When preaching on the Beatitudes, Jesus preached of the blessings that came with believing in Him and growing spiritually as we passionately strive to be like Christ (Ps. 73:25). In today’s passage, Christ preaches a stark contrast as he lays out four “woes”, transitioning from the blessings previously. What does woe mean? It’s a sort of declaration or reaching a sentence in a verdict, often introduces a prophetic oracle of doom (Reformation Study Bible), and like the word “anathema”, which means to be accursed; condemned to destruction. Jesus warned the disciples of four woes of which two will be covered in today’s sermon: woe to those that are rich and well-fed now.
Woe to you who are rich
Jesus and Scripture are not anti-wealth as God loved and blessed Abraham, Job and many others we see in Scripture. There are lots of people that are dedicated to the Lord and are rich. God is particularly against a specific group of the rich. That is, the people Jesus is preaching woe to that are pursuing wealth as the priority, the idol of self-sufficiency. Wealth and self can easily become an idol. Anything to do with God and his will is just a hindrance to this goal. Why is this bad? Those seeking these things without the Lord is sin. All good things come from God. Earthly blessings must be used to glorify God, but there are those that attribute their wealth to anything but God (Ps. 24:1).
When we see Jesus’s encounter with the young rich ruler, the Lord makes it clear to be poor in spirit because the young rich ruler is intoxicated in his wealth (Matt. 19:21). Those that are consumed in their love for wealth are cursed (v 23-24) You cannot serve Jesus and wealth. In other words, those pursuing materialism in this world is under God’s curse.
What is materialism? Money-centered and thing-centered rather than God-centered. Materialism is sin and foolish. Money cannot purchase salvation and save the soul (Matt. 16:26). The problem with so many is they think they have time, so they store up riches for themselves (Lk. 12:20-21). But God owns time and we’re living on His borrowed time. Are we pursuing to be rich in the Lord or to be rich in the world (1 Tim. 6:7)?
Woe to you who are well-fed now
This is the second woe Jesus warns his disciple of. Those that are well-fed now are people that have everything they supposedly need so they think they don’t need God. This woe might not just point to food but anything in this world such as intellectualism, atheism, or any other (Lk. 16:19).
AW Tozer points questions to examine our hearts.
- What do you value most? That is your god.
- If we cannot confess and profess this (Phil. 3:7)
- What would we most hate to lose?
- What do your thoughts turn to most frequently when you’re free to think of what you will?
- What affords you the greatest pleasure?
- If Jesus Christ is not the answer to any of the above questions, we need to re-examine our hearts. It is because when we are converted, although not perfect, we fight to grow in sanctification and glory of God.
The consequences are severe for those that are rich and well-fed based on Jesus’ words. For those that are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full (payment). For those that are well-fed now, you shall be hungry (Ps. 73:12). Some might as if they’re cursed by God, why do the rich and well-fed seem to be doing so well on this earth? God is not going to intervene (which is part of the curse) on this earth until judgment. It is in the future that those that are well-fed shall be hungry (Lk. 16:24).
What is the solution to find relief from these woes?
We are all born under the curse of the law of God (Gal. 3:10). But the Lord Jesus Christ redeemed those that will repent and believe in Him for salvation (Gal. 3:13)! It is only by God’s grace our hears can be opened, while under the curse, to repent and believe (Rom. 10:9)! As long as we are alive, the free gift of salvation is available that brings true blessings that goes on into eternity.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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