Matthew 5:11-12
11 “Blessed are you when men cast insults at you, and persecute
you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, on account of Me.”
12 “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for
so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
~ New American Standard Bible
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,
and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in
heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
~ King James Version
The persecution mentioned in these passages reminds me of Isaiah
59:15 of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament):
15 Yes, truth is lacking;
And he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey.
~ New American Standard Bible
A parallel passage to the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 5:11-12 is
found in Luke:
Luke 6:22-23
22 "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and cast
insults at you, and spurn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son
of Man.”
23 "Be glad in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward
is great in heaven; for in the same way their fathers used to treat
the prophets.”
~ New American Standard Bible
And in Luke 6:26 Jesus warns his listeners about succumbing to the
desire for popularity at the expense of truth – something that continues
to be widespread, even after thousands of years. “Selling out” is
commonplace in all endeavors – religious, charities, business, etc. – in
this day and age.
26. “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for in the same way
their fathers used to treat the false prophets.”
