The Blessed Life: Persecuted

Matthew 5:10–12 (NASB 95)

“Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Introduction

The final “blessing” takes a much-different road than the previous ones.

We have covered seven qualities/characteristics of those who are blessed:

poor in spirit, mourn, meek, hunger & thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers

each of these are inward qualities—by products of the Holy Spirit working within—but also qualities of Christ.

these qualities move outward, from within us, to the world around us

The final “blessing” is outward and moves toward us: persecution

Understanding persecution

διώκω (diōkō):

persecute, harass

pursue; chase; hunt

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (διώκω)

- to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away

- to run swiftly in order to catch some person or thing, to run after;

The essential idea is that persecution means that a person is being stalked and hunted or pursued to drive them away

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 39.45 διώκω; ἐκδιώκω; διωγμός, οῦ

In a number of languages the equivalent of ‘to persecute’ is simply ‘to cause to suffer,’ but persecution is also expressed in terms of ‘to be mean to’ or ‘to threaten’ or ‘to chase from place to place.’

Those who have been persecuted

Those who have gone before us who suffered for their devotion to Christ depicted in their conduct

Jesus mentions the prophets in v.12

Their reward is heaven—which is where they are now: in the very presence of God

Those who will be persecuted

We who are here now and those who will follow after us.

Notice the forms of persecution:

insults, harassment, lies and accusations of evil

The response commanded by Jesus: rejoice and be glad.

Our reward remains in heaven

Conclusion

The beatitudes are contrary to our natural inclinations and impulses; they are certainly contrary to the fallen nature of humanity lost in sin.

You simply cannot live as a true biblical Christian without suffering for it.

Rather than running from it, we should embrace it, recognizing that the prophets suffered, the apostles suffered, and we will suffer—because of Christ in us.