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.
See Habakkuk 3:18...yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Also Luke 6:23, Acts 5:41, Romans 5:3.
Hebrews 11:6....And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
1 Chronicles 36:16....But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the LORD was aroused against his people and there was no remedy.
James 5:10&11....10 Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
See Matt 23:30, Acts 7:52, 1 Th 2:15 , Heb 11:37 .
Comment.
1. We may lose everything on earth, but we
shall inherit everything in heaven—not as a reward for merit, however, because ‘the
promise of the reward is free.’ Partly because persecution is a token of genuineness,
a certificate of Christian authenticity, for so men persecuted the prophets who were
before you (Matthew 5:12). If we are persecuted today, we belong to a noble
succession. But the major reason why we should rejoice is because we are suffering,
he said, on my account (Matthew 5:11), on account of our loyalty to him and to his
standards of truth and righteousness. Certainly threatened by the Sanhedrin, ‘they
left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer
dishonor for the name (Acts 5:41). They knew, as we should, that ‘wounds and hurts
are medals of honor.†(John Stott, Sermon on the Mount, pp. 52)
2.Kingdom of God (Kingdom of Heaven)
The term used to describe God's rule over the world through his power and the exercise of it. The term does not usually refer to a time or place in history. Frequently in the gospels the use of the term suggests that the kingdom is external and in the future, although "close at hand." Jesus (in Matthew 4:17) spoke of the kingdom as being "in your midst."
Is the comment 1 above right , why or why not ?
Is comment 2 right , why or why not ?
If comment 2 is correct what is the point of great rewards in heaven ?
Have i missed any thing important ?
Can you add any relevant scriptures or comments ?
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