Isa 49:4, 1Cor 3:8 | JFB | e4.org | 4. I —Messiah. in vain —comparatively in the case of the greater number of His own countrymen. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" ( ). Only a hundred twenty disciples met after His personal ministry was ended ( ). yet . . . my judgment . . . with the Lord —Ultimately, God will do justice to My cause, and reward ( Margin for "work," compare ) My labors and sufferings. He was never "discouraged" ( ). He calmly, in spite of seeming ill success for the time, left the result with God, confident of final triumph ( ). So the ministers of Christ ( ).

‏ Isaiah 49:4

4. I—Messiah.

in vain—comparatively in the case of the greater number of His own countrymen. "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not" (Isa 53:1-3; Lu 19:14; Joh 1:11; 7:5). Only a hundred twenty disciples met after His personal ministry was ended (Ac 1:15).

yet . . . my judgment . . . with the Lord—Ultimately, God will do justice to My cause, and reward (Margin for "work," compare Isa 40:10; 62:11) My labors and sufferings. He was never "discouraged" (Isa 42:4; 50:7, 10). He calmly, in spite of seeming ill success for the time, left the result with God, confident of final triumph (Isa 53:10-12; 1Pe 2:23). So the ministers of Christ (1Co 4:1-5; 1Pe 4:19).

‏ 1 Corinthians 3:8

8. one—essentially in their aim they are one, engaged in one and the same ministry; therefore they ought not to be made by you the occasion of forming separate parties.

and every man—rather "but every man." Though in their service or ministry, they are essentially "one," yet every minister is separately responsible in "his own" work, and "shall receive his own (emphatically repeated) reward, according to his own labor." The reward is something over and above personal salvation (1Co 3:14, 15; 2Jo 8). He shall be rewarded according to, not his success or the amount of work done, but "according to his own labor." It shall be said to him, "Well done, thou good and (not successful, but) faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Mt 25:23).