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“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.”
— Matthew 5:11 (NIV)
We must begin by facing a fact that many Christians try to avoid: Jesus did not promise His disciples a life of popularity, comfort, or worldly affirmation. He promised blessing, but He defined blessing in a very different way from the world. Here in Matthew 5:11, He pronounces a blessing not on those who are applauded, but on those who are rejected for His sake.
The central theme of the song built on this scripture is this:
True blessing is often revealed in the fire of persecution, and true joy is rooted not in earthly approval, but in heavenly reward and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
This teaching is completely consistent with the whole counsel of God. If we want to be disciples of Jesus in reality—and not in mere theory—we must understand what Scripture says about persecution, hatred, and rejection “because of Me,” and how these become a gateway to supernatural blessing, glory, and eternal reward.
Let us look at what the Word of God says.
---
Matthew 5:11 is part of the Sermon on the Mount, beginning in Matthew 5. Jesus is speaking to a mixed crowd—His disciples and the wider multitudes (Matthew 5:1–2). But the Beatitudes (“Blessed are…”) are addressed especially to disciples—those who intend to follow Him and submit to His teaching.
### The Setting
Jesus has just begun His public ministry. He has already:
Now He sits down on a mountain and begins to describe the character of those who belong to this kingdom. He speaks of:
Verse 11 is the climax of the Beatitudes. He shifts from third person (“Blessed are those…”) to second person (“Blessed are you…”). This is no longer abstract teaching. It is personal, direct, inescapable.
### The Situation
The religious environment of that time was dominated by the self-righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Outwardly, they appeared righteous, but inwardly they resisted the very kingdom Jesus proclaimed. Jesus anticipated that His own disciples would face the same hostility that the prophets had faced from religious Israel.
He is preparing them in advance:
What is remarkable is not the prediction of persecution, but Jesus’ command in response: “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven” (Matthew 5:12). This is a radical call to a new way of thinking—a kingdom mindset.
The other lines in the song draw on additional Scriptures that echo and expand this same theme:
These are not marginal verses. They are central to the New Testament understanding of discipleship.
---
To grasp the force of Jesus’ words, we need to consider two key terms:
1. “Blessed” – Greek: *makarios*
2. “Persecute” – Greek: *diōkō*
### 1. “Blessed” – μακάριος (*makarios*)
The word *makarios* does not mean simply “happy” in a superficial sense. It refers to a state of divine favor—a condition of being approved and favored by God.
So when Jesus says:
> “Blessed are you when people insult you…” (Matthew 5:11)
He is not saying, “You will feel happy while being insulted.”
He is saying, “In that very situation, you stand under the favor and approval of God. Heaven recognizes you. Heaven is aligning itself with you.”
This corrects a dangerous modern error: the idea that God’s blessing always equals human approval, success, or comfort. Jesus teaches the opposite. Often, the seal of divine approval will provoke human opposition.
### 2. “Persecute” – διώκω (*diōkō*)
The Greek word *diōkō* originally means “to pursue” or “to chase.”
Then it takes on a hostile meaning: to pursue with the intent to harm, to harass, to oppress.
It can include:
In other words, persecution is not a light inconvenience. It is intentional, targeted opposition.
When Jesus says:
> “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness” (Matthew 5:10)
> “Blessed are you when people… persecute you…” (Matthew 5:11)
He is not referring to minor irritation. He is preparing us for sustained hostility.
Now connect the two words together:
Jesus declares: You may be pursued by men, but you are approved by God.
The world may chase you down to harm you, but heaven singles you out for honor and reward.
This is the paradox of the kingdom—central to understanding the song’s emphasis: “Rejoice, your reward is great.”
---
Let us now walk through the lyrics and open them with Scripture.
### Verse 1
“Blessed are you when people insult you,
persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of me.”
This is almost a direct quotation of Matthew 5:11. Notice three escalating forms of hostility:
1. Insults – verbal abuse, mockery, contempt.
2. Persecution – sustained hostility, pressure, harassment.
3. False accusations – lies, slander, misrepresentation.
The key phrase is “because of Me.” Not all suffering brings blessing.
But when a believer:
…and is then attacked *because of Me*—Jesus says, “You are blessed.”
Peter confirms this distinction:
> “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.
