Luke 6:24 kjv
But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
Luke 6:24 nkjv
"But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.
Luke 6:24 niv
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Luke 6:24 esv
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
Luke 6:24 nlt
"What sorrow awaits you who are rich,
for you have your only happiness now.
Luke 6 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 6:10-12 | When the LORD your God brings you into the land...houses full of all good things...beware lest you forget the LORD. | Warning about forgetting God amidst abundance. |
| Prov 11:28 | Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. | Danger of trusting in wealth. |
| Prov 28:20 | A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. | The haste for riches and its consequences. |
| Isa 5:8 | Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room... | Woe against avarice and land hoarding. |
| Isa 5:20-21 | Woe to those who call evil good...who are wise in their own eyes... | Woe against moral perversion and self-sufficiency. |
| Amo 6:1 | Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria... | Woe against complacency and false security. |
| Hab 2:6 | "Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own... and loads himself with pledges!" | Woe against unjust gain and exploitation. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the full tithe into the storehouse... see if I will not open the windows of heaven... | Contrasts with the curse of greed, emphasizes God's provision. |
| Matt 6:2 | "Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you... they have received their reward." | Illustrates having received reward in full (earthly applause). |
| Matt 6:5 | "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites... they have received their reward." | Illustrates having received reward in full (human recognition). |
| Matt 6:16 | "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites... they have received their reward." | Illustrates having received reward in full (outward show). |
| Matt 19:23-24 | "Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven." | The inherent obstacle wealth presents to salvation. |
| Mk 10:23-25 | "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" | Emphasizes the spiritual danger of reliance on riches. |
| Lk 12:15-21 | "Take care, and be on guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." | Parable of the rich fool, emphasizing misplaced priorities. |
| Lk 16:19-31 | "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen... the poor man, Lazarus, was carried by the angels..." | The Rich Man and Lazarus, depicting the reversal of fortunes. |
| Jas 1:9-11 | Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. | Transient nature of wealth; spiritual perspective for rich. |
| Jas 5:1-6 | Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. | Prophetic warning of judgment against the oppressive rich. |
| 1 Tim 6:6-8 | But godliness with contentment is great gain... if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. | Counter-cultural contentment against desire for wealth. |
| 1 Tim 6:9-10 | But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare... For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. | Warns against the strong desire for wealth. |
| Heb 11:24-26 | By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God... | Moses' choice to forsake worldly riches for Christ. |
| Rev 18:7-8 | As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her the same measure of torment and grief. | Judgment on Babylon's self-glorification and luxury. |
Luke 6 verses
Luke 6 24 Meaning
This verse issues a grave prophetic warning, or "woe," to those who are materially rich. The essence of the judgment is that their current wealth and the comfort it provides constitute their full and final recompense or reward. They have received their complete consolation in this life, implying no further spiritual recompense or comfort awaits them from God, particularly in the life to come, because their ultimate trust and satisfaction rested in their earthly possessions rather than in God.
Luke 6 24 Context
Luke 6:24 is part of Jesus' "Sermon on the Plain" (Lk 6:20-49), a parallel to Matthew's Sermon on the Mount but with distinct Lukan emphases. Following the "Beatitudes" (blessings upon the poor, hungry, weeping, and hated for Christ's sake in Lk 6:20-23), Jesus immediately pronounces corresponding "woes" (Lk 6:24-26). This creates a stark contrast and a dramatic reversal of commonly held worldly values and expectations. Historically, especially within certain Jewish interpretations of the Old Testament, material prosperity was often seen as a sign of God's blessing or favor, and poverty as a sign of divine displeasure or even sin. Jesus directly challenges this belief system, presenting a divine perspective where worldly abundance can actually become a spiritual snare, and a source of judgment. The sermon establishes core kingdom values that turn societal norms upside down, particularly regarding socio-economic status.
Luke 6 24 Word analysis
- But: (πλήν - plēn) This conjunction signifies a strong contrast, marking a shift from the previous blessings to the following pronouncements of judgment. It highlights the direct inversion of the fortunes presented.
