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12 [a]Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.(A) Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The Similes of Salt and Light.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 5:12 The prophets who were before you: the disciples of Jesus stand in the line of the persecuted prophets of Israel. Some would see the expression as indicating also that Matthew considered all Christian disciples as prophets.
  2. 5:13–16 By their deeds the disciples are to influence the world for good. They can no more escape notice than a city set on a mountain. If they fail in good works, they are as useless as flavorless salt or as a lamp whose light is concealed.