Introduction
Will you choose to be popular or righteous when following Jesus costs you approval? Jesus teaches that discipleship cannot be reduced to image-management, when my highest goal becomes broad appeal, I drift toward a false gospel and away from the narrow way that leads to life. We live in a world saturated with branding and public relations. Many of us feel the constant pressure to curate a public-facing self, on social media, at work, even in religious settings. But Jesus confronts that impulse with a sobering warning:
“Woe to you, when all men speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26)
In Luke 6, Jesus is showing us the upside-down realities of His kingdom: surprising blessings, and equal-and-opposite warnings. Last week we heard, “Blessed are you” when people hate you for His sake. Now we hear the other side: beware when everyone applauds you.
Main Points
Will you choose to be popular or righteous when following Jesus costs you approval? Jesus teaches that discipleship cannot be reduced to image-management, when my highest goal becomes broad appeal, I drift toward a false gospel and away from the narrow way that leads to life.
We live in a world saturated with branding and public relations. Many of us feel the constant pressure to curate a public-facing self, on social media, at work, even in religious settings. But Jesus confronts that impulse with a sobering warning:
“Woe to you, when all men speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26)
In Luke 6, Jesus is showing us the upside-down realities of His kingdom: surprising blessings, and equal-and-opposite warnings. Last week we heard, “Blessed are you” when people hate you for His sake. Now we hear the other side: beware when everyone applauds you.
The Danger Is Broad Approval
Jesus is not teaching that it’s sinful for anyone to respect you. Scripture commends a good name:
- “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1)
And Jesus is not saying, “Woe to you when no one likes you.” A pattern of relational isolation can signal pride and self-will:
- “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” (Proverbs 18:1)
Jesus is warning against something more specific: the craving to have absolute, universal approval, to become a spiritual chameleon who adapts convictions to whatever group is in front of me so that no one feels challenged, corrected, or confronted.
In a divided world that agrees on almost nothing, being “liked by everyone” is not only unrealistic, it’s spiritually revealing. If I never cause any friction anywhere, I may not be standing for anything at all.
Popularity Produces Chameleon Disciples
Let me press this gently but clearly: if I can be “in” with every crowd, equally affirmed by the world’s values and the kingdom’s values, then something is off. Jesus is forming a people who are distinct: “light,” “salt,” and witnesses. That kind of life will sometimes create tension.
When my goal becomes “lose the least amount of people,” I’m tempted to edit my convictions until they’re unrecognizable. And the cost is enormous:
- I may gain applause, but I’m no longer truly known.
- I may keep peace externally, but I lose integrity internally.
- I may preserve relationships superficially, but I fail to love people deeply enough to tell them the truth.
False Prophets Offer Comfort Without Repentance
Jesus anchors His warning in Israel’s history: “So did their fathers to the false prophets.” The Old Testament pattern is consistent:
- True prophets were raised up when God’s people drifted into idolatry and cultural compromise. They called for repentance and warned of judgment. They were often rejected, mocked, and harmed.
- False prophets saw that repentance preaching wasn’t “selling,” and they offered a message people enjoyed, peace, affirmation, and prosperity with no turning from sin.
Jeremiah captures this tragedy:
- “The prophets prophesy falsely… and my people love to have it so.” (Jeremiah 5:31)
- False prophets said, “You shall not see the sword… nor shall you have famine… I will give you assured peace.” (Jeremiah 14:13)
Do you hear how attractive that is? It sounds loving. It sounds hopeful. It feels easier, for the speaker and the listener. But it is a deadly kindness, because it leaves people comfortable on the road to destruction.
This is where Luke 6:26 lands on us today: if I consistently deliver a version of Christianity that never includes sin, repentance, holiness, or judgment, if I only offer what people already want, Jesus says, woe.
