Blessings and Woes

20 And turning His gaze toward His disciples , He began to say , " Blessed are you who are poor , for yours is the kingdom of God . 21 "Blessed are you who hunger now , for you shall be satisfied . Blessed are you who weep now , for you shall laugh . 22 " Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil , for the sake of the Son of Man . 23 "Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold , your reward is great in heaven . For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets . 24 "But woe to you who are rich , for you are receiving your comfort in full . 25 "Woe to you who are well-fed now , for you shall be hungry . Woe to you who laugh now , for you shall mourn and weep . 26 "Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way .

Love for Enemies

27 "But I say to you who hear , love your enemies , do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 " Whoever hits you on the cheek , offer him the other also ; and whoever takes away your coat , do not withhold your shirt from him either . 30 "Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours , do not demand it back . 31 " Treat others the same way you want them to treat you. 32 " If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same . 34 " If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive , what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount. 35 "But love your enemies , and do good , and lend , expecting nothing in return ; and your reward will be great , and you will be sons of the Most High ; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 6:20-35

Commentary on Luke 6:20-26

(Read Luke 6:20-26)

Here begins a discourse of Christ, most of which is also found in Matthew 5. But some think that this was preached at another time and place. All believers that take the precepts of the gospel to themselves, and live by them, may take the promises of the gospel to themselves, and live upon them. Woes are denounced against prosperous sinners as miserable people, though the world envies them. Those are blessed indeed whom Christ blesses, but those must be dreadfully miserable who fall under his woe and curse! What a vast advantage will the saint have over the sinner in the other world! and what a wide difference will there be in their rewards, how much soever the sinner may prosper, and the saint be afflicted here!

Commentary on Luke 6:27-36

(Read Luke 6:27-36)

These are hard lessons to flesh and blood. But if we are thoroughly grounded in the faith of Christ's love, this will make his commands easy to us. Every one that comes to him for washing in his blood, and knows the greatness of the mercy and the love there is in him, can say, in truth and sincerity, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Let us then aim to be merciful, even according to the mercy of our heavenly Father to us.