Luke 6:25

Luke 6:25, in plain English

He warned: 'Woe to you who are full now — you'll go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now — you'll mourn and weep.' Present comfort isn't the whole picture.

Why it's here

Jesus is contrasting temporary satisfaction with eternal reality. What feels good now isn't always what's good for you forever.

Who's speaking

Jesus warns those who are comfortable and self-satisfied.

Where it sits in the story

This isn't about God wanting you to suffer. It's about not being lulled to sleep by comfort. When life is easy, it's easy to forget how much you need God.

The scholarly reading

Two parallel woes: those well-fed (empeplēsmenoi) now will hunger (peinasete), and those laughing (gelōntes) now will mourn (penthēsete) and weep (klausete). These directly invert the beatitudes of verse 21.

Language and setting

The eschatological reversal operates in both directions: the hungry will be filled (v. 21) and the full will be emptied. Present conditions are temporary and misleading indicators of ultimate destiny.

Voice

Jesus continues the woes, warning those who are currently satisfied and comfortable.

Significance

These woes challenge the assumption that present prosperity indicates divine favor. The reversal warns that earthly comfort can blind people to their spiritual poverty.

23Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

24But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.

25Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.

26Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

27But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,

Read all of Luke 6 — Blessed are the poor; woe to the rich. Jesus delivers his version of the great sermon and demands a love so radical it includes your enemies.