Clear and Present Danger: Understanding and Responding to Persecution while Fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 10:16-24) Part 1

Gilbert Hovespian

Gilbert Hovsepian recounts the profound impact of his father, Reverend Haik Hovsepian, who was called to preach the gospel among Muslims in Iran. Haik's commitment to his faith ultimately led to his murder when Gilbert was seventeen, as he was stabbed twenty-six times after advocating for a fellow Christian facing execution. This loss brought immense hardship and fear to Gilbert and his family, yet it also galvanized their faith. Despite facing persecution, including imprisonment and threats, Gilbert remained steadfast in his evangelism, viewing it as his life's purpose. Gilbert speaks of a time when he went to jail for sharing the gospel.

Jesus Freaks: Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks When God Calls

It was years after my father’s death that I went to prison for a month and a half myself. In addition to that, I was beaten a couple of times and I was threatened a couple of times. I had to sign a paper that I would not evangelize, but honestly, I could not not evangelize. That is my passion; that is the air that I breathe.

That is so clear to me that I once told a judge, “Judge, understand me. I know the Doctor that has healed me. I had a disease of sin, like a cancer, and everyone has that. Jesus is the doctor, and I have the prescription: the Bible. I know the medicine: the blood of Jesus that was shed for us.”

Clear and Present Danger (10:16–31)

Gilbert Hovespian’s testimony reveals a clear and present danger in harvesting for the Kingdom of God.  For those whom Jesus sends out to gather His lost sheep, He states that you will not only be surrounded by wolves but also attacked by them.  You will face persecution for naming Jesus and joyfully advancing His kingdom.  Persecution will be costly. Your life will be in danger. You will suffer heartbreak, and you will find yourself battling loneliness. But take heart Christian, God has not forsaken you, nor does he waste your pain. This morning, Jesus will help us understand how we should perceive persecution. Today we will see,

Even though persecution is dangerous, heartbreaking, and lonely, God has empowered us with his Spirit to endure persecution as a means of grace to spread the gospel, prepare us for joy, and conform us into his Son.

How should we view persecution?

It is hard for us to imagine persecution in a country that values religious liberty. As we have seen, however, we no longer live in a Christian country. Our culture is how Paul describes it in Philippians 2:15, a crooked and perverse generation. Furthermore, our government has shown us the consequence of electing leaders and appointing judges who are just as wicked and perverse, and are actually hostile to the church. So, let’s not fool ourselves nor romanticize our situation. Let’s put on the proper biblical glasses and ask ourselves, “How does Jesus want us to view persecution?”

Persecution is dangerous (10:16)

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Sheep that find themselves amidst a pack of wolves are in constant danger. The wolf only sees the sheep as its prey. A sheep has no advantage over the wolf. The wolf is bigger, stronger, faster, and driven by the appetites of its stomach. The sheep’s only help is a good shepherd.

Who are the wolves? Jesus identifies them in verses 17-18; 21.

Matthew 10:17–18 ESV

17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake…

The wolves will come in all shapes, sizes, and varieties. Jesus mentions government and religious officials in verse 17-18. A few verses later he says family members will be the ones delivering you over to government and religious officials. At any rate, they are people who hate Jesus, and anyone associated with Jesus. These officials and religious leaders will be convinced they are on the right side of history, actually doing the will of God, as they devour his sheep.

In the same way sheep are in constant danger among wolves, so Christians are in danger when they are sent to evangelize the lost. Jesus is making no bones about it. He is intentionally sending his disciples into a world that hates them. They will be defenseless, vulnerable, and in constant danger. Many of their opponents will be bigger, stronger, faster, and driven by an appetite to devour the faith, such as Peter says are the ways of Satan, who sits and waits like a lion to devour your faith.

Gilbert Hovespian was arrested by the government and brought before judges and muslim clerics. In Iran, the religion of Islam and their judicial system is intertwined. They live under Sharia Law. He was tried before men who deeply beleived they were doing the will of God. His father was martyred by men who rejoiced that day for pleasing God with their murder Haik Hovespian. Satan blinds the eye of unbelievers by hardening their heart to the truth. This makes persecution dangerous. Gilbert’s only help, the disciples only help, frankly, your only help, comes from the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-12).

