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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.
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 5:11–12
That is the foundation. Not human opinions. Not our feelings. The words of the Lord Jesus Himself.
The central theme of this song is a theme that most of us, in our natural thinking, would never choose: the blessing and reward hidden inside persecution for the sake of Christ.
The song gathers together four powerful New Testament passages:
We are confronted with a great paradox:
What the world calls shame, Jesus calls glory.
What the world calls loss, Jesus calls reward.
What the world calls hatred, Jesus calls a sign of true discipleship.
We must adjust our thinking to the thinking of God, revealed in His Word. If we do not, we will misinterpret persecution, become offended, and forfeit much of our heavenly reward.
So, “Let us look at what the Word of God says.”
---
### a. Matthew 5:11–12 – The Sermon on the Mount
These words were spoken by Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry, in what we call the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). He was speaking to His disciples, not to the crowds in general (Matthew 5:1–2).
He had just pronounced a series of blessings, known as the Beatitudes. Notice the progression:
The final beatitude, concerning persecution, is both the climax and the test of all the others. It is the seal of true discipleship.
When Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people insult you…” He is preparing His followers for the inevitable reaction of a world in rebellion against God. He is not speaking about suffering in general, but suffering “because of Me.”
He immediately links the disciples with the prophets:
“for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
To be persecuted for righteousness’ sake is to stand in the same line as Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, and the faithful servants of God throughout history.
### b. 1 Peter 4:14 – Suffering in a Hostile Empire
Peter writes his first epistle to scattered believers in Asia Minor, living under the shadow of a pagan empire. Persecution was not hypothetical. It was real, social and sometimes violent.
He tells them:
> “If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed,
> for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
> — 1 Peter 4:14
These believers were despised as troublemakers, atheists (for rejecting idols), and enemies of the state. To such people Peter does not promise immediate relief. He promises glory. He assures them that in the very place where they are despised, the Spirit of God is present in a special way.
### c. Matthew 10:22 – Instructions to the Twelve
When Jesus sends out the twelve apostles, He warns them:
> “You will be hated by everyone because of Me,
> but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
> — Matthew 10:22
He does not offer them popularity, social acceptance, or safety. He offers them salvation—on one condition: endurance. The hatred of the world is not a sign that something has gone wrong with the Gospel; it is proof that the Gospel is confronting the darkness.
The song takes these passages and turns them into a proclamation: not to complain under persecution, but to rejoice; not to withdraw in fear, but to stand firm; not to interpret rejection as a sign of God’s absence, but as a mark of His presence and favor.
---
To grasp the depth of this message, we must look at two key words in the Greek text: “blessed” and “rejoice/be glad.”
### a. “Blessed” – *makarios* (μακάριος)
In Matthew 5:11:
“Blessed (*makarioi*) are you when people insult you…”
The Greek word *makarios* does not merely mean “happy” in a superficial, emotional sense. It means:
It describes the condition of a person whom God declares to be in a good place, regardless of circumstances. It is an objective statement of status before God, not a description of how one feels.
So when Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people insult you… because of Me,” He is making a legal declaration from heaven’s courtroom. Heaven’s verdict over the persecuted disciple is: “Highly favored. Approved. In a good position.”
### b. “Rejoice and be glad” – *chairō* (χαίρω) and *agalliáō* (ἀγαλλιάω)
In Matthew 5:12:
“Rejoice (*chairō*) and be glad (*agalliasthe*)…”
*chairō* means “to rejoice, to be glad, to be delighted.”
*agalliáō* is even stronger: it means “to exult, to leap with joy, to be exceedingly glad.”
The combination of these two verbs indicates not a quiet, internal resignation, but active, outward rejoicing. It includes an act of the will. You do not rejoice because persecution feels pleasant; you rejoice because you believe what God says about it.
This is crucial for the song’s message: rejoicing in persecution is not emotional denial; it is faith in God’s assessment of the situation. We do not rejoice in pain; we rejoice in the purpose and reward attached to that pain.
