Matthew 5:12 kjv
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Matthew 5:12 nkjv
Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 niv
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 esv
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Matthew 5:12 nlt
Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Matthew 5 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 6:23 | Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven... | Directly echoes Mt 5:12's command for joy in persecution and promise of great heavenly reward. |
| Acts 5:41 | And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. | Apostles literally fulfilled Mt 5:12 by rejoicing after being beaten for Jesus. |
| Rom 5:3 | And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience... | Paul instructs believers to glory (rejoice) in tribulations, aligning with the attitude prescribed in Mt 5:12. |
| Jas 1:2 | My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations... | Encourages believers to embrace joy amidst various trials, including persecution, viewing them as opportunities for spiritual growth. |
| 1 Pet 4:13 | But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. | Connects suffering for Christ with rejoicing, looking forward to future glory. |
| Col 3:23-24 | Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance... | Links faithful service, even suffering, to receiving a heavenly inheritance as a reward from God. |
| Heb 11:6 | But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. | Establishes God as a rewarder, reinforcing the promise of divine recompense for faithfulness. |
| Heb 11:35-38 | Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured... stoned... sawn asunder... suffered affliction... | Details the intense persecutions faced by Old Testament saints and prophets, directly echoing "persecuted the prophets." |
| Acts 7:52 | Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One... | Stephen's speech confirms the historical pattern of Israel persecuting God's prophets. |
| 1 Kgs 19:10 | And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword... | Elijah laments the widespread persecution and killing of God's prophets in Israel's history. |
| Jer 2:30 | In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion. | God speaks of Israel's persistent rejection and slaying of His prophets. |
| Lk 11:47-51 | Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them... that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world... may be required of this generation... | Jesus condemns those who hypocritically honor dead prophets while continuing to reject God's messengers. |
| Neh 9:26 | Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn them to thee... | Acknowledges the historical reality of Israel's rebellion and their persecution of the prophets who spoke God's truth. |
| Mt 23:37 | O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee... | Jesus laments Jerusalem's persistent pattern of persecuting and killing God's messengers. |
| 2 Tim 2:12 | If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us... | Links present suffering for Christ directly to future co-reigning with Him, emphasizing the eternal reward. |
| 2 Cor 4:17 | For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory... | Contrasts temporal suffering with the exceeding and eternal glory that results from it. |
| 1 Pet 3:14 | But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye... | Reiterates the blessedness (happiness) for suffering for righteousness, similar to Mt 5:10. |
| Lk 17:29-30 | But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. | Though not about persecution directly, it highlights divine retribution/reward at Christ's appearing. |
| Rev 22:12 | And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. | Confirms Jesus' return with recompense for believers, validating the "great reward" promise. |
| Phil 3:20 | For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ... | Believers' citizenship and ultimate home are in heaven, grounding the idea of a heavenly reward. |
| Heb 10:34 | For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. | Early believers endured persecution (spoiling of goods) with joy, due to their conviction of a greater, enduring heavenly possession. |
| Php 1:29 | For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake... | Suffering for Christ is a divine privilege, not just a burden, implying intrinsic value. |
Matthew 5 verses
Matthew 5 12 Meaning
Matthew 5:12 instructs disciples to express exuberant joy when persecuted for Christ's sake, affirming that a vast, divine reward awaits them in heaven. This suffering aligns them with the historical experience of God's faithful prophets, establishing a sacred lineage of endurance and divine vindication. It assures believers that earthly tribulation endured for righteousness is acknowledged and compensated immensely by God in eternity.
Matthew 5 12 Context
Matthew 5:12 is the climax and conclusion of the Beatitudes (Mt 5:3-12), Jesus' declarations of blessedness at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Specifically, it expands on the ninth beatitude (Mt 5:10-11) which pronounces blessing upon those persecuted for righteousness' sake and for Jesus' sake. The historical context for the original Jewish audience included awareness of Israel's history, frequently characterized by the persecution of true prophets by their own people. This verse served as a polemic against the popular idea that God's favor was solely evidenced by worldly prosperity and peace, asserting instead that identification with divine truth might lead to hardship, yet true blessing resided in a heavenly, eternal reward. Jesus was establishing radical, kingdom principles that redefined "blessed" from human, earthly standards to God's eternal perspective, challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging steadfastness in the face of inevitable opposition.
Matthew 5 12 Word analysis
- Rejoice (Greek: χαίρετε - chairete): This is an imperative command, meaning it is a direct instruction to act. It signifies a profound, inner joy or gladness, not merely superficial happiness. This is a foundational aspect of Christian discipleship in the face of adversity.
