But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

LUKE 6:24KJV
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Luke 6:24 (KJV)

What does Luke 6:24 mean?

Luke 6:24 is a warning from Jesus to people who are rich. He says that the comfort they have already received stands in contrast to the trouble ahead that his warning points toward.

Jesus addresses the rich directly, saying “you” and “your.” His words follow a series of blessings, ending with a promise of reward in heaven in verse 23. The change to “woe” marks a sharp turn from blessing to warning.

The Greek behind Luke 6:24

  • “woe” — οὐαί (ouai): This word expresses distress or grief. Here it introduces Jesus’ warning in the language of sorrow as well as danger.
  • “received” — ἀπέχω (apechō): The Greek here can carry the sense of having received something in full. Jesus speaks of the rich as having already received their consolation.
  • “consolation” — παράκλησις (paraklēsis): This word can mean comfort or encouragement. Here it describes what Jesus says the rich have received.

Why Luke 6:24 matters

  • The warning is part of a pattern that contrasts present advantage with what lies ahead. The following warnings address people who are full and laughing “now” (Luke 6:25).
  • Jesus places the warning alongside his blessing of the poor, to whom he says, “yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). The contrast gives the words to the rich their place in his larger address.

Where else these words appear

“received” Greek G568 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
  • Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
  • Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

“rich” Greek G4145 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
  • Luke 16:21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
  • James 1:10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

“consolation” Greek G3874 · used in 28 verses

  • Luke 2:25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
  • 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
  • 2 Corinthians 8:17 For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you.

“But” Greek G4133 · used in 31 verses

  • Matthew 11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
  • Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
  • Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.