Persecution is heartbreaking (10:21, 34–35)

Love for Jesus will divide families. Jesus says,

Matthew 10:34–35 ESV

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

as a result,

Matthew 10:21 ESV

21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,

The gospel of Jesus cuts through the loyalties of husbands and wives, parents and their children, and siblings between each other. Jesus demands that your love for Him is single minded, heart united, and loyal him first and foremost. Because of this, your own unbelieving family will rise up against you, have you arrested, and even turn you over to be killed. Persecution is heartbreaking. David Platt notes,

Exalting Jesus in Matthew The Commission of Christ (Matthew 9:37–10:42)

It may be shocking to hear, but the kingdom of God is divisive… If you follow Christ, you will almost certainly be misunderstood, and the people you least suspect, even family members, may turn on you.

Historically, many fathers have struggled with the concept of their children following a path that seems foreign to their upbringing. There are many stories coming out of the muslim world where a father, who is the old patriarch, dominant in his beliefs, discovers that his son or daughter has accepted Jesus. The father’s heart turns hardened; he views his son’s or daughter’s faith not as a personal choice but as a betrayal. In many respects, Gilbert Hovespian was fortunate that his father was a believer. Many of his muslim friends who come to Christ would be handed over to the authorities for imprisonment or even death by their own family. Genuine faith in Christ comes at a price. It is costly, and the cost, is at times, heartbreaking. But keep this in mind, as Albert Mohler once noted, “Jesus’ family opposed him before they came to recognize his true identity (13:53–58; Mk 3:21; Jn 7:3–5). His disciples can expect similar division in their own families. Following Jesus calls for giving Jesus priority above all else, even loved ones.”

Persecution is lonely (10:22a)

Matthew 10:22 ESV

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Jesus says you will be hated. The word hated carries the idea of a long period of hostility. The hostility and divisiveness happening in the family will be indicative of how most of society feels about Christians. Just has brother delivers brother over to death, and father his child, and children against their parents, so neighbor will deliver neighbor over the death, employer his employee, and community against the church.

You will be hated by all for Jesus’s name sake. Even though there is a but of hyperbole in verse 22, not every single person will hate you, but there will be enough to generalize how much the world dislikes Jesus’ disciples. This is not unexpected. Jesus says to his disciples,

John 15:18–25 ESV

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

A. W. Tozer hits the head on the nail when he says,

2168 The world crucified Jesus because they couldn’t stand him! There was something in him that rebuked them, and they hated him for it and finally crucified him.

A. W. Tozer

Because they hated Jesus without cause, they will hate his followers without cause as well. You will be hated, and you find yourself in a world that you do not belong, or as Oliver Anthony puts it, “You are an old soul in a new world.”

How many of us have lost friendships because of our relationship with Jesus? How many of your family members whom you grew up loving and having fond memories, now do not have much in common with you because of your passion for Jesus?

I look at my wedding picture every now and then. I look at the men who stood by me as I got married to Stacy and began my family. These were close men in my life a that time. All but two are virtually out of my life. It has been made clear to me they are gone because they do not know what to do about my passion for Christ’s kingdom. In my sadness, I am reminded there is good reason why Jesus made a promise at the end of His Great Commission for his disciples.

Matthew 28:20 ESV

20 …And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

You need to keep a couple of things in mind. The more you love Jesus, the more persecution you will endure. Paul says,

2 Timothy 3:12 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…

Pastor and missionary, David Platt, makes this observation,

Exalting Jesus in Matthew The Commission of Christ (Matthew 9:37–10:42)

People called Jesus “Satan,” so if your life is identified with Him, they’ll call you the same thing. The reality we must face is this: The danger of our lives increases in proportion to the depth of our relationship with Christ. That is an unavoidable conclusion from what Matthew is telling us…So as we are conformed to Christ more and more, the world will respond to us more and more as they responded to Him.

Secondly, even Satan seeks to devour God’s sheep because he hates God, he will fail. Satan is deluded and deceived by his own hatred of Christ, so much so, he cannot see this one true and great reality: Persecution does not serve Satan’s kingdom, it serves the Lord, and joyfully advances God’s kingdom.

God uses persecution

Jesus told his disciples,

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

In Acts 2, Jesus pours out his Spirit and the church begins to grow in Jerusalem. I don’t think anyone had any idea that Jesus would use persecution to get the church to move out of Jerusalem and into Judea and all of Samaria.

Right after Stephen is stoned to death, Luke records Acts 8:1

Acts 8:1 ESV

1 And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

Persecution was the tool Jesus used to joyfully advance his kingdom. Empowered by the Spirit, the disciples are now equipped to testify, that is to spread the gospel, even in the most difficult circumstances. You are empowered with the same Spirit. He will help you bear witness to your persecutors.

