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Selected Verse: Matthew 5:12 - Strong Concordance
Verse |
Translation |
Text |
Mt 5:12 |
Strong Concordance |
Rejoice [5463], and [2532] be exceeding glad [21]: for [3754] great [4183] is your [5216] reward [3408] in [1722] heaven [3772]: for [1063] so [3779] persecuted they [1377] the prophets [4396] which [3588] were before [4253] you [5216]. |
|
King James |
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad--"exult." In the corresponding passage of Luke (Luk 6:22-23), where every indignity trying to flesh and blood is held forth as the probable lot of such as were faithful to Him, the word is even stronger than here: "leap," as if He would have their inward transport to overpower and absorb the sense of all these affronts and sufferings; nor will anything else do it.
for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you:--that is, "You do but serve yourselves heirs to their character and sufferings, and the reward will be common." |
Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad - Regard it as a great privilege thus to be persecuted and to suffer - a thing not to be mourned over, but as among the chief blessings of life.
For great is your reward in heaven - That is, your reward will be great in the future world. To those who suffer most, God imparts the highest rewards. Hence, the crown of martyrdom has been thought to be the brightest that any of the redeemed shall wear; and hence many of the early Christians sought to become martyrs, and threw themselves in the way of their persecutors, that they might be put to death. They literally rejoiced, and leaped for joy, at the prospect of death for the sake of Jesus. Though God does not require us to seek persecution, yet all this shows that there is something in religion to sustain the soul which the world does not possess. Nothing but the consciousness of innocence, and the presence of God, could bear up the sufferers in the midst of these trials; and the flame, therefore, kindled to consume the martyr, has also been a bright light, showing the truth and power of the gospel of Jesus.
The prophets ... - The holy men who came to predict future events, and who were the religious teachers of the Jews. For an account of their persecution, see Heb. 11. |
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
Your reward - Even over and above the happiness that naturally and directly results from holiness. |
Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Rejoice - In the testimony of a good conscience; for, without this, suffering has nothing but misery in it.
Be exceeding glad - Αγαλλιασθε, leap for joy. There are several cases on record, where this was literally done by the martyrs, in Queen Mary's days.
Great is your reward in heaven - In the Talmudical tract Pirkey Aboth, are these words: "Rabbi Tarpon said, The day is short: the work is great: the laborers are slow: the Reward Is Great: and the father of the family is urgent."
The followers of Christ are encouraged to suffer joyfully on two considerations.
1. They are thereby conformed to the prophets who went before.
2. Their reward in heaven is a great one.
God gives the grace to suffer, and then crowns that grace with glory; hence it is plain, the reward is not of debt, but of grace: Rom 6:23. |
22 Blessed [3107] are ye [2075], when [3752] men [444] shall hate [3404] you [5209], and [2532] when [3752] they shall separate [873] you [5209] from their company, and [2532] shall reproach [3679] you, and [2532] cast out [1544] your [5216] name [3686] as [5613] evil [4190], for the Son [5207] of man's [444] sake [1752].
23 Rejoice ye [5463] in [1722] that [1565] day [2250], and [2532] leap for joy [4640]: for [1063], behold [2400], your [5216] reward [3408] is great [4183] in [1722] heaven [3772]: for [1063] in [2596] the like manner [5024] did [4160] their [846] fathers [3962] unto the prophets [4396].
23 For [1063] the wages [3800] of sin [266] is death [2288]; but [1161] the gift [5486] of God [2316] is eternal [166] life [2222] through [1722] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] our [2257] Lord [2962].