God Rejects Messages He Never Sent
One of the most sobering parts of Jeremiah is God’s response about those popular voices:
- “I did not send them… I did not command them… I did not speak to them… they prophesy… a deceit of their heart.” (Jeremiah 14:14)
Here is the hidden danger of living for approval: I’m choosing who I most want to be “with.”
You can be with people who praise you now, but hear God say, “I didn’t send you.” That should awaken holy fear in us, not a fear that makes us hide from God, but a fear that makes us tremble at the idea of representing Him falsely.
And it should also reshape how we define love. If I truly care about someone, I won’t trade their eternal good for my momentary comfort.
- “Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.” (Proverbs 28:23)
Even when people don’t thank you immediately, truth is a better gift than flattery.
The Broad Way Ends In Destruction
False messages enjoy a moment of applause, but reality arrives. Jeremiah warned that the lie would not last:
- Those prophets who promised “no sword and famine” would themselves be “consumed” by sword and famine (Jeremiah 14:15).
That is always the endgame of a popularity-driven faith: it collapses when tested by suffering, temptation, or death. And Jesus Himself puts the stakes in eternal terms:
- “Enter by the narrow gate… For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” (Matthew 7:13)
- “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:14)
The “broad way” is the path of mass appeal, where I fit in everywhere, offend no one, and edit truth until it’s harmless. Jesus says many take that road, and it does not end well.
The narrow way is difficult because it requires truth, repentance, and allegiance to Christ above every competing identity. And yes, fewer people travel it. That means if you follow Jesus faithfully, you will sometimes lose approval. But you gain life.
Conclusion
Luke 6:26 is a mercy to us. Jesus is not trying to make you harsh, argumentative, or socially reckless. He is rescuing you from the trap of needing constant affirmation. He is teaching you that a disciple cannot be driven by PR, whether personal branding, relational people-pleasing, or a watered-down message that removes the offense of repentance.
So I want you to ask yourself honestly: Where am I tempted to be a chameleon? Where do I avoid the words and truths that Scripture won’t let me avoid, sin, repentance, holiness, judgment, the cross, the narrow way?
Let’s love people enough to give them more than comfort. Let’s give them Christ, the One who saves sinners, changes hearts, and leads us through a narrow gate into real life.
Father in heaven, thank You for the loving clarity of Jesus’ warning. Forgive us for the times we have wanted to be popular more than righteous. Forgive us for fearing people’s opinions more than we fear grieving Your heart.
Give us courage to walk the narrow way. Give us humility to speak truth with gentleness and love. Keep us from a false gospel that comforts without repentance, and make us faithful witnesses to the true Christ, crucified and risen, who calls sinners home.
Strengthen us to live with integrity in every circle we enter, even when it costs us approval. And help us to trust that Your “well done” is better than the praise of people. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Conclusion
Luke 6:26 is a mercy to us. Jesus is not trying to make you harsh, argumentative, or socially reckless. He is rescuing you from the trap of needing constant affirmation. He is teaching you that a disciple cannot be driven by PR, whether personal branding, relational people-pleasing, or a watered-down message that removes the offense of repentance.
So I want you to ask yourself honestly: Where am I tempted to be a chameleon? Where do I avoid the words and truths that Scripture won’t let me avoid, sin, repentance, holiness, judgment, the cross, the narrow way?
Let’s love people enough to give them more than comfort. Let’s give them Christ, the One who saves sinners, changes hearts, and leads us through a narrow gate into real life.
Closing Prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for the loving clarity of Jesus’ warning. Forgive us for the times we have wanted to be popular more than righteous. Forgive us for fearing people’s opinions more than we fear grieving Your heart.
Give us courage to walk the narrow way. Give us humility to speak truth with gentleness and love. Keep us from a false gospel that comforts without repentance, and make us faithful witnesses to the true Christ, crucified and risen, who calls sinners home.
Strengthen us to live with integrity in every circle we enter, even when it costs us approval. And help us to trust that Your “well done” is better than the praise of people. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.