Matthew 5:11-16

Matthew 5:11-16

[11] Blessed  when  men shall revile  and  persecute  you, and  shall say  all manner  of evil  against  falsely,  for my sake.  [12] Rejoice,  and  be exceeding glad:  for  great  reward  in  heaven:  for  so  persecuted they  the prophets  which  were before  [13] the salt  of the earth:  but  if  the salt  have lost his savour,  wherewith  shall it be salted?  it is thenceforth  good  for  nothing,  to be cast  out,  to be trodden under foot  of  men.  [14] the light  of the world.  A city  that is set  on  an hill  cannot  be hid.  [15] Neither  do men light  a candle,  and  put  it  under  a bushel,  but  on  a candlestick;  and  it giveth light  unto all  that are in  the house.  [16] light  so  shine  before  men,  that  good  works,  and  glorify  Father  which  is in  heaven. 

What does Matthew 5:11-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus proceeded to clarify His disciples" calling and ministry in the world to encourage them to endure persecution and to fulfill God"s purpose for them.
"Some might think that Matthew 5:11-12 constitute the concluding Beatitude, since these verses begin with the words "blessed are you". But it is noteworthy that only here in the Beatitudes do we meet a verb in the second person (i.e, "blessed are you"). In addition there are36 (Greek) words in this Beatitude compared to a maximum of12words ( Matthew 5:10) in the preceding eight Beatitudes. It is reasonable to conclude that Matthew 5:3-10 are a self-contained introduction to the Sermon, while Matthew 5:11-12 commence the body of the Sermon." [1]