---
### 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 virtually a direct quotation of Matthew 5:11.
#### a. Insults, Persecution, Slander
Note the three forms of hostility:
1. Insults – Verbal abuse, mockery, derision.
2. Persecution – Systematic mistreatment, pressure, harassment.
3. False accusations – Lies, distortions, misrepresentation of motive and character.
All three are tools of Satan, the “accuser of our brothers and sisters” (Revelation 12:10). When people yield to this spirit, they often do not know they are serving a demonic agenda. That is why Paul says:
> “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against… spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
> — Ephesians 6:12
#### b. The Key Phrase: “Because of Me”
Not all suffering is blessed. There is suffering caused by our own sin, foolishness, or bad decisions (1 Peter 4:15). Such suffering does not carry a special blessing.
The qualification is precise: “because of Me.”
When the reason for the hostility is your identification with Christ, your obedience to Him, your confession of His name, then the suffering is transformed. It becomes participation in the sufferings of Christ Himself (Philippians 3:10).
This is where spiritual warfare becomes very real. Satan’s main goal is to separate you from Christ and His Word through pressure and intimidation. Jesus says:
> “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
> — Matthew 10:22
Not the one who starts, not the one who has a good experience, but the one who will not let go.
### 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.”
The chorus takes Matthew 5:12 and expands it as a continual exhortation.
#### a. “Great is your reward in heaven”
Jesus does not say, “You might be rewarded.” He says, “Great is your reward.”
The word “great” (*polys* in Greek) means much, abundant, large in degree.
There is a direct, divine exchange rate:
Paul echoes this when he says:
> “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”
> — 2 Corinthians 4:17
Notice: the troubles are achieving glory. They work for us, if we respond in faith.
#### b. “They persecuted the prophets before you”
Persecution places you in a line of succession. It means you share the same conflict that the prophets and apostles endured:
Jesus says, in effect, “If they treat you like they treated the prophets, it is a sign you are standing where the prophets stood.”
So persecution is not a sign of spiritual failure, but of spiritual alignment with God’s purposes.
### 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 stanza mirrors 1 Peter 4:14.
#### a. Insulted “because of the name of Christ”
The “name” represents the person, the authority, and the reputation. When you bear the name of Jesus openly—by confession, baptism, obedience, and witness—you provoke a supernatural reaction from the world system that hates Him.
Jesus says:
> “You will be hated by everyone because of Me…”
> — Matthew 10:22
The world may tolerate “religion” in general. What it cannot tolerate is the exclusive lordship of Jesus Christ.
#### b. “You are blessed… for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you”
Here Peter reveals a mystery. When a believer is insulted for Christ:
The verb “rests” (Greek *anapauetai*) indicates a settled, abiding presence, not merely a passing influence. It is the same Spirit who rested on Jesus:
> “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him…”
> — Isaiah 11:2
In other words, when you are under attack for Christ, you may feel weak and despised. But in the unseen realm you are carrying a visible aura of divine glory. The hostility is often a reaction to that glory.
This is why Stephen, when falsely accused and about to be martyred, is described as having “the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). The Spirit of glory was resting on him.
The song’s second verse reminds us:
Persecution is not a sign that God has abandoned you. It is often a sign that the Spirit of glory is on you.
### Verse 3
“All people will hate you because of me,
but the one who stands firm to the end
will be saved.”
This stanza recalls Matthew 10:22 (and its parallel in Matthew 24:9–13; Mark 13:13).
#### a. “All people will hate you because of Me”
This is not necessarily every individual without exception, but all kinds of people, across the spectrum of society. Hatred for Christ unites many otherwise opposed groups.
We see this in the Gospels: Pharisees and Sadducees, religious leaders and political authorities, Jews and Gentiles, all combined to oppose Jesus and later His apostles.
The underlying reason is spiritual. Jesus says:
> “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify that its works are evil.”
> — John 7:7
The presence of Christ, in His people, exposes darkness. People either repent or resist. When they resist, hatred grows.
#### b. “The one who stands firm to the end will be saved”
Here, salvation is not presented as a casual assent or a momentary decision. It is the outcome of persevering faith.
The phrase “stands firm” echoes the language of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:13:
> “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes,
> you may be able to stand your ground,
> and after you have done everything, to stand.”
