WOE is more of a lament than it is a word of condemnation! Something like the phrase, how terrible and short-sighted! How tragic it is for a person to pursue their own way, and reject God’s blessing, and instead desire their own blessing.
Of the rich, not merely of having wealth, but trusting in that wealth to satisfy you. They’ve already received their reward. They’ve pursued their treasure, and they’ve found it in their wealth. And stamped on the top of the receipt – “paid in full.” They only lack one thing: true and lasting security for their eternal future. Jesus says, 'You have already received your luxury and passion here on this earth.' That comfort in worldly gain is only temporary at best. It won’t last, and it too will fade away!
9 Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.
Of those who are full, contrasted by those who are hungry now, who hunger and thirst for righteousness! These are those who are already satisfied and are thereby complacent. They don’t seek after God, they don’t desire to draw near to him. They’ve done enough. They ride on the manna from yesterday to sustain them. These are those who slowly fade back in their walk with the Lord, slowly but surely, sucked away by the world and it’s desires, the less frequent the pursue of God, His word, His people, but they are full enough they think. But the irony is that those who think they are full now are actually empty!
Of those who laugh now. Not that we ought not laugh or be filled with joy, but this is the person who laughs and mocks God, and those who follow him. They live as simply and as silly as they can, and they laugh away things that are weighty and should be held with respect. When someone speaks of a coming judgement or the reality of God, they laugh and mock. They scorn his word, they ridiculeHis followers. Those who ought to weep and mourn at their sin, in eternity, their mourning will never end. They will mourn and weep. Their tears will never be wiped away.
Woe to those who people speak well of… Consider Absalom in 2 Samuel 15:2–6: he worked to win the favor of everyone, but his intentions were deceitful. His actions were not driven by genuine concern for others, but by a desire to elevate himself and claim glory. In this, he resembled a false prophet—outwardly appealing, but inwardly corrupt. That’s not to say God doesn’t desire others to speak well of us (1 Tim 3:7); it's fitting that others should speak well of believers. But don’t count on or look to the praises of man to fill you. Don’t look to become a people pleaser. And yet, how common is it for Christians and churches to try to please everyone? So they speak for nothing and stand for nothing, and they fall for everything! Everyone is just pacified! But there is one whose opinion truly matters! Namely God! A British 20th Century English Evangelist (Leonard Ravenhill) said it this way – “If God is pleased, it doesn't matter who is displeased; but if God is displeased, it doesn't matter who is pleased."
And just like the false prophets fear man, and so they spoke to receive praise from man, they received their praise in what they were longing for, but it was at the expense of pleasing the Lord!
If we are truly living like Jesus, it's inevitable that some people won't speak well of us—just as they didn't speak well of Him. We may be hated, slandered, or mistreated. But rather than be discouraged, we should rejoice in the privilege of suffering for His name.
When Jesus pronounces woes—“Woe to you who are rich… who are full now… who laugh now… when all people speak well of you”—He’s not introducing a new concept but echoing the covenant language of Deuteronomy. In Deuteronomy 28, God warns Israel that if they turn from His commands, “all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you” (Deut. 28:15). These curses include losing their wealth, suffering hunger, sorrow, and shame—consequences for trusting in their own strength rather than in God. Jesus picks up this covenant thread, turning it toward the self-assured and self-sufficient of His day. Like the Israelites who believed their prosperity meant God’s favor, the people Jesus addresses have confused comfort with blessing. But just as Deuteronomy warns of judgment for covenant unfaithfulness, so Jesus warns that those who seem secure now may find themselves on the wrong side of God’s Kingdom. His woes serve as a prophetic wake-up call: a covenant blessing is not about wealth or status, but about faithfulness, humility, and dependence on God.
WhenJesus pronounced these blessings and woes, He was doing what Puritan preachers used to call “dividing the audience.” He was clearly distinguishing between two kinds of people, categorizing his listeners into two groups. In doing so, He confronted them with a choice about the kind of life they would live. That same choice lies before us today: Do I want to pursue the blessing of God, or follow the way of the world and face the sorrow it brings in the end?
JimElliot’s story powerfully illustrates this choice. Called to a dangerous mission, he embraced hardship and even death for the sake of Christ’s kingdom. Though his life ended in tragedy, his sacrifice opened the door for lasting transformation among the Huaorani tribe—showing us that the blessed life often means embracing loss for the sake of eternal gain.
ElisabethElliot’s courage and faith after her husband’s death reveal what it truly means to live in the kingdom Jesus describes—a life marked by present hardship but rich in eternal blessing. Like Jesus, Jim and Elisabeth chose God’s blessing over the world’s approval. Their example challenges us to consider: Am I willing to follow Jesus into the low place, trusting that His blessing outweighs any earthly sorrow?
Jesus is showing us that the blessed life is not about the present, but about the eternal reward, so that we might live with eternity in view, not merely the right here and right now. That the blessed life is the life of eternal life found in Jesus.
Sermon Summary: The blessed life is marked by present loss and eternal reward.
