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Mathews 5:11 and 11*** w04 9/1 p.

5 What It Really Takes to Be Happy ***


However, you may find it hard to believe that someone who is persecuted and
reproached could be happy. Yet, it must be true, since Jesus himself said so. Hence,
how should his words be understood?
Persecuted but Happy—How Can That Be?
Note that Jesus did not say that reproach and persecution in themselves lead to
happiness. He stipulated: “Happy are those who have been persecuted for
righteousness’ sake, . . . when people reproach you and persecute you . . . for my
sake.” (Matthew 5:10, 11) So happiness results only if a person suffers reproach
because of being a follower of Christ and because of patterning his life after the
righteous principles that Jesus taught.
This is illustrated by what happened to the early Christians. Members of the
Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, “summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered
them to stop speaking upon the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go.” How did the
apostles react? “These, therefore, went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing
because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name. And
every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching
and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.”—Acts 5:40-42; 13:50-52.
The apostle Peter shed additional light on the connection between reproach and
happiness. He wrote: “If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are
happy, because the spirit of glory, even the spirit of God, is resting upon you.” (1 Peter
4:14) Yes, suffering as a Christian for doing what is right, even though such suffering is
unpleasant, brings the happiness that comes from knowing that one receives God’s holy
spirit. How is God’s spirit linked to happiness?

*** w04 11/1 pp. 15-18 Persecuted yet Happy ***


Happy to Be Persecuted Like the Prophets
10 Jesus ended his consideration of the ninth happiness by saying: “Rejoice . . . , for
in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you.” (Matthew 5:12) The prophets
whom Jehovah sent to warn unfaithful Israel were badly received and often persecuted.
(Jeremiah 7:25, 26) The apostle Paul testified to this fact, writing: “What more shall I
say? For the time will fail me if I go on to relate about . . . the other prophets, who
through faith . . . received their trial by mockings and scourgings, indeed, more than
that, by bonds and prisons.”—Hebrews 11:32-38.
11During the reign of wicked King Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, many of Jehovah’s
prophets were killed with the sword. (1 Kings 18:4, 13; 19:10) The prophet Jeremiah
was put into stocks and later thrown into a miry cistern. (Jeremiah 20:1, 2; 38:6) The
prophet Daniel was cast into the lions’ den. (Daniel 6:16, 17) All these pre-Christian
prophets were persecuted because they defended the pure worship of Jehovah. Many
prophets were persecuted by the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus called the scribes and
the Pharisees “sons of those who murdered the prophets.”—Matthew 23:31.
12 Today, we as Jehovah’s Witnesses are often persecuted because we are zealous
in preaching the good news of the Kingdom. Our enemies accuse us of “aggressive
proselytizing,” but we know that faithful worshipers of Jehovah before us faced similar
criticism. (Jeremiah 11:21; 20:8, 11) We count it a privilege to suffer for the same
reason that the faithful prophets of old suffered. The disciple James wrote: “Brothers,
take as a pattern of the suffering of evil and the exercising of patience the prophets,
who spoke in the name of Jehovah. Look! We pronounce happy those who have
endured.”—James 5:10, 11.
Profound Reasons for Being Happy
13 Far from being discouraged by persecution, we are comforted by the thought that
we are following in the footsteps of the prophets, the early Christians, and Christ Jesus
himself. (1 Peter 2:21) We draw deep satisfaction from the Scriptures, such as the
following words of the apostle Peter: “Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning
among you, which is happening to you for a trial, as though a strange thing were
befalling you. If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy,
because the spirit of glory, even the spirit of God, is resting upon you.” (1 Peter
4:12, 14) We know from experience that we are able to stand firm under persecution
only because Jehovah’s spirit rests upon us and strengthens us. The support of the holy
spirit is proof that Jehovah’s blessing is upon us, and this brings us great happiness.—
Psalm 5:12; Philippians 1:27-29.
14 Another reason why opposition and persecution for righteousness’ sake makes us
happy is that it proves that we are living as true Christians with godly devotion. The
apostle Paul wrote: “All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with
Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12) We are supremely happy at the
thought that our keeping integrity under trial provides a further answer to Satan’s
challenge that all of Jehovah’s creatures serve Him out of selfish interest. (Job 1:9-11;
2:3, 4) We rejoice that we have a share, be it ever so small, in the vindication of
Jehovah’s righteous sovereignty.—Proverbs 27:11.
Leap for Joy at the Reward
15 Jesus gave an added reason for joy at being maligned and persecuted like the
prophets of old. Toward the end of the ninth happiness, he stated: “Rejoice and leap for
joy, since your reward is great in the heavens.” (Matthew 5:12) The apostle Paul wrote:
“The wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus
our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Yes, the ‘great reward’ is life, and it is not a wage that we can
earn. It is a free gift. Jesus said that the reward is “in the heavens” because it comes
from Jehovah.
16 The anointed receive “the crown of life,” that is, in their case, immortal life with
Christ in heaven. (James 1:12, 17) Those with an earthly hope, the “other sheep,” look
forward to inheriting everlasting life in an earthly paradise. (John 10:16; Revelation 21:3-
5) For both classes, the “reward” is unearned. Both the anointed and the “other sheep”
receive their reward by Jehovah’s “surpassing undeserved kindness,” which moved the
apostle Paul to say: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable free gift.”—2 Corinthians
9:14, 15.
17 To Christians, some of whom were soon to be cruelly persecuted by Emperor
Nero, the apostle Paul wrote: “Let us exult while in tribulations, since we know that
tribulation produces endurance; endurance, in turn, an approved condition; the
approved condition, in turn, hope, and the hope does not lead to disappointment.” He
also said: “Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation.” (Romans 5:3-5; 12:12)
Whether our hope is heavenly or earthly, our reward for faithfulness under trial is
immeasurably greater than anything we deserve. Our joy at the prospect of living
forever to serve and praise our loving Father, Jehovah, under our King Jesus Christ is
unbounded. We figuratively “leap for joy.”

