Rejoice . . . great is your reward in heaven

This is the beginning of the Lord’s first teaching discourse in this Gospel, and one in which the King sets forth the principles of His kingdom. The nine beatitudes begin with poverty and end with persecution, and can be viewed as following a logical sequence in spiritual experience. The lowliness of spirit, with which they commence, results in mourning over failure. That produces a meekness of heart so that we accept and submit to God’s ways with us, culminating in an intense hunger and thirst for righteousness, vv. 3-6. The next three beatitudes describe the practical outcome of the first four - the reflection of the very character of God in those thus exercised, in being merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers, vv. 7-9. The remaining two beatitudes both concern persecution, the reaction of a hostile world toward those who are ‘called the children (Gk. huios ‘sons’) of God’, vv. 9-12.

The persecution is twofold. In verse 10 it is for a principle, ‘righteousness’ sake’, and in verse 11 for a Person, ‘my sake’. The Lord would later warn His disciples to expect such opposition, John 15. 19-20. Comparing the two verses in Matthew chapter 5 the description of the sufferings for Christ’s sake is far more extensive than those for righteousness’ sake, ‘revile you . . . persecute you . . . say all manner of evil against you falsely’. If men are hostile towards what is righteous in God’s sight, that hostility is only increased when a person’s conduct is linked to the name of Christ. But even though such persecution might come, and intense persecution at that, it is not to be viewed as a disaster, but instead, as a basis for rejoicing, and three reasons are given. Firstly, in relation to the past, we are following in the steps of prophets ‘persecuted’ before us,men who spoke for God, and following their example we are maintaining in our own day a testimony for God. Secondly, in reference to the present, since it is suffering for His ‘sake’ we become ‘partakers of Christ’s sufferings’ and though others might speak ill of Him, on our part ‘he is glorified’, 1 Pet. 4. 12-14. Thirdly, in connection with the future, there is the promise of ‘reward in heaven’. The apostles rejoiced to suffer ‘for his name’, Acts 5. 41. Do we?