“WOE TO YOU WHEN ALL MEN SPEAK WELL OF YOU”

TEXT: Luke 6:26

INTRODUCTION:
1. Being popular and fitting in with the crowd is the desire of most people.
2. For the Christian it is a sign of danger when all men speak only good of you.
3. The very nature of the gospel is to back one into a corner and force a decision.
4. Some will decide for the good and others will turn on the messenger.
5. In Luke’s account of the beatitudes, he includes some woes: “Woe unto you when all men
speak well of you for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26)
6. One cannot be a faithful Christian and make no enemies!
7. There are and always have been enemies of the cross and of those who preach and teach it.

I. JESUS WAS NOT SPOKEN WELL OF BY ALL MEN:
A. He was accused of driving out demons by the prince of demons (Matthew 12:24).
B. He was accused of being a blasphemer, Matthew 9:3.
C. He was accused of violating Moses’ law, when in fact He was keeping it perfectly (Lk. 6:6).
D. He made enemies by teaching the truth (Luke 6:11).
E. He made people so angry that they killed Him (Luke 6:11).
F. One could not honestly say that “No one had anything bad to say about Him.”
G. His enemies could not honestly accuse Him, but they could accuse Him (Matt 22:16-17) And
they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are
true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard
the person of men.
II. PAUL WAS NOT SPOKEN WELL OF ALL MEN:
A. Accused of being mad from much learning (Acts 26:24).
B. Accused of creating a riot, turning the world upside down (Acts 19:21-41).
C. Made enemies by teaching the truth (Galatians 4:16).
D. Made people angry enough to hurt him physically (2 Corinthians 11:22-28).
E. Plotted against, imprisoned, persecuted and finally beheaded, according to tradition.
III. JESUS WARNED THAT WE WOULD NOT BE SPOKEN WELL OF BY ALL MEN:
A. “When men persecute you” (Luke 6:22-23).
B. Offenses must come, but woe to him by whom they come (Matthew 18: 7).
C. Even from one’s own family (Matthew 18:7).
D. “Do not marvel not, my brethren if the world hates you” (1 John 3:13).
IV. WHY DO MEN NOT ALL SPEAK WELL OF JESUS AND HIS FOLLOWERS?
A. Because not men want the truth (Matthew 15:9).
B. Because many see the truth as an assault upon them or their beliefs.
C. Because some like sin and don’t want to change!
D. Because some people just can’t bring themselves to say good things about others.
E. Because of Biblical ignorance and refusal to listen to the truth.
F. Because belittling the church and Christians makes them feel less guilty about their own
sins!

CONCLUSION:
1. If you are a person about whom the world says only good things, you probably have a
problem!
2. While we don’t want to make enemies unnecessarily, we will have enemies, nonetheless!
3. The only way to get everyone to speak well of you is to compromise the truth in some areas.
4. The truth will always have opposition.
5. If one is well spoken of by all men, he is probably in a comfortable physical position but a
dangerous spiritual one!