Luke 6:26

Authorized King James Version

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Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Original Language Analysis

οὐαὶ Woe G3759
οὐαὶ Woe
Strong's: G3759
Word #: 1 of 18
woe
ὑμῖν, unto you G5213
ὑμῖν, unto you
Strong's: G5213
Word #: 2 of 18
to (with or by) you
ὅταν when G3752
ὅταν when
Strong's: G3752
Word #: 3 of 18
whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as
καλῶς well G2573
καλῶς well
Strong's: G2573
Word #: 4 of 18
well (usually morally)
ὑμᾶς of you G5209
ὑμᾶς of you
Strong's: G5209
Word #: 5 of 18
you (as the objective of a verb or preposition)
εἴπωσιν shall speak G2036
εἴπωσιν shall speak
Strong's: G2036
Word #: 6 of 18
to speak or say (by word or writing)
πάντες all G3956
πάντες all
Strong's: G3956
Word #: 7 of 18
all, any, every, the whole
οἱ G3588
οἱ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 8 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἄνθρωποι· men G444
ἄνθρωποι· men
Strong's: G444
Word #: 9 of 18
man-faced, i.e., a human being
κατὰ G2596
κατὰ
Strong's: G2596
Word #: 10 of 18
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
ταῦτα so G5024
ταῦτα so
Strong's: G5024
Word #: 11 of 18
in the same way
γὰρ ! for G1063
γὰρ ! for
Strong's: G1063
Word #: 12 of 18
properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles)
ἐποίουν did G4160
ἐποίουν did
Strong's: G4160
Word #: 13 of 18
to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)
τοῖς G3588
τοῖς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 14 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ψευδοπροφήταις to the false prophets G5578
ψευδοπροφήταις to the false prophets
Strong's: G5578
Word #: 15 of 18
a spurious prophet, i.e., pretended foreteller or religious impostor
οἱ G3588
οἱ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 16 of 18
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατέρες fathers G3962
πατέρες fathers
Strong's: G3962
Word #: 17 of 18
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
αὐτῶν their G846
αὐτῶν their
Strong's: G846
Word #: 18 of 18
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Analysis & Commentary

Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you for so did fathers to false prophets. Woe ouai judgment. All men pantes anthrōpoi universal approval. Speak well eipōsin kalōs positive reputation. Fathers pateres ancestors. False prophets pseudoprophētais false messengers. Final woe. Universal human approval is warning sign. False prophets popular told people what they wanted hear. True prophets often rejected. Popularity can indicate compromise. Cannot please God and man. Reformed theology emphasizes faithful proclamation regardless popularity. True preachers speak God truth not human preferences.

Historical Context

False prophets popular told kings what they wanted hear (1 Kings 22 Micaiah versus 400 false prophets). Jeremiah Ezekiel warned against false prophets promising peace when no peace. False teachers smooth words tickle ears (2 Tim 4:3). Truth often unpopular. Jesus warned world will hate you (John 15:18). If world loves you question whether you truly His. Early church faced opposition. Popular teachers compromised. Faithful preachers persecuted. Medieval church popular powerful compromised. Reformers unpopular faithful. Modern church celebrity pastors often compromise for popularity. Faithful prophetic preaching risks reputation. Cannot serve two masters. Must choose God approval or human.

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