- woe: (οὐαί - ouai) An interjection expressing sorrow, distress, or denunciation. In biblical prophecy, "woe" often denotes an oracle of impending judgment and divine displeasure, carrying a sense of lament over the state or actions of those addressed. It is not mere sympathy but a pronouncement of calamity.
- to you who are rich: (πλούσιοι - plousioi) This refers to those possessing abundant material wealth. The woe is not a blanket condemnation of wealth itself, but directed at those whose identity, security, and "consolation" are primarily found in their riches. It targets the heart's disposition towards wealth, which can lead to self-sufficiency and disregard for God or the poor.
- for: (ὅτι - hoti) A causal conjunction, introducing the reason for the "woe." It explains the spiritual consequence of their current state.
- you have received: (ἀπέχετε - apechete) A significant term, a Greek commercial or legal term meaning "to have in full," "to receive a full discharge," or "to have your money back." It implies finality – that their payment, their full reward or due, has already been delivered. There's nothing more owed or expected for them in the eschatological reckoning concerning their comfort.
- your consolation: (παράκλησιν - paraklēsin) Derived from parakaléo (to call alongside, comfort, encourage), here it signifies the comfort, security, ease, and worldly gratification that wealth provides. It's the "comfort" that distracts from spiritual hunger and eternal realities, leading to self-satisfaction on earth. This "consolation" is all they will receive because they have pursued it as their ultimate good.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "Woe to you who are rich": This phrase dramatically contrasts with "Blessed are you who are poor" (Lk 6:20). It directly confronts the prevailing notion that material prosperity indicates God's favor. The danger of wealth is its tendency to foster a spirit of self-reliance, insulating one from dependence on God and sensitivity to the needs of others. This "woe" targets those whose wealth replaces God as their ultimate source of security and comfort.
- "for you have received your consolation": This explains the fundamental problem with worldly wealth as an end in itself. The use of apechete underscores the finality: the rich have already been "paid in full" by this world for their investment in it. They sought their comfort, security, and pleasure here, and they have received it. This implies a future spiritual void because their spiritual "account" is empty; they have no future heavenly reward because their treasure was amassed and enjoyed solely on earth.
Luke 6 24 Bonus section
This woe from Jesus does not mean that all rich people are inherently condemned. Instead, it serves as a profound caution that wealth, if it leads to self-sufficiency, a hardening of the heart to others' needs, or a failure to acknowledge God as the true source of blessing, becomes a spiritual snare. The danger for the rich is not merely what they possess, but what their possessions possess of them, often blinding them to the urgent spiritual realities and preventing them from seeking God's kingdom. This teaching aligns with a pervasive theme in Luke's Gospel, which consistently emphasizes the reversal of fortunes (e.g., the Magnificat in Lk 1:52-53) and God's preferential concern for the poor and marginalized, while calling the prosperous to account for their stewardship and compassion. It underlines the radical counter-cultural ethics of the Kingdom of God.
Luke 6 24 Commentary
Luke 6:24 delivers a powerful warning that exposes a profound spiritual danger associated with material prosperity when it becomes an end in itself. It's not wealth itself that is condemned, but the reliance upon it as one's ultimate comfort and security. The "woe" is directed at those whose riches prevent them from seeing their true spiritual need or recognizing the sovereignty of God, leading to self-satisfaction and complacency. They have grasped their ultimate satisfaction in this life, thereby missing the opportunity for an eternal reward or divine consolation. The finality of "you have received your consolation" underscores that when earthly wealth is sought as one's sole treasure, it leaves no room or spiritual merit for heavenly recompense. It is a stark reminder to orient one's affections and security toward God and His kingdom, not toward transient worldly comforts. Practically, this verse challenges believers to critically examine where their true comfort, hope, and security lie and to understand the potential for wealth to subtly usurp God's place in the heart. It prompts a re-evaluation of priorities, urging against living solely for earthly accumulation and self-indulgence.