Luke 6:26

26 "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests - look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

Luke 6:26 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 6:26

Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you!
&c.] The word "all", is left out in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic; Persic: and Ethiopic versions, and is wanting in many copies, though it is in the Alexandrian copy; and the meaning is, it looks ill in persons, when the men of the world, wicked men, all of them, or the greater part of them, applaud and commend them; for this can never be, if they are truly religious persons, and are faithful to their principles, and upright in their practices; and do not connive at, or comply with the errors and evil ways of wicked men; for it is no bad sign, to have the good word of good men, and therefore these must be excepted, and the passage must be limited to bad men;

for so did their fathers to the false prophets;
they spoke well of them, and heaped favours, riches, and honours upon them, that they might prophesy unto them things; ( 1 Kings 22:6 1 Kings 22:12 1 Kings 22:27 ) ( Isaiah 30:10 ) , smooth things and deceit.

Luke 6:26 In-Context

24 But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made. What you have is all you'll ever get.
25 And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself. Your self will not satisfy you for long. And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games. There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.
26 "There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests - look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.
27 "To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst.
28 When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.