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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Matthew 5:11 - 5:12
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_5:11-12
11"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
Mat_5:11-12 A new paragraph should start with Mat_5:11 (cf. NRSV & TEV). The pronouns in these verses change from the third person to the second. Luk_6:22-23 has an even stronger wording.
Mat_5:11 "insult you and persecute you" These are both aorist subjunctives which denoted a contingency but with a Third class conditional structure which showed it was potential (cf. Rom_5:3-5; Jas_1:2-4; 1Pe_4:12-19). Persecution may be common, but it is not to be desired or pursued (as did many of the early church fathers). In the OT, problems and persecution were often interpreted as a sign of God's displeasure because of sin (cf. Job, Psalms 73, and Habakkuk deal with the subject). The righteous do suffer. But Jesus went one step further. Those who live and witness for Him will suffer rejection and persecution from a fallen world as He did (cf. Joh_15:20; Act_14:22; 2Ti_3:12).
NASB, NKJV,
NRSV "and falsely say all kinds of evil against you"
TEV "and tell all kinds of evil lies against you"
NJB "and speak all kinds of calumny against you"
There is some manuscript doubt about the present participle "falsely." It is missing in the western uncial manuscript D, the Diatesseron, and the Greek texts used by Origen, Tertullian, and Eusebius. It is included in the early Greek uncial manuscripts à , B, C, W, and the Vulgate and Coptic translations. It does reflect the historical situation of the early church. The early Christians were accused of incest, cannibalism, treason, and atheism. All of these accusations were related to misunderstandings about Christian terms and worship practices (cf. 1Pe_2:12; 1Pe_2:15; 1Pe_3:16). The UBS4 gives its inclusion a C rating (difficulty in deciding).
▣ "because of Me" This is linked to Mat_5:10. The persecution discussed is specifically related to being an active follower of Christ (cf. 1Pe_4:12-16).
Mat_5:12 "Rejoice and be glad" These are two present imperatives (cf. Act_5:41; Act_16:25). Rejoicing comes from being counted worthy to suffer for/with Christ and being rewarded (cf. Rom_8:17). Be careful of self pity. Nothing "just happens" to God's children (cf. Rom_5:2-5; Jas_1:2-4, see Hannah Whithall Smith's The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life). Suffering has a purpose in the plan of God.
▣ "for your reward in heaven is great" See Special Topic following.
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▣ "the prophets" This was a veiled reference to Christ's Deity. As the prophets of the OT suffered because of their relationship with and service to YHWH, so too, the Christian will suffer because of his relationship with and service to Christ.