Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 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.

23. Rejoice ye in that day ] See Act 5:41. “We glory in tribulation;” Rom 5:3; Jas 1:2-3; Col 1:24; Heb 11:26. They accepted with joy that ‘ignominy of Christ’ which made the very name of ‘Christian’ a term of execration; 1Pe 4:14; 1Pe 4:16.

in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets ] Elijah and his contemporaries, 1Ki 19:10. Hanani imprisoned by Asa, 2Ch 16:10. Micaiah imprisoned, 1Ki 22:27. Zechariah stoned by Joash, 2Ch 24:20-21. Urijah slain by Jehoiakim, Jer 26:23. Jeremiah imprisoned, smitten and put in the stocks, Jer 32:38. Amos slandered, expelled, and perhaps beaten to death (Amos 7). Isaiah (according to tradition) sawn asunder, Heb 11:37, &c. See the same reproach against the Jews in Heb 11:36-38; Act 7:52; 1Th 2:14-15.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 23. Did – unto the prophets.] See 1Kg 18:4; 1Kg 19:20; 2Ch 24:21; 2Ch 36:16; Ne 9:26.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

23. leap for joya livelierword than “be exceeding glad” of “exult” (Mt5:12).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Rejoice ye in that day,…. When they should be hated, discarded, reproached, and anathematized: and leap for joy; as if the greatest honour and happiness imaginable had been conferred on them; and as persons do, when in the greatest rapture:

for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets;

[See comments on Mt 5:12].

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

Leap for joy (). Old verb and in LXX, but only in Luke in the N.T. (here and Luke 1:41; Luke 1:44). It answers to Matthew’s (Mt 5:12) “be exceeding glad.”

Did (). Imperfect active, the habit of “their fathers” (peculiar to both here). Mt 5:12 has “persecuted.” Thus they will receive a prophet’s reward (Mt 1:41).

Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament

Leap for joy [] . See chapter Luk 1:41, 44. Compare Matthew, be exceeding glad (ajgalliasqe : see on 1Pe 1:6).

Their fathers. Peculiar to Luke.

Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament

1) “Rejoice ye in that day,” (charete en ekeine te hemera) “Ye all rejoice in that day,” that awaits you, not because or persecution, but because of strength to endure, and victory over such, 1Co 10:13.

2) “And leap for joy:” (kai skiresetate) “And leap for victorious joy,” as the term is used Luk 1:41; Luk 1:44. Joy of a victory that surely awaits you, even as our Lord did, Heb 12:2; 1Th 5:16; Php_4:4.

3) “For, behold, your reward is great in heaven:” (idou gar ho misthos humon polus en to ourano) “For behold (take note of this) your reward is great in heaven,” already having been reserved for you all in heaven; Mat 5:12; 1Pe 1:4-5; Rev 2:10; Rev 22:12.

4) “For in like manner,” (kata ta anta gar) “For in the same way,” after the same wicked pattern, Mat 5:12; It is expressed in a murder filled parable, Luk 20:9-15.

5) “Did their fathers unto the prophets.” (epoioun tois prophetais hoi pateres auton) “The fathers of them (these Pharisees and scribes) did to or toward the prophets,” Mat 5:12 b; Act 7:51-53; Mat 23:34-35.

a) Like Elijah, 1Ki 1:10.

b) Like Hanani, 2Ch 16:10.

c) Like Micaiah 1Ki 22:27.

d) Like Zechariah, 2Ch 24:20-21.

e) Like Urijah.

f) Like Jeremiah.

g) Like Isaiah, who according to tradition was sawn asunder.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

(23) Leap for joy.The word is peculiar to St. Luke in the New Testament, and occurs elsewhere only in Luk. 1:41; Luk. 1:44.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

“Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy,

For behold, your reward is great in heaven,

For in the same manner did their fathers to the prophets.”

Yes, if they are persecuted for His sake they can rejoice and jump for joy, for they will receive great reward in Heaven, for that is how God’s prophets were treated when they too came on earth (including John the Baptiser). By their response as described above they will be aligning themselves with the true prophets, who also sought only to please God, and they will therefore enjoy a prophet’s reward.

The reference to the prophets may have in mind:

1) That as the prophets were persecuted they too must expect to be persecuted (Luk 11:47; Luk 11:49-50; Luk 13:34; Mat 23:29-31; Mat 23:34).

2) That as the prophets have gone to their reward (Luk 13:28), so will they too go to their reward.

3) The fact that they will be persecuted is positive proof that they are equal with the prophets and will therefore enjoy both what they suffered and what they will receive (compare1Pe 4:12-14).

The mention of the reward is not as a kind of bribe. Those whose eyes were only on a reward would not be welcome, or genuine. The point was that having chosen to walk in God’s way, it was something that they could look forward to. It was an incentive while they were in the way.

Note the reference to  their  fathers. Jesus has already divided Israel into two parts, those who are for Him and those who are against Him, the old Israel and the new.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Luk 6:23 . . .] in which they shall have thus dealt with you. : leap for joy.

Moreover, see on Mat 5:12 ; and as to the repeated , the second of which is explanatory, on Mat 6:32 ; Mat 18:11 ; Rom 8:6 .

Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary

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.

Ver. 23. See Mat 5:12 . See Trapp on “ Mat 5:12 “

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

23. ] . . ., not in the most solemn sense of the words (see Mat 7:22 ), but in the day when men shall do thus to you.

Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament