Matthew 5:10-12 / Prep

Preparation

Pray

Lord, some of our people are mistreated at their work, in their school, and sadly in their own home. Comfort them. Show us how it it the blessed life. Direct every word, every inspiration, every heart, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Just Meditate

Questions for the passage / first illumination

This may be the hardest beatitude to believe.

This beatitude is the ultimate culmination of the rest. If you reach it, you likely have graduated from spiritual immaturity to maturity.

The world does not teach this, except for those with unsettled consciences.

Just because we are blessed when we’re persecuted, does not mean that we need to seek it. All those who seek godliness will be sought by persecution.

“persecuted” further defines blessed and separates it from general happiness.

For righteousness sake. You are not blessed for simply being different or stubborn.

Those who endure persecution for Christ will inherit everything.

Those who persecute may inherit the world. Those who are persecuted inherit eternity.

Which kingdom are you living for?

all kinds of evil - persecution is more than martyrdom and stoning. It may look like loneliness, gossip, and less pay.

“falsely, on my account” - someone correcting evil in you is not persecuting you.

Don’t believe every claim about those who publically live for God. They could be false accusations. We live in a world where the supposed victim is always right. The game has become, who can appear to be the victim first.

Rejoice and be glad? How?

The prophets - you do not stand alone, you are in good company

In contrast, woe to you when all speak well of you - false prophets.

If you are not persecuted, perhaps you are the one persecuting. Only those in the game get tackled.

If you want to be liked by all, you choose the wrong way. If you want to please God, keep walking.

Mood/Emotion of the Passage

Shocking, comforting, clarifying, borderline unbelievable

Word-studies

None for now

Cross References / Passages that illustrate

John the baptist beheading

Stephens martyrdom

Woe to you when all speak well of you

If i were still aiming to please man…

All who desire to live a godly life…

His life was righteous and his brothers evil…

Wise as serpents harmless as doves

1 Peter 4:15–16 ESV

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

1 Corinthians 13

Commentary

Context / Overview

“Later in the narrative, Jesus encounters each form of persecution recorded here and suffers the same fate as many OT prophets.” John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 5:10–12.

“In the Greek text, theirs is shifted from its normal position at the end of the clause to the beginning instead. This gives the pronoun a special emphasis indicating that the kingdom belongs to righteous sufferers and to them alone. Those who always endeavor to evade persecution are not true disciples and will not have a share in the kingdom because true disciples follow Jesus even at the cost of their lives.” Charles L. Quarles, “Matthew,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1506.

“The world’s reception of these kind of people.” - Guzik

“The picture of a Christian as the gullible nice guy—as the good neighbor who always lends a helping hand but never offers any offense—is not the picture of a Christian presented in our Bibles.” Douglas Sean O’Donnell. Matthew : All Authority in Heaven and on Earth. Crossway, 2013.

Versus

10

“We are so slow to understand the difference between being offensive , in a natural sense, because of our particular makeup and temperament, and causing offense because we are righteous.” - MLJ

“There are some people who seem anxious for martyrdom; they almost court it.” - MLJ

“If you choose to suffer politically, go on and do so. But do not have a grudge against God if you find that this beatitude, this promise, is not verified in your life.” - MLJ

“This beatitude does not even say, Blessed are they that are persecuted for being good, or noble, or self sacrificing.” - MLJ - the world will not oppose Christians for free chick-fil-a gift cards and fun easter activities

“You will probably not be persecuted for being good. The world generally praises and admires the noble.” - MLJ George Washington example

“The good and noble are very rarely persecuted because we all have the feeling that they are just like ourselves at our best. But the righteous are persecuted because they are different.” - MLJ

“Practicing righteousness really means being like the Lord Jesus Christ.” - MLJ

11

“count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.” - Peterson

12

“Their reward may not come on earth.” - esv study

“There is no comparison here between those with a lesser and greater reward. So the reward should be thought of as heaven itself and not some particular status in the life to come.” - NAC

“The non-Christian does everything he can not to think of the world beyond. That is the whole meaning of the pleasure mania of today.” - MLJ

“There is no assurance of vindication or reward among men now.” Frank Stagg, “Matthew,” in Matthew–Mark, ed. Clifton J. Allen, Broadman Bible Commentary (Broadman Press, 1969), 106.