- And be glad (Greek: ἀγαλλιᾶσθε - agalliasthe): Also an imperative, but stronger than "rejoice." It means to exult, to leap for joy, to rejoice exceedingly, to triumph. It implies a demonstrative and enthusiastic expression of joy, indicating an overwhelming and overflowing spiritual delight, often associated with Messianic fulfillment and future salvation in the Septuagint.
- for your reward (Greek: ὁ μισθός ὑμῶν - ho misthos hymōn): "Reward" (misthos) denotes wages, compensation, recompense for service or work done. It is not about earning salvation, but rather about the divine recognition and blessings given to those who faithfully endure for Christ. This concept reinforces God's justice and generosity.
- is great (Greek: πολὺς - polys): Signifies abundant, much, large, or extensive. It emphasizes the immeasurable, unparalleled nature of the heavenly recompense, dwarfing any earthly suffering.
- in heaven (Greek: ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς - en tois ouranois): Locates the source and ultimate deposit of this reward. It contrasts the earthly persecution with a heavenly, spiritual, and eternal blessing, underscoring that the true blessings of God's kingdom transcend the present visible world.
- for so (Greek: οὕτως γὰρ - houtōs gar): Connects the suffering of the disciples to a long-established pattern. "For so" introduces the reason or explanation for their rejoicing, linking it to divine precedent.
- persecuted (Greek: ἐδίωξαν - ediōxan): An aorist verb, indicating a completed action in the past. It means to pursue, chase, harass, trouble, or treat hostilely. This confirms the historical reality of suffering faced by God's messengers.
- they the prophets (Greek: τοὺς προφήτας - tous prophētas): Refers to the ancient messengers of God, divinely inspired individuals who spoke God's truth to His people, often calling them to repentance. Identifying the disciples with these revered figures elevates their suffering to a noble, divinely ordained experience.
- which were before you (Greek: πρὸ ὑμῶν - pro hymōn): Directly links the contemporary disciples to the historical lineage of God's persecuted servants. It establishes continuity and validation for their experience, assuring them they are part of a noble tradition.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Rejoice and be glad": These twin imperatives highlight a radical, supernatural joy that flows from a deep spiritual conviction, rather than worldly circumstances. It's a joy commanded by God, active and anticipatory of future glory.
- "for your reward is great in heaven": This clause provides the foundational reason for the commanded joy. The anticipation of immense, divinely-appointed eternal blessings is the ultimate motivation and consolation for enduring earthly tribulation.
- "for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you": This clause anchors the present experience of suffering to biblical history and God's consistent dealings with His messengers. It dignifies the disciples' persecution by associating them with a lineage of revered, faithful figures. This acts as both explanation and assurance that their suffering is part of a divine pattern and not a sign of divine abandonment. It also serves to legitimize their prophetic witness, placing them within the continuum of those who faithfully deliver God's message, regardless of the cost.
Matthew 5 12 Bonus section
- The "great reward" refers to the comprehensive inheritance and blessings awaiting believers in God's eternal kingdom. This can include greater intimacy with God, increased capacity for worship and service, spiritual promotion, and shared reign with Christ, as outlined in other New Testament passages concerning future glory.
- The phrase "for your reward is great in heaven" implicitly reinforces the eschatological perspective central to Jesus' teachings. Present suffering is transient; eternal blessedness is permanent and incomparable.
- The comparison to "the prophets which were before you" emphasizes a continuity of prophetic witness and spiritual heritage. It signals that those who follow Jesus faithfully partake in the prophetic ministry and face similar challenges, yet are divinely empowered and ultimately vindicated. This also serves as an encouragement to accept and endure hardship as an integral part of God's grand narrative of salvation history.
Matthew 5 12 Commentary
Matthew 5:12 is the emphatic culmination of the Beatitudes, transforming suffering into a cause for supreme joy. It challenges the conventional view that prosperity indicates God's favor and adversity His disfavor. Jesus reveals that undergoing persecution for one's righteousness or for allegiance to Him is a blessed state, carrying the promise of a magnificent heavenly recompense. This divine reward is not earned by suffering, but is a gracious recognition of faithful endurance and sacrifice for God's kingdom. By associating contemporary disciples with the persecuted prophets of old, Jesus validates their experiences, provides a powerful precedent, and strengthens their resolve. It implies that true followers of Christ will often face the same opposition as previous messengers of truth, yet their ultimate destiny is secure in God's eternal plan. This verse shifts perspective from earthly trials to heavenly triumph, encouraging unwavering commitment regardless of immediate circumstances. For example, early Christians facing martyrdom found profound joy in their suffering, knowing their eternal reward was secure. Similarly, missionaries enduring hardship in hostile lands find their strength and delight in the anticipation of this promised, great heavenly reward.