Luke 6:23

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Rejoice ye {G5463} in {G1722} that {G1565} day {G2250}, and {G2532} leap for joy {G4640}: for {G1063}, behold {G2400}, your {G5216} reward {G3408} is great {G4183} in {G1722} heaven {G3772}: for {G1063} in {G2596} the like manner {G5024} did {G4160} their {G846} fathers {G3962} unto the prophets {G4396}.

Be glad when that happens; yes, dance for joy! because in heaven your reward is great. For that is just how their fathers treated the prophets.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 6:23 is a pivotal verse in Jesus's Sermon on the Plain, delivering a profound message about the paradoxical nature of joy in the Christian life. It stands as a powerful encouragement to believers facing opposition for their faith.

Context

This verse concludes one of Jesus's "blessings" (or beatitudes) in Luke's account, specifically following the declaration in Luke 6:22 that those who are hated, excluded, reviled, and slandered for the Son of Man's sake are blessed. It stands in stark contrast to the "woes" Jesus pronounces immediately after, particularly the woe against those who are well-spoken of by all (Luke 6:26). This entire section highlights the radical shift in values introduced by God's Kingdom, where earthly suffering for righteousness can be a cause for profound spiritual joy.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Paradoxical Joy Amidst Persecution: The command to "rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy" is striking, given the preceding context of hatred and rejection. It teaches that Christian joy is not dependent on favorable circumstances but on an eternal perspective and divine promise. This joy is a spiritual response to external adversity.
  • Great Heavenly Reward: The primary motivation for such radical joy is the assurance that "your reward is great in heaven." This emphasizes the future, eternal recompense for faithfulness and suffering endured for Christ's sake. It shifts the focus from temporary earthly pain to eternal glory, aligning with the concept of storing up treasures in heaven.
  • Identification with the Prophets: The phrase "for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets" serves as a powerful validation. Believers who suffer for their faith are not experiencing something new or unusual but are joining a long line of God's faithful servants throughout history, including the ancient prophets who faced similar opposition and persecution for speaking God's truth. This connection provides both comfort and a sense of purpose.

Linguistic Insight

The Greek words used here for joy are significant. Chairete (rejoice) is a common greeting and expression of joy, but skirtēsate (leap for joy) is much more emphatic. It implies an exuberant, almost dancing joy, reflecting an overflowing gladness. This same word is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth's womb (Luke 1:44). This strong verb underscores the intensity of the commanded response to persecution for those who follow Christ.

Practical Application

For believers today, Luke 6:23 offers profound encouragement and guidance:

  • It challenges us to re-evaluate our sources of joy. True Christian joy is rooted in our relationship with God and the eternal hope we possess, rather than worldly approval or comfort.
  • It reminds us that suffering for our faith is not a sign of God's abandonment but can be a mark of authentic discipleship, aligning us with Christ and the faithful who came before us.
  • It encourages perseverance, knowing that every act of faithfulness, every instance of enduring hardship for the Gospel, contributes to a "great reward" in God's eternal Kingdom. This perspective helps us to endure and even rejoice in tribulations.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Revelation 21:7

    He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

  • Matthew 5:12

    Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

  • Acts 5:41

    And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

  • Revelation 3:12

    Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, [which is] new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and [I will write upon him] my new name.

  • Revelation 3:5

    He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

  • Revelation 2:10

    Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast [some] of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

  • Revelation 2:11

    He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back