Blessings and Warnings: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 6:20-26

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 6:12-26 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 6:20-26 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 6:20-26 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you think of a time when you felt very blessed, even if life was hard? Would you like to share it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn what Jesus said about being blessed. He teaches us what God cares about most. We will see that real blessing does not come from money or praise but from knowing and trusting Jesus.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

ancestor: (noun) A person in your family who lived a long time ago.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
false prophet: (phrase) A person who says they have a message from God but tells lies instead.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
insult: (verb) To say something mean to someone to hurt them.
jump for joy: (phrase) To act very happy because something wonderful happened.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
reward: (noun) Something good given for doing a good job.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

ancestor: (noun) A person in your family who lived a long time ago.
belong: (verb) To be the property of someone.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
cry: (verb) To have tears come from your eyes because you are sad.
easy life: (phrase) A way of living where a person has plenty of money and no hard problems.
false prophet: (phrase) A person who says they have a message from God but tells lies instead.
fill: (verb) To put as much as possible into something.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
hate: (verb) To dislike someone or something very much.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
hungry: (adjective) Needing or wanting food.
insult: (verb) To say something mean to someone to hurt them.
jump for joy: (phrase) To act very happy because something wonderful happened.
laugh: (verb) To make a sound that shows you are happy or think something is funny.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
reward: (noun) Something good given for doing a good job.
rich: (adjective) Having a lot of money or things.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

about: (preposition) Telling what a thing or person is like.
always: (adverb) Every time or at all times.
ancestor: (noun) A person in your family who lived a long time ago.
bad: (adjective) Not good or doing wrong things.
because: (conjunction) For the reason that.
belong: (verb) To be the property of someone.
blessing: (noun) A good thing that God gives to his people.
cry: (verb) To have tears come from your eyes because you are sad.
easy life: (phrase) A way of living where a person has plenty of money and no hard problems.
even: (adverb) Used to show that something is surprising.
everyone: (pronoun) Every person in a group.
false: (adjective) Something that is not true or is a lie.
false prophet: (phrase) A person who says they have a message from God but tells lies instead.
fill: (verb) To put as much as possible into something.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
full: (adjective) Holding as much as possible.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
God’s kingdom: (phrase) The place or way where God rules as king.
good things: (phrase) Kind or pleasant words and actions that people do or say.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
group: (noun) A number of people or things that are together.
happen: (verb) To take place.
happy: (adjective) Feeling joy or pleasure.
hate: (verb) To dislike someone or something very much.
heaven: (noun) The place where God lives.
hungry: (adjective) Needing or wanting food.
insult: (verb) To say something mean to someone to hurt them.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
jump for joy: (phrase) To act very happy because something wonderful happened.
just: (adverb) Only or simply.
know: (verb) To have information about something in your mind.
laugh: (verb) To make a sound that shows you are happy or think something is funny.
leave: (verb) To go away from a place.
look: (verb) To use your eyes to see something.
make: (verb) To cause a feeling or a change.
nothing: (pronoun) Not anything.
now: (adverb) At this time.
poor: (adjective) Having very little money or things.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
reward: (noun) Something good given for doing a good job.
rich: (adjective) Having a lot of money or things.
sad: (adjective) Feeling unhappy.
same: (adjective) Not different.
Son of Man: (phrase) A special name Jesus used for himself to show he is the savior sent by God.
think: (verb) To use your mind to have ideas.
will: (verb) A word used to talk about the future.
wrong: (adjective) Not right or not true.

Summary of the Passage

This passage shows Jesus teaching his followers about being blessed. At that time, many people thought rich and powerful people were the most blessed. But Jesus taught something very different.

He said that people who are poor, hungry, or sad now can still be blessed. Jesus said that people who are poor and hungry now will one day be full. People who cry now will laugh again. Even when others hate or insult them for following Jesus, they are still blessed. God sees them and will reward them in heaven. Jesus said that God’s people have always been treated this way, even the prophets long ago.

Then Jesus warned people who have an easy life now. He said that people who are rich, full, and laughing now might not be blessed later. If they only care about this life and what people think of them, they will be very sad in the end. People also praised false prophets in the past, but those prophets did not speak for God.

This passage teaches us that real blessing does not come from money, food, or being liked by others. Real blessing comes from knowing and trusting Jesus, even when life is hard. God sees us and promises to care for us forever.

A note about the word “blessed”:

The Good News Translation uses the word “happy” here, but most other translations uses the word blessed. Blessed means more than just feeling good or smiling. Blessed means having God’s love, care, and promise for you, even if you feel sad or hurt right now. You might not feel happy, but you are still blessed because God is with you and will reward you in heaven.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

20 Jesus looked at his followers and said,
“Great blessings belong to you who are poor.
God’s kingdom belongs to you.
21 Great blessings belong to you who are hungry now.
You will be filled.
Great blessings belong to you who are crying now.
You will be happy and laughing.
22 “People will hate you because you belong to the Son of Man.
They will make you leave their group.
They will insult you.
They will think it is wrong even to say your name.
When these things happen, know that great blessings belong to you.
23 You can be happy then and jump for joy, because you have a great reward in heaven.
The ancestors of those people did the same things to the prophets.
24 “But how bad it will be for you rich people, because you had your easy life.
25 How bad it will be for you people who are full now, because you will be hungry.
How bad it will be for you people who are laughing now, because you will be sad and cry.
26 “How bad it is when everyone says nothing but good about you.
Just look at the false prophets.
Their ancestors always said good things about them.
Luke 6:20–26 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 6:20–26 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 6:20–26 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 6:20–26 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 6:20–26 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 6:20–26 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 6:20–26 (ESV)

Luke 6:20-26 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Who was Jesus talking to in this passage?
What did Jesus say about people who are poor?
What will happen to people who are hungry now?
What did Jesus say about people who cry now?
How are people blessed when others hate them for following Jesus?
What kind of reward does God give in heaven?
What warning did Jesus give to rich people?
What will happen to people who laugh now, but do not follow God?
Why is it not always good when everyone speaks well of you?

Application Questions

When do you feel close to God, even if life is hard?
Why do you think Jesus says people can be blessed when they are sad or hungry?
What are some things people think will make them blessed?
How can we trust God more than money or things?
What is one way you can follow Jesus this week, even if it is hard?

Theological Insights

God blesses people who trust him, even when life is hard.
Being poor or sad does not mean God has forgotten you.
True blessing is knowing God and being part of his kingdom.
We should not trust in money, being liked by everyone, or comfort.
Jesus blesses those who follow him, even when others do not understand.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for showing us what it means to be truly blessed. Help us trust you even when life is hard. Help us to follow Jesus with joy. Amen.