> However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
> — 1 Peter 4:15–16
The condition is vital: suffering as a Christian, suffering because of Christ.
This means persecution is an indirect compliment. The world recognizes Christ in you and reacts against Him in you.
---
### Chorus
“Rejoice and be glad—
great is your reward in heaven.
They persecuted the prophets before you
in the same way.
Rejoice, your reward is great.”
This chorus weaves together Matthew 5:12:
> “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven,
> for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Two main truths here:
#### 1. A Command to Rejoice
“Rejoice and be glad” is not a suggestion. It is a command.
The Greek phrase in Matthew 5:12 is very strong:
This is not natural joy. This is supernatural joy, enabled by the Holy Spirit.
We see the same response in the early Church:
> “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
> — Acts 5:41
They did not rejoice because of the pain itself. They rejoiced because they had been “counted worthy.” Suffering for Christ is a mark of honor.
#### 2. A Great Reward in Heaven
Jesus does not minimize the cost. He magnifies the reward.
This transfers our focus from time to eternity. The moment you receive persecution because of Jesus, heaven opens an account in your name. Every insult, every lie, every wound for Christ’s sake accrues eternal reward.
Paul writes:
> “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
> — 2 Corinthians 4:17
The troubles may not feel light or momentary now. But measured against eternity, they are small. The glory produced by them “far outweighs” all earthly suffering.
#### 3. Identification with the Prophets
“They persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.”
Persecution places you in a specific spiritual lineage:
When you suffer for Christ, you are not an isolated victim. You are part of God’s prophetic people, those who have always stood against the spirit of the age.
---
### Verse 2
“If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,
you are blessed,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
This draws on 1 Peter 4:14:
> “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed,
> for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
Here we see a deeper dimension: the presence of the Holy Spirit in persecution.
#### 1. “Because of the name of Christ”
The “name” represents His person, His authority, His identity. To be insulted because of the name of Christ means:
This public identification with His name triggers both:
#### 2. “The Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”
Notice Peter’s exact phrase:
This is a special manifestation of the Holy Spirit that is linked to persecution. There is a dimension of the Spirit’s presence that many believers never experience, simply because they avoid costly identification with Christ.
When Stephen was martyred, what happened?
> “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.”
> — Acts 7:55
Under the worst persecution—the glory of God.
Under the stones of men—the standing Christ of heaven.
That is the Spirit of glory resting on a persecuted believer.
---
### Verse 3
“All people will hate you because of me,
but the one who stands firm to the end
will be saved.”
This reflects Jesus’ words in passages like Matthew 10:22 and Mark 13:13:
> “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Two realities:
#### 1. “All people will hate you because of Me”
“All people” here does not mean every individual without exception. It means all categories of people, across nations, classes, backgrounds. In other words, universal hostility in principle.
Jesus is clear: the world system is fundamentally opposed to Him.
And because it is opposed to Him, it will oppose those who truly belong to Him.
> “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
> — John 15:18
> “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.”
> — John 15:20
This completely contradicts the idea that if we are nice enough, gentle enough, or culturally sensitive enough, the world will always like us. True Christlikeness does not eliminate hostility. In many cases, it provokes it.
#### 2. “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved”
The Greek for “stands firm” is from *hypomenō* – to remain under, to persevere, to endure. Salvation in this verse is not a cheap, shallow decision. It is a life of endurance.
This is not salvation by works. It is salvation evidenced by endurance. The one who truly belongs to Christ will not abandon Him when persecution comes.
Jesus describes the shallow believer in the parable of the sower:
> “When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.”
> — Matthew 13:21
Where there is no root, there is no endurance. But where the root of true faith is present, persecution does not destroy; it purifies and proves.
---
### Verse 4
“Rejoice when they persecute you for my sake—
your reward in heaven is great.”
This echoes and reinforces Matthew 5:12. The focus is again:
The repeated instruction to rejoice indicates that this does not come naturally. You will not feel like rejoicing when you are attacked. But you can choose to rejoice in faith, on the basis of God’s promises.
Paul and Silas give us a powerful example:
> “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
> — Acts 16:25
They were in prison, beaten, chained. Yet they rejoiced—and God intervened with an earthquake and opened the doors. Sometimes, your rejoicing in persecution becomes the very key to breakthrough and the salvation of others.
