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31 The people believed, and when they heard that the Lord had observed the Israelites and had seen their affliction,[a] they knelt and bowed down.

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Footnotes

  1. 4:31 Observed…their affliction: the same phrases used in God’s dialogue with Moses in 3:16–17.

It is he who judges the world with justice,(A)
    who judges the peoples with fairness.

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[a](A)Then they will hand you over to persecution, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name.

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Footnotes

  1. 24:9–12 Matthew has used Mk 13:9–12 in his missionary discourse (Mt 10:17–21) and omits it here. Besides the sufferings, including death, and the hatred of all nations that the disciples will have to endure, there will be worse affliction within the church itself. This is described in Mt 24:10–12, which are peculiar to Matthew. Will be led into sin: literally, “will be scandalized,” probably meaning that they will become apostates; see Mt 13:21 where “fall away” translates the same Greek word as here. Betray: in the Greek this is the same word as the hand over of Mt 24:9. The handing over to persecution and hatred from outside will have their counterpart within the church. False prophets: these are Christians; see note on Mt 7:15–20. Evildoing: see Mt 7:23. Because of the apocalyptic nature of much of this discourse, the literal meaning of this description of the church should not be pressed too hard. However, there is reason to think that Matthew’s addition of these verses reflects in some measure the condition of his community.

33 I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.”(A)

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Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance,

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