Persecution helps spread the gospel (10:17–20)

Matthew 10:17–20 ESV

17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Pay attention to the temporal word “when.” Jesus uses this word on purpose. It is not a matter of if you are turn over to testify, it is when you are turned over to testify. Jesus is signalling that persecution is part of the plan. He is going to use it to get his message to the ends of the earth. To ensure you get the message right and that you are able to endure the suffering, he has given you His Holy Spirit.

The power and mission of the Holy Spirit

It is worth taken a minute to ponder the work of the Holy Spirit in you while you are facing persecution. Jesus did not leave you to yourself to joyfully advance His kingdom. His Spirit is the one who directs the mission of the church.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin (John 16:8). It is the Holy Spirit who moves people to go here and there to share the gospel. It was the Holy Spirit who set Barnabas and Saul apart to on out as missionaries to Cyprus (Acts 13:2-3). It was the Holy Spirit who told Philip to go to the Ethiopian eunuch and explain whom Isaiah was talking about, and to later baptize him as a new believer (Acts 8:27-35). The Holy Spirit empowered Stephen to speak so profoundly that members of the Synagogue were trying to argue with him,

Acts 6:10 ESV

10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking.

And it was the Holy Spirit that sustained Stephen even as he was being stoned to death.

Acts 7:54–55 ESV

54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God…(59)while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord, Jesus, receive my spirit.(60) The he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord do not hold this sin against them.”

And if you are worried that your soul will lose heart under the pressure of the danger, heartbreak, and loneliness, the Holy Spirit is given to remind you that your spirit bears witness to his Spirit (Romans 8:16), and that when you cannot utter a word to the Lord in prayer, he intercedes for you on your behalf (Romans 8:27). He comforts your heart and establishes it for every good work (2 Thess 2:17).

Therefore, you do not have to fear or be worried. You don’t to have to fret about the potential buckling under pain or imprisonment. Jesus is always with you. His Spirit empowers you to proclaim His message: repent and believe. You can be persecuted yet unyielding, to spread the gospel to the ends of the earth in every circumstance the Lord ordains for you. You can be bold, just like the disciples, even in the face of death, to transform the world into the kingdom of God. This is the heart of the Christian mission; responding to fear with faith, becoming a light in the darkest of places, just as Jesus instructed, to bear witness of his salvation. Jesus will empower you to call your persecutors to repent and believe the gospel, and some of them will be saved because of your testimony.

Richard Wurmbrand was a pastor in Communist Romania in the 1950’s and 1960’s. He is known for his commitment to evangelize the communists in his country. He spent many years in prison for his faith. He once said,

“It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their [the communists' ] terms. It was a deal; we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching. They were happy beating us, so everyone was happy.” Richard Wurmbrand

He also explains,

“I have seen Christians in Communist prisons with fifty pounds of chains on their feet, tortured with red-hot iron pokers, in whose throats spoonfuls of salt had been forced, being kept afterward without water, starving, whipped, suffering from cold - and praying with fervor for the Communists. This is humanly inexplicable! It is the love of Christ, which was poured out in our hearts.” Richard Wurmbrand

What a picture of Spirit empowerment to bear witness of the worth of Jesus! What was the fruit of such a witness? It is believed by many that Richard Wurmband’s ministry was one of the catalyst for the fall of communism in Romania. The Holy Spirit empowered him to bear witness in his persecution to the love and grace of Christ’s at great costs to his own life, and God’s kingdom was advanced. Communist were saved for the kingdom of God, and it eventually fell under the weight of the Great Commission.

Persecution is the prelude to indescribable joy (10:22b)

Matthew 10:22 ESV

22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

We’ve already looked at the first half of verse 22, persecution is lonely. The second half offers us a contrast; but he who endures to the end will be saved. Let’s break this part of the verse down.

What does it mean to endure? What does endurance look like?

The word endures is to be faithful. It also carries the idea lasting loyalty. The kind of enduring persecution Jesus has in mind here is single-minded heart united loyal love for Jesus that remains loyal until the end. When is the end and what are we saved from?

The end refers to the future salvation for sins and entering the kingdom of God. According to Matthew, Jesus came to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus saves you from the wrath of God. But there is a paradox to Jesus’ salvation. Jesus also says,

Matthew 16:25 ESV

25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Those who love Jesus with a single minded heart united loyal love, will remain loyal to him even if it costs them their physical life. When Jesus says, those who endure to the end will be saved, as R.T. France notes, Jesus is talking not about the preservation of physical life, but the ultimate well-being which is compatible with the loss of physical life. In the face of persecution and possible martyrdom disciples must remain true to their loyalty to Jesus; if they do so “to the end” they will be “saved,” even though they may be executed. In this sense, persecution is the prelude to indescribable joy.

