2. Reproach as borne by Christ. — So far as the term is concerned, it is only by the two robbers who were crucified along with Him that our Lord is said to have been reproached (oceiStfoj, Mt 21**, Mk 15^^ ; see RV). This reproach by the robbers belongs to the general subject of the reviling of Jesus Christ in connexion with His trial and cruci- fixion, for which see art. MOCKERY.
In the Epistles the word ' reiiroach ' receives a luucli wider meaning, as denoting generally the shame and contempt, the hardships and sufiering which Christ endured in the days of His flesh. In Ro IS'' St. Paul exhorts Christians to a life of un- selfish consideration for others by pointing to the example of the Master, and quotes in this con- nexion the exact words of the LXX tr. of Ps 69^ (68^°] ' The reproaches of them that reproached {ol oveiSicrfjioi tQiu 6vei5i^6vTii)v) thee fell upon me.' The Psalm describes the sufferings of the righteous man at the hands of the ungodly, and the verse quoted represents him as telling how he has to bear the reproaches directed against God Himself. The Apostle, however, transfers the words to Christ, and makes them describe how He bore the burden of reproach for others, and so serve to give point to an exhortation against self -pleasing.
In two passages the author of Hebrews uses the expression ' the reproach (dcftSieryaos) of Christ,' or ' his reproach,' to denote the earthly shame and sorrow of Jesus. In the first case (ll-"), Moses is described as ' esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.' The writer's idea appears to be, not onlj' that by identifying himself with his despised people Moses took upon himself a burden of contempt and suffer- ing resembling that which was afterwards borne by Christ on our behalf, but that he had Christ prophetically in view — saw Him afar off, even as Fatiier Abraham did (Jn 8'"), and was strengthened by the vision to run his own race with patience (cf. He 122-3). In the second passage (13'3), the Jewish-Cliristian readers are exhorted to a fellow- ship Avith the sufferings of Christ, in the words, ' Let us go forth therefore unto liim without the camp, bearing his reproach.' The allusion ap- parently is to the sin-ollering on the Day of Atone- ment witliout the camp of Israel, and to the suffer- ing of Jesus without tlie city gate ; and the mean- ing is that those Jewish-Christians must forsake the sphere of the OT religion, break oil' the old ties of national fellowship, and face all the pain and contumely that this would involve, so that they might share in the better blessings of the great Sin-oflering.
3. Reproach as falling upon Christ's people.—
Both in Mt. (5") and Lk. (6--) reproach forms a part of tlie last Beatitude — the Beatitude of Persecution. There are, we have seen, two kinds of reproach — a reproach that is just, and one that is unjust ; such reproach as Christ uttered, and such reproach as He endured. In deserved re- proach there lies great sorrow and shame. The Lord's backward look through the open door of the hall sent Peter out into the night to Meep bitterly (Lk 22""-) ; the remembrance of the last words addressed to him by his Master must have been as a barb to the arrow of remorse that sank so deep into the soul of Judas (^^265", Lk 22*^). On the other hand, both honour and blessing belong to undeserved reproach falling upon Christ's people for their Master's sake. Jesus frequently fore- warned His disciples that persecution would come upon them through following Him (Mt S^"*^- " 10-3- 38 1321 16-^ Mk W- 38, Lk 6^2 oV^-, Jn IS^"). And in this Beatitude He specially forewarns them of the persecution of false and bitter tongues — more trying to some natures than the stones of the mob or the tyrant's scourge and sword.
The Apostles and the early Church had their full share of the reproach of evil tongues (cf. Ac 013 gn ii'ii 2128 2222 2^"- 6, Ro 3«, Ja 2', 1 P 4^). But the glory that lies in being reproached for Christ's sake, and the Lord's great promise regarding this experience, were never forgotten. It was this that taught St. Paul to bless when he was reviled (1 Co 4^-). It was evidently with the very words of Jesus echoing in his ears that St. Peter wrote, ' If ye be reproached (dcetSifeo-^e) for the name of Christ, blessed are ye' (IP 4^^). And when the author of Hebrews speaks of the ' reproach of Christ' — telling of the manner in which it was esteemed by Moses, and urging his fellow-believers of the Jewish race to go forth without the camj) with that reproach upon them — it may be that he also is recalling how Jesus taught His discij^les to rejoice in reproach because their reward in heaven was great (Mt 5^^ Lk 6^3). For in the one case he represents Moses as forming his estimate of the reproach of Christ from his respect unto the re- compense of the reward (He IP^), and in the other he exhorts Christians to the bearing of the same reproach, on the ground that they look for the abiding city which is to come (13").