REVILING.—1. Insult was as prominent as cruelty in the tragedy that ended on Calvary. See art. Mockery.
2. In Matthew 5:11 (|| Luke 6:22) Jesus pronounces a blessing upon those who are reviled for His sake (ὀνειδίζω here is the same word as is used in Mark 15:32 of the reproaches of the Cross). That the secret of the blessedness lies in the spirit in which the abuse is borne is shown by the ‘Rejoice and be exceeding glad’ of the following verse, as well as by St. Paul’s ‘Being reviled, we bless,’ in a passage (1 Corinthians 4:12-13) where he evidently has the Eighth Beatitude in mind. St. Peter (1 Peter 2:23) says of Jesus that ‘being reviled, he reviled not again’ (λοιδορούμενος οὐκ ἀντελοιδόρει). And the author of Hebrews suggests that the best preservative against hasty reprisals and a violent temper is a contemplation of the patient silence of Jesus. ‘For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds’ (Hebrews 12:3). See also Reproach.
J. C. Lambert.