Luke 6:26

26 "Woe to you, 1when all people speak well of you, for 2so their fathers did to 3the false prophets.

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 woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.
25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. "Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
26 "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
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 abuse you.

Cross References 3

  • 1. [John 15:19; John 17:14; James 4:4; 1 John 4:5]
  • 2. Jeremiah 5:31; [Isaiah 30:10; Micah 2:11]
  • 3. See Matthew 7:15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.