For those who endure until the end, Jesus promises you eternal life. He promise you an eternal inheritance that cannot be taken from you. Peter reminds us that we have been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In light of this, Peter says,

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

For those who endure, the Bible says you will be in the presence of God,

Psalm 16:11 ESV

in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

C.S. Lewis says,

Joy is the serious business of Heaven. C. S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm

Amid our suffering, Paul encourages us to think upon the promise of heaven.

2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV

17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,

With such an assurances of joy amid persecution, the great Puritan Thomas Brooks exhorts us,

Assurance makes heavy afflictions light, long afflictions short, bitter afflictions sweet.

Thomas Brooks

Persecution is a prelude to indescribable joy.

Persecution shows that we are like Jesus (10:24–25)

Matthew 10:24–25 ESV

24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.

If Jesus faced persecution and He is our teacher and leader, can we truly believe we are above Him and will not endure similar challenges? Peter instructs us to follow Jesus’ example in suffering (1 Pet 2:21). When you declare the name of Christ, expect betrayal, hatred, and persecution, as these were experiences Jesus Himself faced. Those seeking a secure, American dream drama free life should steer clear of Jesus because the world reacts with hostility towards Him. If you wish to evade betrayal, hatred, or persecution, then avoid becoming like Christ! We are naturally inclined towards a comfortable, routine faith that feels safe, and the world appreciates us staying safe.  Satan loves it when we stay safe.  As long as our lives mirror those of others—faith confined to Sunday church, Wednesday night bible studies, and phones filled with contacts that are only believers —we will encounter little risk. The catch, however, is that we will remain ignorant of Christ. In knowing Christ and becoming like Him while sharing His message, challenges will arise. The more we reflect Christ in our lives and families, the tougher it becomes in this world (David Platt).   

David Platt wisely notes, Jesus stated in Luke 6:40, " Everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. " Is that intimidating to you? You will resemble the One who faced mockery, beatings, scourging, spitting, and crucifixion. This leads us to a crucial question: do we genuinely want to be like Christ? I ask this sincerely because aspiring to be like Him means our lives will transform, and they will not be easy- they will become perilous. This is the message Jesus—your Savior, Lord, and King—is communicating. So, do you truly wish to be like Christ? Conformity to Christ invites persecution into your life.

Even though persecution is dangerous, heartbreaking, and lonely, God has empowered us with his Spirit to endure persecution as a means of grace to spread the gospel, prepare us for joy, and conform us into his Son.

Gilbert Hovespian recalled an encounter with three men who threatened his life unless he denied Jesus. In that moment, Hovespian chose to stand firm, reflecting on his father's martyrdom and its impact on the church in Iran. Gilbert emphasizes that the story of Christianity intertwines death and life, where sacrifice leads to growth and transformation. After fleeing Iran, Gilbert and his family continue to share the message of Jesus with Farsi speakers in the United States, driven by the legacy of his father's faith and the belief that sharing the gospel is essential for those in need of eternal life. Hovespian gives us some insight in how to apply how we view persecution with the proper response to persecution. We will venture there next week. For now, stay strong in teh faith. Even though persecution is dangerous, heartbreaking, and lonely, God has give us his Spirit so he can use persecution as a means of grace to spread the gospel, prepare us for joy, and conform us into his Son.

How should we respond to persecution?

Exercise wisdom (10:16b)

Be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves," emphasizing the importance of combining wisdom with gentleness in one's conduct. Being "wise as serpents" involves strategic thinking, caution, and the ability to recognize and evade danger, while being "harmless as doves" signifies a gentle, peaceful demeanor that avoids causing harm. The article outlines practical applications for believers, suggesting they should navigate a world filled with challenges by being discreet and protective like serpents, while embodying the innocence and peace of doves. It encourages individuals to develop a mindset that is alert to threats without being reactive, and to maintain a spirit that is non-confrontational and kind.

Refrain from sin (10:16c)

Avoid worry (10:19–20)

Flee to safety (10:23)

Refuse to be silent (10:26–27)

Fear the heavenly Judge more than earthly persecutors (10:28)

Realize that God knows about your suffering (10:29–30)

Believe that God cares about your suffering (10:31)