Matthew 5:10-12 Rejoice, and Be Exceeding Glad

Matthew 5:10-12 (KJV)  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

For God’s people who suffer persecution are exhorted to rejoice and be exceeding glad. The reason our Lord showed to His disciples that their heavenly reward shall be great. We are exhorted to see the eternal perspective and eternal reward though there is temporal, mortal suffering that may come our way.

The writer of Hebrews likens this journey of following Christ as a race, one that requires patience, one that will succeed because our Lord Himself has given us victory by His suffering – Hebrews 12:1-2 (KJV)  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

Let His people not falter nor fear, but with courage and consecration finish our course for His glory. Amen.