Lexical Summary misthos: Reward, wages, recompense Original Word: μισθός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance reward, wages. Apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad -- hire, reward, wages. HELPS Word-studies 3408 misthós (a primitive word, so NAS dictionary) – a reward (recompense) that appropriately compensates a particular decision (action). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition wages, hire NASB Translation pay (2), price (1), reward (19), wage (1), wages (6). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3408: μισθόςμισθός, μισθοῦ, ὁ (from Homer down), the Sept. for שָׂכָר, also for מַשְׂכֹּרֶת, etc.; 1. dues paid for work; wages, hire: Romans 4:4 (κατά ὀφείλημα); in a prov., Luke 10:7 and 1 Timothy 5:18; Matthew 20:8; James 5:4; Jude 1:11 (on which see ἐκχέω, at the end); μισθός ἀδικίας, wages obtained by iniquity, Acts 1:18; 2 Peter 2:15 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 30, 1 a.). 2. reward: used — of the fruit naturally resulting from toils and endeavors, John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 9:18; — of divine recompense: a. in both senses, rewards and punishments: Revelation 22:12. b. of the rewards which God bestows, or will bestow, upon good deeds and endeavors (on the correct theory about which cf. Weiss, Die Lehre Christi vom Lohn, in the Deutsche Zeitschr. für christl. Wissenschaft, 1853, p. 319ff; Mehlhorn, d. Lohnbegr. Jesu, in the Jahrbb. f. protest. Theol., 1876, p. 721ff; (cf. Beyer in Herzog xx, pp. 4-14)): Matthew 5:12; Matthew 6:2, 5, 16; Matthew 10:41; Mark 9:41; Luke 6:23, 35; 1 Corinthians 3:8, 14; 2 John 1:8; Revelation 11:18; ἔχειν μισθόν, to have a reward, is used of those for whom a reward is reserved by God, whom a divine reward awaits, Matthew 5:46; 1 Corinthians 9:17; with παρά τῷ πατρί ὑμῶν τῷ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς added, Matthew 6:1. c. of punishments: μισθός ἀδικίας, 2 Peter 2:13; τῆς δυσσεβείας, 2 Macc. 8:33. Strong’s Greek 3408 (misthos, incl. the cognates misthon, misthou) denotes the wage, recompense, or reward that is due for work rendered, whether righteous or unrighteous, temporal or eternal. The term never signifies a vague sentiment; it speaks of an actual payment—material, relational, or eschatological—that corresponds precisely to deeds done. Rewards in the Teaching of Jesus Jesus employs the term chiefly in the Sermon on the Mount to expose hidden motives (Matthew 5:12, 5:46; 6:1-18). Three repeated warnings—“they have received their reward” (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16)—contrast fleeting human applause with the Father’s lasting recompense. When the Lord later promises, “Whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones… will never lose his reward” (Matthew 10:42), He affirms that no kingdom-minded action is too small for divine remuneration. Likewise, the vineyard parable (Matthew 20:8) stresses the Master’s right to dispense wages as He wills, underscoring grace rather than strict human calculation. Apostolic Instruction on Ministerial Wages Paul applies misthos to gospel labor. Agricultural and construction metaphors in 1 Corinthians 3:8-14 teach that each worker “will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” Faithful service on the foundation of Christ survives the testing fire and secures reward; shoddy work forfeits it, though the worker himself is saved. In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul distinguishes between a rightful material wage for preaching and a higher, voluntary reward gained by surrendering that right (9:17-18). Luke echoes the same principle for itinerant workers: “the worker is worthy of his wages” (Luke 10:7), a maxim Paul cites verbatim when directing churches to honor elders who labor in preaching and teaching (1 Timothy 5:18). Warnings against Unrighteous Gain New Testament writers press the prophetic theme that ill-gotten wages become a curse. Peter foretells that false teachers will “suffer harm as the wages of their wickedness” (2 Peter 2:13) and recalls Balaam who “loved the wages of wickedness” (2 Peter 2:15). Jude repeats the indictment (Jude 11). James denounces unjust landowners: “The wages you failed to pay the workmen… are crying out against you” (James 5:4). Acts 1:18 records Judas purchasing a field with “the reward of his wickedness,” bitter evidence that silver gained by treachery pays only death. Eschatological Recompense Misthos culminates in the consummation of God’s kingdom. Revelation twice employs the term: at the sounding of the seventh trumpet “the time has come… to reward Your servants” (Revelation 11:18), and the risen Christ announces, “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to repay each one according to what he has done” (Revelation 22:12). These declarations secure the believer’s hope and sober the unrepentant: final judgment is neither arbitrary nor generalized but an exact settlement of accounts. Intertextual Roots While misthos is Greek, the concept draws heavily on the Hebrew idea of sakar (“wage, reward”). Proverbs 13:21, Isaiah 40:10, and Jeremiah 31:16 promise that the LORD comes with reward in hand, themes John explicitly imports into Revelation 22:12. The righteous-reward motif also parallels Genesis 15:1 where God Himself is Abram’s “very great reward,” hinting that the ultimate recompense is not a thing but a Person. Historical and Cultural Background In the Greco-Roman world a misthos was a standard contractual term: soldiers, day laborers, and household servants expected fixed remuneration. Jesus and the apostles harness this marketplace language to communicate kingdom realities in familiar economic imagery. The assurance of divine wages dignifies humble service, while the threat of withholdings or punitive pay cuts through self-righteous façades. Pastoral and Discipleship Implications 1. Motive Integrity: Public acts of piety aimed at human recognition terminate in earthly reward; secrecy before the Father secures eternal reward. Doctrinal Synthesis Scripture presents two complementary truths: salvation is a free gift apart from works (Romans 4:4-5), yet deeds done in grace are repaid with proportionate reward. This distinguishes entrance into the kingdom (entirely by grace) from estate within the kingdom (subject to evaluation). Far from undermining grace, the doctrine of rewards magnifies it, for God stoops to value and recompense service He Himself enables. Key References Matthew 6:2; Matthew 10:41-42; Luke 6:35; John 4:36; 1 Corinthians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 9:18; James 5:4; 2 Peter 2:15; Revelation 22:12. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 5:12 N-NMSGRK: ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς NAS: and be glad, for your reward in heaven KJV: great [is] your reward in heaven: INT: for the reward of you [is] great Matthew 5:46 N-AMS Matthew 6:1 N-AMS Matthew 6:2 N-AMS Matthew 6:5 N-AMS Matthew 6:16 N-AMS Matthew 10:41 N-AMS Matthew 10:41 N-AMS Matthew 10:42 N-AMS Matthew 20:8 N-AMS Mark 9:41 N-AMS Luke 6:23 N-NMS Luke 6:35 N-NMS Luke 10:7 N-GMS John 4:36 N-AMS Acts 1:18 N-GMS Romans 4:4 N-NMS 1 Corinthians 3:8 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 3:14 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 9:17 N-AMS 1 Corinthians 9:18 N-NMS 1 Timothy 5:18 N-GMS James 5:4 N-NMS 2 Peter 2:13 N-AMS 2 Peter 2:15 N-AMS Strong's Greek 3408 |
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