By now, you and I have lived long enough to discover that people WILL talk about us behind our back, and their comments are most often cruel, jealous, and unkind. Or, at the very least they are making fun of us, in what is suppose to be a playful way. Our natural reaction is that it hurts; we want to lash back at them in anger. In this quote from Matthew, Jesus is saying to His followers that when others speak falsely, all kinds of evil against them, they are to be glad and celebrate.

"...and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad..."

Wait! Does it really say that?

Re-read verses 11-12. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

I don't feel like rejoicing when people are talking negatively and cruelly amongst themselves about me, or, especially, publically. (I don't think I've experienced enough of the latter to count). But people WILL talk about us. In fact, we probably do it too, about our own friends.

You don't enjoy it any more than I do, I'm sure.

Yet here Jesus says that we are very blessed or fortunate when people insult us, persecute us, and falsely say evil against us. He says we are to rejoice and be glad because we're going to be greatly rewarded in Heaven. Besides, this is the same way the prophets of long ago were persecuted.

Does that comfort you yet? Not much, right?

Let's check out what those heavenly rewards are all about, and how the prophets perceived their suffering.

We are eligible to receive various crowns in Heaven, a real place with real people. Our Father-God, and our Saviour, Jesus, will both be visible, and we'll be at home together. Crowns to be distributed as earned, representing the highest award and commendation from God-Almighty. When we see Jesus face to face, we will only desire to throw them at His feet in worship, giving Him the glory for anything we achieved - even if it was only staying true to Him right to a horrible martyr's death.

Once we truly see Jesus and the majesty of our God, I suspect we'll be glad of those crowns only because they give us something to give back to the One who did so much, so very much for us. Then it won't matter what they say when People will talk about us.

What about the prophets who suffered for their faith?
Noah was mockd by his community for 120 years while he built the ark.
Joseph was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt.
Moses experienced back-biting from his own brother Aaron and sister Miriam, and other rebellions from within the camp.
Gideon was not believed by his own family until God used him to throw off the Midianites.
Jephthah was also despised by his own half-brothers - until they were desperate enough to beg his help.
Samson could not trust anyone, even his bride, or his own countrymen - the enemies were always trying to capture him.
Samuel had to deal with a disobedient and rebellious King Saul - who even called him up from the dead.

We could go on and on, through Elijah and Elisha, King David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and many others!

People WILL talk about us, and probably persecute us for our faith. If they don't, check to see if we are truly living out our faith at all! Futhermore, as we study the heros of the faith in the Bible, we can take courage to realize that we are in good company, and in the end we will be victors in Christ Jesus.

Yes, we can rejoice after all. Our Lord is worthy of our suffering, and will reward us!