---
The question is not if persecution will come, but when and in what form. How, then, should we respond?
I will outline four practical steps—each of which can also become a proclamation.
### 1. Accept Persecution as Part of Normal Christian Life
First, we must adjust our expectations.
We must no longer consider persecution an abnormal interruption, but a normal aspect of discipleship.
> “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
> — 2 Timothy 3:12
If we make it our aim to live godly in Christ, persecution in some form is inevitable.
Proclamation 1:
“I accept persecution as part of my calling to follow Jesus. I will not be surprised or offended when it comes.”
This will protect you from confusion and discouragement when opposition arises. You will recognize it not as a sign of God’s absence, but as a confirmation of His presence and calling.
### 2. Examine the Cause of Your Suffering
Second, we must discern why we are suffering.
Peter warns:
> “If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler.”
> — 1 Peter 4:15
If we suffer for our own wrongdoing, we need repentance, not rejoicing. But if we suffer because we bear the name and testimony of Jesus, then we can rejoice, knowing we are blessed.
Proclamation 2:
“I choose to live righteously and to suffer only for the name of Jesus, not for my own sin or foolishness.”
This will keep your conscience clear and your heart free from confusion.
### 3. Choose to Rejoice and Focus on Eternal Reward
Third, we must practice the discipline of rejoicing in the midst of persecution, by focusing on eternal reward.
> “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
> — Colossians 3:2
You cannot rejoice in persecution if your mind is fixed only on this life. You must consciously look to:
Proclamation 3:
“I choose to rejoice when I am persecuted for Christ, because my reward in heaven is great and the Spirit of glory rests on me.”
This is not emotional denial; it is spiritual alignment with truth.
### 4. Resolve to Endure to the End
Fourth, we must make a firm inner decision: Whatever comes, I will stand firm to the end.
> “But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
> — Matthew 10:22
Endurance is not passive resignation; it is active steadfastness. It includes:
Revelation 12:11 describes the overcomers:
> “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
They overcame Satan through:
1. The blood of the Lamb (what Jesus has done).
2. The word of their testimony (what they said in agreement).
3. Their total consecration (even unto death).
Proclamation 4:
“I will stand firm to the end. I overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony, and I do not love my life even unto death.”
This resolution disarms the enemy. A believer who has already decided not to turn back is very difficult to intimidate.
---
### Proclamation
Speak this out loud, slowly, as an act of faith:
> In the name of Jesus, I proclaim:
>
> I am blessed when people insult me, persecute me,
> and falsely say all kinds of evil against me because of Jesus.
> I rejoice and am glad,
> for great is my reward in heaven.
> I stand in the same line as the prophets who were persecuted before me.
>
> If I am insulted because of the name of Christ,
> I am blessed,
> for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon me.
>
> I will be hated by many because of Jesus,
> but by His grace I will stand firm to the very end,
> and I will be saved.
>
> I accept persecution as part of my calling,
> I choose to suffer only for righteousness and for the name of Jesus,
> I choose to rejoice in persecution,
> and I fix my eyes on my great reward in heaven.
>
> I overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb
> and by the word of my testimony.
> I do not love my life even unto death.
> Jesus is my Lord, my reward, and my glory.
> Amen.
### Prayer
“Lord Jesus,
I thank You that You spoke the truth to Your disciples. You did not hide the cost of following You. Today I present myself to You afresh as Your disciple.
Where I have sought the approval of men more than the approval of God, forgive me. Where I have been ashamed of Your name, forgive me. Where I have avoided persecution by compromise or silence, forgive me.
Holy Spirit, Spirit of glory and of God, I ask You to rest upon me. Strengthen me with boldness, with endurance, with joy in the midst of opposition. Write these words of Jesus on my heart: ‘Blessed are you… Rejoice and be glad… Great is your reward in heaven.’
I ask You to prepare me for whatever lies ahead. When rejection or insults or lies come because of Jesus, remind me that I am blessed. Turn my heart to rejoice. Fix my eyes on eternal reward. Keep me faithful to the end.
I declare that Jesus is worth more than the approval of this world. I yield my life, my reputation, and my future into Your hands. Use me as a witness, even in the midst of persecution, for Your glory and for the salvation of many.
In the mighty name of Jesus,
Amen.”
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