Luke 6:17-26

Jesus teaches people

17 After Jesus had chosen these 12 men, they all came down the mountain. He stopped and he stood on a flat place. A large crowd of his disciples stood around him. There were also many people from Jerusalem, and from other towns of Judea, and from places on the coast near Tyre and Sidon. 18 These people had all come to hear Jesus teach. Those people who were ill wanted him to make them well. He also made well those people who had bad spirits. 19 All the people were trying to touch him, because he was using great power to make each person well.

20 Jesus looked at his disciples. He spoke this message to them:

‘Happy are you people that are poor. The kingdom of God belongs to you.

6:20Jesus was not only speaking about people that have no money. Matthew 5:3 shows us that. Some people know that they need God. He was also speaking about those people.

21 Happy are you people that are hungry now. God will feed you until you are full.

6:21Jesus was not only speaking about people that have nothing to eat. Matthew 5:6 shows us that. He was also speaking about people that really want to know more about God. They want all that God has to give them.

Happy are you people that are crying now. Later, you will laugh.

6:21Matthew 5:4 shows that Jesus was not only speaking about sad people. Some people are sorry for the bad things that they have done. He was also speaking about those people.

22 People may hate you, because you believe in me, the Son of Man. They may say bad things against you and make you go away from them. They may say that you are very bad. When that happens, be happy. 23 God will prepare many good things for you in heaven. So be very happy when people do these bad things to you! Jump up and down because you are so happy. Their ancestors did the same bad things to God's prophets long ago.

24 Listen, you that are rich.

You have a comfortable life now, but it will be very bad for you.

25 Listen, you that are full with food now.

It will be very bad for you and you will be hungry.

Listen, you that are laughing now.

It will be very bad for you. You will be sad and you will cry.

26 If people always say good things about you now, it will be very bad for you. Their ancestors also said good things about the false prophets long ago.’