The Way of Blessing and the Way of Woe

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. “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! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets” (Luke 6:20-26).

The Holy Spirit intentionally inspired Luke to note that before Jesus spoke, “He lifted up his eyes on his disciples”. The precious revelation and instruction that follows depends on the Spirit-revealed truth about how Jesus sees His disciples. It’s not about how rich or poor in material possessions we are. It’s not about how hungry or satisfied our bellies are. It’s not about how sad or happy in our current circumstances we are. It’s not about our reputation among the people of the world. With the words “on account of the Son of Man” Jesus reveals that our true condition in the eyes of God depends not on anything in the world, but entirely on our relationship with Jesus Christ. Earnest disciples discover here encouraging truth about the way of blessing and the way of woe.

The way of blessing requires releasing the world’s wealth and receiving the kingdom of God. God does not bless those who are anxious and worried about how little or how much they have accumulated… “Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?”’(Matthew 6:31). God blesses those who use all they have to seek and spread His kingdom and righteousness… “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

The way of blessing requires renouncing the world’s ungodliness and rejoicing in God’s righteousness. God does not bless those who feed the flesh but neglect the spirit… “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). God blesses those who hunger for His righteousness… “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6).

The way of blessing requires repenting of the world’s sinful pleasures and regretting the serious consequences of evil. Jesus said those who laugh at sin now will mourn and weep later as they suffer its eternal consequences… “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 13:41-42). Those who weep over the consequences of sin now will be blessed to rejoice forever in God’s kingdom… “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43).

The way of blessing requires rejecting the world’s reputation and reflecting more of Christ. God does not bless those who are consumed with building their own reputation… “I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Revelation 3:1). God blesses those who follow Christ’s example by surrendering their reputation to live for Him… “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:5-7).

In summary, Jesus taught that the way of blessing is through loving Christ and His kingdom above all else… “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). This kind of first love keeps us on the way of blessing and ever closer to God’s kingdom… “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

As we grow up into Christ our love for Him increases and we become more aware of…

The Way of Blessing and the Way of Woe.