To stand firm in persecution involves:
Jesus links endurance with salvation. The pressure is designed by Satan to make you abandon your faith. If you endure, the pressure works for you, not against you.
### Verse 4
“Rejoice when they persecute you for my sake—
your reward in heaven is great.”
This verse returns us again to the central command: rejoice.
#### a. Rejoicing as Warfare
To rejoice in the midst of persecution is spiritual warfare at its highest level. It:
The apostles understood this. After being flogged for preaching in the name of Jesus:
> “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
> — Acts 5:41
Notice the logic:
They did not merely endure. They rejoiced. Why? Because suffering for Christ is a mark of worthiness in God’s sight.
#### b. “Your reward in heaven is great”
Once again the focus is shifted from time to eternity, from earth to heaven. Persecution is a test of where we place our treasure.
Jesus says:
> “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
> — Matthew 6:21
If your heart is set on earthly security, reputation, or comfort, persecution will shake you. But if your heart is set on heavenly reward, persecution will refine you and enrich you.
The song keeps repeating this truth because our flesh resists it. We must allow the Spirit and the Word to renew our minds.
---
How do we respond, in practice, to the reality that we may be insulted, hated, and persecuted for the name of Christ?
### 1. Align Your Mind with Scripture, Not Feelings
First, we must accept Jesus’ assessment of persecution rather than our emotional reaction.
Make a conscious decision: “I will believe what Jesus says about this, even when my feelings protest.”
Proclamation:
“I am blessed when I am insulted or persecuted because of Jesus. I choose to believe His Word above my feelings.”
### 2. Examine the Cause of Your Suffering
Second, we must distinguish between suffering for Christ and suffering for other reasons.
Peter is very clear:
> “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
Ask yourself:
We must not baptize all our troubles as “persecution.” But where it truly is for Christ’s sake, we must receive it as honor.
### 3. Respond with Blessing, Not Bitterness
Third, we must respond in the Spirit of Christ, not in the spirit of the world.
Jesus says:
> “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
> — Matthew 5:44
Paul says:
> “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.”
> — Romans 12:14
This is impossible in the flesh. But by the Holy Spirit it becomes a powerful weapon. When you bless those who insult or persecute you:
Make it a practice: every time you are insulted for Christ, respond with blessing and prayer.
### 4. Fix Your Eyes on the Reward and the Glory
Fourth, we must live with a clear vision of eternal reward and glory.
Paul writes:
> “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
> — Romans 8:18
And:
> “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
> For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
> — 2 Corinthians 4:18
This is a deliberate focus. You do not drift into it. You choose it.
When persecution comes:
The song’s repeated line, “Your reward in heaven is great,” must become part of your inner vocabulary.
---
### Proclamation
Say this aloud, thoughtfully, in faith:
“I receive the words of Jesus as truth.
Blessed am I when people insult me, persecute me,
and falsely say all kinds of evil against me because of Him.
I will rejoice and be glad,
for great is my reward in heaven.
If I am insulted because of the name of Christ,
I am blessed,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon me.
Though I may be hated by many because of Jesus,
by His grace I choose to stand firm to the end,
and I shall be saved.
I refuse bitterness, fear, and shame.
I choose joy, endurance, and blessing.
My treasure is in heaven.
My reward is great.
I take my place in the line of the prophets,
the apostles, and the faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ.
Amen.”
### Prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ, I submit myself to Your Word.
Forgive me for every time I have sought the approval of men more than the approval of God.
I renounce fear of rejection, fear of man, and the desire for worldly acceptance.
Fill me with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of glory and of God.
When insults, slander, and persecution come because of Your name,
help me to remember that I am blessed, not forsaken.
Enable me by Your grace to rejoice and be very glad.
Strengthen me to stand firm to the end.
Guard my heart from bitterness and hatred.
Teach me to bless those who persecute me, to love my enemies,
and to pray for those who oppose me.
I fix my eyes on the unseen, on the eternal reward You have promised.
Let my life, in suffering and in joy, bring honor to Your name.
I receive Your word: ‘Great is your reward in heaven.’
In Your mighty and all-sufficient Name, Lord Jesus, I pray.
Amen.”
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