Matthew 5:11
Encyclopedia
Matthew 5:11 is the eleventh verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew
in the New Testament
. It is the ninth verse of the Sermon on the Mount
. Some consider this verse to be the beginning of the last Beatitude, but most disagree seeing it as more of an expansion on the eighth and final Beatitude in the previous verse.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
The World English Bible
translates the passage as:
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 5:11
While this verse begins with the same "blessed are" opening of the previous eight Beatitudes it quickly varies from them in structure. It shifts from the third to the second person and abandons the simple virtue/reward structure. It is thus generally not seen as a ninth Beatitude, but as a commentary on the eighth Beatitude directed to the disciple
s. Schweizer feels this verse and the next were a late addition clarifying the previous verse. It expands on what type of persecution will be faced, and also is more explicit on the eventual reward. France feels it might also integrate elements from Isaiah 51:7. It also is somewhat similar to Luke 6:22, and both may be drawn from the same original source.
This verse is also seen to give important information about the Christians at the time the Gospel was written. The discussion of the persecution of Christians, which did not begin until some time after Jesus' crucifixion, to most scholars is evidence that this is the period the Gospel of Matthew was written in. Other believers feel that Jesus is merely accurately predicting the events that will unfold after his death. The Gospel of Matthew refers to only verbal attacks, and this was likely the main form of abuse suffered by the Christians at this time. Schweizer notes that slander and insults were of great importance in that era. Verbal attacks meant that the Christians were ostracized form their communities, and in that era community support was essential to survival. Gundry notes that Luke has excommunication
as one of the forms of persecution, perhaps indicating the differences in situation between the writings of the two Gospels.
The verse is careful to note that the persecuted are blessed only when they are reproached and slandered falsely. Schweizer notes that the early Christian communities had problem with impostors only pretending to be Christian who might have been worthy of reproach by others.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
. It is the ninth verse of the Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
. Some consider this verse to be the beginning of the last Beatitude, but most disagree seeing it as more of an expansion on the eighth and final Beatitude in the previous verse.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
- Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
- and persecute you, and shall say all manner
- of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
The World English Bible
World English Bible
The World English Bible is a public domain translation of the Bible that is currently in draft form. Work on the World English Bible began in 1997 and was known as the American Standard Version 1997...
translates the passage as:
- "Blessed are you when people reproach
- you, persecute you, and say all kinds of
- evil against you falsely, for my sake.
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 5:11
While this verse begins with the same "blessed are" opening of the previous eight Beatitudes it quickly varies from them in structure. It shifts from the third to the second person and abandons the simple virtue/reward structure. It is thus generally not seen as a ninth Beatitude, but as a commentary on the eighth Beatitude directed to the disciple
Disciple (Christianity)
In Christianity, the disciples were the students of Jesus during his ministry. While Jesus attracted a large following, the term disciple is commonly used to refer specifically to "the Twelve", an inner circle of men whose number perhaps represented the twelve tribes of Israel...
s. Schweizer feels this verse and the next were a late addition clarifying the previous verse. It expands on what type of persecution will be faced, and also is more explicit on the eventual reward. France feels it might also integrate elements from Isaiah 51:7. It also is somewhat similar to Luke 6:22, and both may be drawn from the same original source.
This verse is also seen to give important information about the Christians at the time the Gospel was written. The discussion of the persecution of Christians, which did not begin until some time after Jesus' crucifixion, to most scholars is evidence that this is the period the Gospel of Matthew was written in. Other believers feel that Jesus is merely accurately predicting the events that will unfold after his death. The Gospel of Matthew refers to only verbal attacks, and this was likely the main form of abuse suffered by the Christians at this time. Schweizer notes that slander and insults were of great importance in that era. Verbal attacks meant that the Christians were ostracized form their communities, and in that era community support was essential to survival. Gundry notes that Luke has excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
as one of the forms of persecution, perhaps indicating the differences in situation between the writings of the two Gospels.
The verse is careful to note that the persecuted are blessed only when they are reproached and slandered falsely. Schweizer notes that the early Christian communities had problem with impostors only pretending to be Christian who might have been worthy of reproach by others.