Albert Barnes Commentary Luke 6:26

"Woe [unto you], when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets." — Luke 6:26 (ASV)

Who are rich. In this world's goods. They loved them; they had sought for them; they found their consolation in them.

It implies, further, that they would not seek or receive consolation from the gospel. They were proud and would not seek it; satisfied and did not desire it; filled with cares and had no time or disposition to attend to it.

All the consolation they had reason to expect they had received. Alas! How poor and worthless is such consolation, compared with that which the gospel would give!

Woe unto you that are full! Not hungry. They are satisfied with their wealth, and not feeling their need of anything better than earthly wealth can give.

Many, alas! are thus full. They profess to be satisfied. They desire nothing but wealth, and a sufficiency to satisfy the wants of the body. They have no anxiety for the riches that will endure forever.

Ye shall hunger. Your property will be taken away, or you will see that it is of little value; and then you will see the need for something better. You will feel your want and wretchedness, and will hunger for something to satisfy the desires of a dying, sinful soul.

That laugh now. They are happy, or thoughtless, or gay, or filled with levity.

Shall mourn and weep. The time is coming when you will sorrow deeply. In sickness, in calamity, in the prospect of death, in the fear of eternity, your laughter will be turned into sorrow.

There is a place where you cannot laugh, and there you will see the folly of having passed the proper time of preparing for such scenes in levity and folly.

Alas! How many thus spend their youth, and how many weep when it is too late!

God gives them over, and laughs at THEIR calamity, and mocks when their fear comes (Proverbs 1:26).

To be happy in such scenes, it is necessary to be sober, humble, and pious in early life. Then we need not weep in the day of calamity; then there will be no terror in death; then there will be nothing to fear in the grave.

ye have received (Luke 16:25).