This verse is an, ‘utter impossibility’ to the natural man. - MLJ

“He makes even the devil a cause of blessing.” - MLJ

“These things are written for our encouragement. The gospel is not impersonal, it is not inhuman.” - MLJ

“We must avoid the trap of thinking that we are the only ones who have ever experienced such problems.” NAC

“Jesus promised that the cost of discipleship will be offset by the enormity of the reward the disciple enjoys in heaven.” Charles L. Quarles, “Matthew,” in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1506.

Application

Relational application (love your neighbor)

The first case of persecution was in the context of family - Cain and Abel.

Thinking application (mind)

The majority of persecution Jesus experienced before the cross was words - friend of sinners, glutton, empowered by satan.

You can get the world by pleasing the world or you can get the kingdom of heaven as you are persecuted for righteousness.

This passage is not calling us to seek persecution

It seems like God knew this would be the most surprising beatitude, so he add’s 11-12 to repeat.

The situation that feels most like hell, should remind us most that we belong to heaven.

Feeling application (heart, soul)

To the one sitting alone, you are not alone. To the one who is hated, you are loved. To the one who lost your job, you became richer.

Expectations effect your happiness. Those who live like Jesus should expect to be treated like Jesus.

Action application (strength)

If there were no promise of heaven, how would your life look different?

Illustration

Verbal Illustrations

Lord of the rings, “shut the book now” qoute, “We’re going on a bit too fast. You and I, Sam, are still stuck in the worst places of the story, and it is all too likely that some will say at this point ‘Shut the book now, dad; we don’t want to read any more’.”

The ministers who were imprisoned in the chesterfield Jail. (when biblically appropriate you obey authority - cool crowd, government, boss - but when conformity looks like compromising truth, we must stand.

Jim Elliot quote and story “he is no fool”

They claimed that the early church ate babies (in actuality they were rescuing them)

“The emperors clothes”

CS Lewis qoute about why we hate beauty

“Christians were accused of: Cannibalism, because of gross and deliberate misrepresentation of the practice of the Lord’s Supper. Immorality, because of gross deliberate misrepresentation of weekly “Love Feast” and their private meetings. Treason, because they would not honor the Roman gods and participate in emperor worship.” - Guzik

“George Roper came to the stake leaping for joy, and hugged the stake he was to be burned at like a friend. Doctor Taylor leapt and danced a little as he came to his execution, saying when asked how he was, “Well, God be praised, good Master Sheriff, never better; for now I am almost home…I am even at my Father’s house.” Lawrence Saunders, who with a smiling face embraced the stake of his execution and kissed it saying, “Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life.” - Guzik

“This is not normal. Human beings flee suffering. We move to safer neighborhoods. We choose milder climates. We take aspirin. We come out of the rain. Virtually no advertising slogans lure us into daily dying.” - John Piper

I have learned to kiss the wave - qoute

Visual Illustrations

Audience

pains/problems

Some are being persecuted and urgently need comfort

Some think they are being persecuted, but it it not for righteousness sake

Some think they are alone

Some wrongly think they’ve never been persecuted because they think it is only extreme cases

passions/purposes

We can learn how to be happy despite mistreatment

We want to know that we belong to the kingdom of heaven!

Questions/arguments they may have for the text

Why would people be opposed to righteousness and goodness?

Practically, how can we be glad?

Why would a loving father allow his children to be mistreated?

Pre outline

Main Ideas of the text

Those who are mistreated because of Christlikeness can be happy knowing that they belong to God’s kingdom.

Purposeless suffering is not blessed. It is only favorable when it is for righteousness’ sake.

Persecution is more broad than you might expect. It includes violence and words.

We can have inner happiness because persecution is proof that we are like the prophets. Proving that we will be on the right side of eternity.

When you are persecuted, you are not standing alone.

So what?

When you are mistreated for Christ, this passage will remind you why to rejoice.

What would this look like lived out?

We will be a people who have confidence and peace in the midst of persecution.

Title ideas

Myths people believe about persecution

Potential Outlines

Myths people believe about persecution: Persecution is blessed. Persecutors win. Persecution typically looks like martyrdom. Those who claim to be persecuted are always right. Persecution is a waste. You stand alone when you’re persecuted.

What is persecution? How are we persecuted? Why are we persecuted?

Consider ending the message by zooming out to see who’s teaching and the persecution that he and his disciples would experience - then their reward

Expect persecution if you live for Jesus. Expect various forms of persecution. Expect to be rewarded in heaven.

Three questions to consider when you’re mistreated: What is my motive? What is my attitude? What is the result?