Matthew 5:12

“Rejoice and be exceeding glad, etc.] Because of the honour put upon them, the glory they bring to Christ and his cause, by cheerfully suffering for it; and because of the glory and happiness that shall follow upon their sufferings: for great is your reward in heaven; not of debt, but of grace; for there is no proportion or comparison between what the saints suffer for Christ, and the glory that shall be revealed in them by him; not in earth, but in heaven. Saints must not expect their reward here, but hereafter, when God himself will be their reward; he will be all in all; Christ and all his glory, glory and all the riches of it will be the reward of the inheritance, and which must needs be…”

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad--"exult." In the corresponding passage of Luke (Luk 6:22-23), where every indignity trying to flesh and blood is held forth as the probable lot of such as were faithful to Him, the word is even stronger than here: "leap," as if He would have their inward transport to overpower and absorb the sense of all these affronts and sufferings; nor will anything else do it. for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you:--that is, "You do but serve yourselves heirs to their character and sufferings, and the reward will be common."”

“Rejoice, and be exceeding glad - Regard it as a great privilege thus to be persecuted and to suffer - a thing not to be mourned over, but as among the chief blessings of life. For great is your reward in heaven - That is, your reward will be great in the future world. To those who suffer most, God imparts the highest rewards. Hence, the crown of martyrdom has been thought to be the brightest that any of the redeemed shall wear; and hence many of the early Christians sought to become martyrs, and threw themselves in the way of their persecutors, that they might be put to death. They literally rejoiced, and leaped for joy, at the prospect of death for the sake of Jesus. Though God does not…”

“Your reward - Even over and above the happiness that naturally and directly results from holiness. Matthew 5:13”

“5:12 The great reward Jesus mentions is not something earned by suffering for doing right; it is God’s blessing to those who have expressed his grace to others (see 10:41-42; 20:1-16). • The ancient prophets are closely connected with the New Testament apostles (see also 13:16-17; 23:29-36; Eph 2:20).”

“Rejoice: Luk 6:23; Act 5:41, Act 16:25; Rom 5:3; Co2 4:17; Phi 2:17; Col 1:24; Jam 1:2; Pe1 4:13 for great: Mat 6:1, Mat 6:2, Mat 6:4, Mat 6:5, Mat 6:16, Mat 10:41, Mat 10:42, Mat 16:27; Gen 15:1; Rut 2:12; Psa 19:11, Psa 58:11; Pro 11:18; Isa 3:10; Luk 6:23, Luk 6:35; Co1 3:8; Col 3:24; Heb 11:6, Heb 11:26 for so: Mat 21:34-38, Mat 23:31-37; Kg1 18:4, Kg1 18:13, Kg1 19:2, Kg1 19:10-14, Kg1 21:20, Kg1 22:8, Kg1 22:26, Kg1 22:27; Kg2 1:9; Ch2 16:10, Ch2 24:20-22, Ch2 36:16; Neh 9:26; Jer 2:30, Jer 26:8, Jer 26:21-23; Luk 6:23, Luk 11:47-51, Luk 13:34; Act 7:51; Th1 2:15 Matthew 5:13”