Sermon on the Mount; the 9th blessing:
Matt5 v11 - 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.
v12 - Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.We are blessed that there is more than one account of Christ teaching; possibly more than one occassion that our Lord revealed His Truth to us.
See also Luke 6v22, parallel to Matt 5v10,11.
See also Luke 6v23, parallel to Matt 5v12.
The teachings are important, and Christ taught them again and again, in different accounts.
Christ did not teach that there is a reward for withstanding everything. This is referred to "the goof reward".
Bible language often speak of different things with the same denotation/designation. Eg: Water with Living Water spoken by Christ to the Samaritan woman. Light with Light of the World. Salt (table salt) and Salt of the Earth.
Living Water has ongoing/everlasting properties. Satanic and evil people would claim to be satisfied with a measure of common water; claiming they are just water in different quantities.
As Christians, we know them to be very different. Yet God sees fit to describe different things with the same terms. So we follow, even that the World would laugh at us.
God did not speak through the bible that it is good to stand against Him and His Christ.
God does not teach that it is good to be selfish, and self-centred.
Christ did not teach that there is a reward for withstanding all false charges.
Only those false charges on account of Him/Christ Jesus.There is no good reward awaiting Buddhists, Humanists, Janes, and gurus, and false teachers, and anti-christs, from God.
There is hope preached in the teachings of Christ.
Christ did not preach empty sermons, of hope and enjoyment in this world only. Christ preach of another world, a kingdom that is not earthly.
Persecution is counted a blessing.
For it tests character. It directs us to our inheritance.
For it is Christ like. He has set an example for His followers. In weakness lies the full strength of power. Suffering is actually a spiritual weapon and tool for the people of God to work out the plan of salvation.
For it is good living out life with Christ. In suffering we share a common domain.
For it demonstrates the love of God in Christ.
For reward is awaiting the sons of the living God. Life does not just end on earth. Persecution does not last forever. Only for a while do we suffer; and still not in vain. For everything works for good for those who love God.
For death can not overpower God. Christ is risen.
There is no harm permanent at the end for those who trust God. He is the Alpha and Omega. Living all the time. Blessed no matter which way we look at Him.
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Why 4 Gospels? || Hebrew Matthew and document Q || Census in Luke Ch 2 ( Anachronism? ) ||
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