A Great Reward

Jesus lists three blessed rewards for those who are persecuted for righteousness and His sake: a blessed status, a great reward, and a righteous association.

A Great Reward

"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)

Some believers in Jesus suffer far more than others. Many live in the shadows for fear of retaliation by the governing authorities. But God's people keep the faith and continue preaching the Gospel. I think John Stott sums up well how we should respond when we are undergoing persecution: "We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor to sulk like a child, nor to lick our wounds in self-pity like a dog, nor just to grin and bear it like a Stoic, still less to pretend like we enjoy it like a masochist. Instead, we are to 'Rejoice and be glad.'" (Source: John R.W. Stott, The Message of the Sermon on the Mount, p. 53)

Jesus lists three blessed rewards for those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake and Jesus' sake: they receive a blessed status, a great reward, and a righteous association.

A. Blessed Status

In Matthew 5:10-11, the word blessed or makarios is used twice to describe those who are persecuted. Only the eighth Beatitude has the word "blessed" mentioned two times. When believers are persecuted, they have joy, peace, and contentment, knowing that they are suffering for the Lord and following in His footsteps.

B. Great Reward

Jesus said that the persecuted have a great reward in heaven. The Greek word "great" is polus, which can be translated as many, much, and large. They shall receive many crowns in heaven, and I believe will gladly lay them down at the feet of Him who endured great hostility from sinners so we can live forever. Hebrews 12:2 says, "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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." A proper understanding of future glory enables us to endure present pain.

C. Righteous Association

Jesus said in verse 12, "For so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." When we are persecuted for the Lord and for righteousness, then we are in great company—we are associated with the prophets of God who have gone before us. This fact gives us assurance of salvation as we "belong to a righteous line." (Source: MacArthur, The Beatitudes, p. 215)

Pastor Randy Smith shared the following beloved story. I have shared it before and am honored to do so again!

"The story is told about a missionary named Henry Morrison who was returning to America after faithfully serving Christ for forty years in Africa. The same boat also bore home the wildly popular President Theodore Roosevelt, who was in Africa on a safari. As they entered New York harbor, the President was greeted with a huge fanfare. Morrison felt rather dejected. After all, he had spent four decades completely denying himself in the Lord's service while Roosevelt only went there to hunt some animals. The crowds were cheering, and the bands were playing. There were signs, banners and billboards everywhere for the President saying, 'Welcome Home.' The dear missionary and his wife with their luggage in hand quietly made their way to the deck of the ship to exit. No one had come to welcome them back home. There were no bands playing or banners flying in their honor. Henry Morrison went to his hotel room with a rather heavy heart. As he sat there on the bed, he asked his wife, 'Honey, for forty years we poured our lives into ministry and service. And yet we come back to America and not a single soul comes to welcome us home!' His wife came and sat down next to her husband. She put her hand on his shoulder, and said to him, 'Henry, you have forgotten something, you're not home yet!'"

(Source.)

Thank you for journeying with us this week as we have examined together this eighth and final beatitude of our Lord Jesus. Following Jesus and His Word is not easy. He never meant for it to be. But He gives His Holy Spirit and all the grace and power we need to be the people of God He has called us to be in our generation. Let us be faithful, come what may!

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Podcast of the Week

A Man Who is Impacting the World: Dr. David Wheeler

Pastor Danny welcomes to the show Dr. David Wheeler, professor of evangelism at Liberty University and advisor for the Liberty Pastoral Counseling Center. He also serves as one of the Campus Pastors. David discusses evangelism and vocational ministry as well as sharing his testimony and experience at Liberty University.

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