*** w74 7/1 p. 416 Questions From Readers ***

● What is the point of Jesus’ illustration, at Matthew 11:16, 17, concerning the flute playing and the
wailing of young children at play?—U.S.A.

Matthew 11:16, 17 reads: “With whom shall I compare this generation? It is like young children sitting in
the marketplaces who cry out to their playmates, saying, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not
dance; we wailed, but you did not beat yourselves in grief.’”

Jesus Christ was comparing that generation to children with their varied games. Applying the point of
the illustration, Jesus continued: “Correspondingly, John came neither eating nor drinking, yet people
say, ‘He has a demon’; the Son of man did come eating and drinking, still people say, ‘Look! A man
gluttonous and given to drinking wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’”—Matt. 11:18, 19.

Truly Jesus’ fellow countrymen were behaving like children. John the Baptist’s simple life as a Nazirite
did not suit them, for they did not lament over their sins and repent. And they did not take on the joyful
mood of Jesus, for they did not rejoice over the good news of the kingdom that he preached. Their
judgment was based, not on Scriptural guidelines, but on preconceived personal ideas. They simply
could not be pleased with either of God’s representatives, either John or Jesus. They did not want these
to set the mood for them by telling them straightforwardly God’s will for them and of their need to line
up with it. They did not want to conform to God’s will

*** w54 1/15 pp. 49-51 pars. 7-10 Rearing Children in the New World Society ***
To parents Jehovah says: “These words that I am commanding you today must
prove to be on your heart, and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them
when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and
when you get up.” (Deut. 6:6, 7, NW) The parents were obligated to instruct, the
children to listen and learn. No limitations as to time or place were put on this
instruction. Whenever appropriate, wherever convenient, whatever suitable situation
presented itself, instruction should be given. But in addition the parents should set aside
specific times for home study with their children. It might be a discussion of the text at
breakfast, or a study during the day or evening in one of the Society’s bound books, or
of a Bible chapter, or of a secondary article in The Watchtower, or one of the themes in
“Make Sure of All Things”, or a review of points presented at a congregational meeting.
8 The children certainly should attend these meetings and sit quietly. Note that the
attendance of children is a divine command: “Call the people together, the men and the
women and the little ones and your temporary resident who is within your gates, in order
that they may listen and in order that they may learn, as they must fear Jehovah your
God and take care to carry out all the words of this law.” (Deut. 31:12, NW) The little
ones were not to be segregated from parents, not to be shunted off into some Sunday
school to have special instruction, but were to remain in the one congregation “in order
that they may listen and in order that they may learn.” And to what were they to listen?
To the Law specially written and simplified for consumption by children? No, they gave
ear to such complicated things as Leviticus! They listened and learned, and when they
failed to understand they questioned their parents later. Today little ones are not to be
sidetracked into a soundproof room to romp, nor is it wise to supply them with trinkets to
toy with and drop during meetings. Remember Jehovah’s purpose for ordering their
presence is “in order that they may listen and in order that they may learn.” If little ones
in Israel could listen to Leviticus and learn, youngsters today can listen to much lighter
material and learn. This way may not seem right to men, but it is right to God.
IMPORTANCE OF PARENTAL EXAMPLE
9 Instruction by speaking and reading can accomplish much, but instruction by
example accomplishes more. Parents are examples to their children, whether they want
to be or not. Children are specially susceptible to examples, having a natural tendency
to imitate. Jesus showed this when he said: “With whom shall I compare this
generation? It is like young children sitting in the marketplaces who cry out to their
playmates, saying: ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance; we wailed, but
you did not beat yourselves in grief.’” (Matt. 11:16, 17, NW) Jesus’ generation was
unco-operative and impossible to satisfy, like the playmates that would not respond with
dancing when other children played the flute or with grief when their fellows wailed. But
the point is that the children in their games were imitating adults. Adults held weddings
accompanied by music and dancing; they also conducted funerals with much wailing
and grief. In their games the children were imitating these adult activities.
10 Be sure your activities as parents are worthy of imitation. Do you regularly study at
home the Bible and Bible helps? Do you attend area book studies, congregational
Watchtower studies and service meetings and ministry school sessions? Do you sit
quietly and listen, and offer comments when the opportunity is presented? Do you
engage in field service regularly, taking your children along? Do they observe you in
door-to-door work, back-call work and home Bible study work, hearing you

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