Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 5:11

"Blessed are ye when [men] shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake." — Matthew 5:11 (ASV)

These two verses, switching from third person to second, apply the force of the last beatitude to Jesus’ disciples. Verse 11 extends the persecution of v.10 to include insult, persecution, and slander. The reason for the persecution in this verse is “because of me.” It so identifies the disciples of Jesus with the practice of Jesus’ righteousness that there is no place for professed allegiance to Jesus that is not full of righteousness. Moreover, this is an implicit Christological claim, for the prophets to whom the disciples are likened were persecuted for their faithfulness to God and the disciples for their faithfulness to Jesus. Not Jesus but the disciples are likened to the prophets; Jesus places himself on a par with God.

The appropriate response of the disciples is rejoicing. They are to rejoice under persecution because their heavenly reward will be great at the consummation of the kingdom. Opposition is sure, for the disciples are aligning themselves with the OT prophets who were persecuted before them (e.g., 2 Chronicles 24:21; Nehemiah 9:26; Jeremiah 20:2). The “reward” (GK 3635) that Jesus promises is not earned or merited, but is entirely in keeping with the nature of the kingdom. Life lived under kingdom norms is inherently linked with the bliss of life in the consummated kingdom.