As Jesus gave “Blessed are you…” and contrasted with “Woe to you…” He was speaking to His followers…then and now.

  Jesus’ words are for today and don’t we need to listen carefully?
(NASB) Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man.”
(NASB) Luke 6:26 “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”

Did you notice that if you are hated and scorned “for the sake of the Son of Man”?  There are various reasons people are hated, scorned, ostracized.  For the followers of Christ it is to be for the sake of Him.

A day is coming when all believers in Christ will be hated.  We will not be well-thought of; we will be scorned for our faith in our Savior.

(NASB) Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Experiencing hardships, persecution, affliction, being perplexed and struck down – this is what believers in Christ can expect…indeed, some are experiencing these difficulties today…in various countries of the world.  [Go to the internet and check out Voice of the Martyrs and learn more.]

All of these things are to reveal the surpassing greatness of the power of God…not our power!  Afflicted – but not crushed.  Perplexed – but not despairing.  Persecuted – but not forsaken (by God).  Struck down – but not destroyed (we are God’s).
(See 2 Corinthians 4:7-11)

Hated or Well-liked?
We are to give ourselves to God for His glory
so Christ Jesus will be seen through us
…in our world today!

And that is a true message of love!