Answer: Those who are insulted because of the Name of
Christ are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on
them, (verse 14).
MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
"Insulted" is the Greek verb oneidizo,
meaning "reproach, revile, heap insults upon."
"Blessed" is "happy." Why are
Christians blessed, or happy when they are insulted because of the
Name of Christ? Because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of
God--the Holy Spirit--rests on them!
Matthew 5:11-12: [Jesus said,]
"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."
John 15:18-21: [Jesus said,] "If
the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If
you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is,
you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the Words I
spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.'
If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed
My teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you
this way because of My Name, for they do not know the One Who sent
Me."
Acts 5:41: "The apostles left the
Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of
suffering disgrace for the Name."
Acts 14:21-22: "They [Paul and
Barnabas] preached the Good News in that city [Derbe] and won a
large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium
and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to
remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God,' they said."
Romans 8:17-18: "Now if we are
children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with
Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may
also share in His glory. I consider that our present
sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be
revealed in us."
2 Corinthians 1:5: "For just as the
sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through
Christ our comfort overflows."
Philippians 3:10: "I want to know
Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of
sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His
death..."
2 Timothy 3:12-13: "In fact,
everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be
persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse,
deceiving and being deceived."
