Peace and Persecution

Recap

Turn to Matthew chapter 5.

We have been going through the Sermon on the mount, specifically the Beatitudes. Today, we will be wrapping up this first section. But it’s good to remember what we have talked about already, because it sets up this last part. Let’s read what we have covered so far.

Matthew 5:1–8 “Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Now, we are going to dive into the next 3 verses.

Matthew 5:9–12 ““Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Blessed and the Peacemakers

What is a peacemaker?

A peacemaker is someone who seeks reconciliation, which is when a relationship between two or more people is made right.

Ex. Let’s say I said something mean to Hareesh, and he was hurt by it. Our relationship would not be currently right. A way I could try and make it right is by asking forgiveness.

How to be a peacemaker.

There are four ways you can try to be a peacemaker.

Overlook

A lot of times, people hurt us and we can easily just overlook it.

Most of my friends are taller than me, and they like making fun of me because I’m short. Early on, I learned to overlook it and actually join in on it.

Talk.

If you can’t over look it. Go to that person and talk to them about it. Most of the time, they don’t realize that what they are doing is causing a riff in your relationship.

And when you talk, you do it with love and grace. You attack the problem, not the person.

And this goes the other way. If you think you have hurt someone, go to them. Ask them if they are okay. See if you need to ask forgiveness.

Get help

If talking doesn’t help, you might need to bring in a third party. Someone who isn’t hurt and the one hurting. Bring them in and see if you are in the wrong. Or if there is a communication problem. Often times this could be parents, other siblings or friends, or even your leaders or teachers.

Lastly is accountability

Especially if you are the one who is causing the wrong in the relationship, and it is becoming a pattern, seek accountability. Have (someone else) come along side you to help you fight sin, or change bad habits.

How not to be a peacemaker

You can also do things that keep the peace broken and the relationship from being made right.

First is you escape

This includes denial, blame shifting, fleeing, and the extreme version is suicide.

We see this all the time. People denying that there is a problem. Or saying “I was just hangry or sleepy.” Or people just leaving the situation all together.

Second incorrect way to deal with conflict is you attack

This includes insults, gossip, fighting, and the extreme version of this is murder.

How many times when someone hurts you, your reaction is to go tell someone else about it to vent to them.

Or someone hurt you, so you try to hurt them back with your words (Or even your fists).

Both of these reactions don’t solve the problem.

There is an excellent book by Ken Sande called “The Peacemaker”, and there is even a student edition if you want to read it.

Blessed are those who are persecuted…

What is persecution?

Hostility and ill-treatment.

Righteousness’ sake

We already talked about “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be statisfied.”

Righteousness is wanting a right relationship with God and living for him

Charlie Kirk

As some or most of you may have heard, there was a political activist named Charlie Kirk. He was a republican that would go to universities and would engage, debate, and answer questions with college students.

Through the years, he started stating more the Biblical reasons why he supported different political stances. And more recently, he would make it more of a point to share the gospel and bring things back to God’s word.

On September 10, 2025, during one of his rallies in Utah, he was shot and killed. From what I can gather as of right now, it does seem like the shooter shot him because of a political issue where his stance was based on biblical principles.

He wanted to live for God, and a lot of his political stances were influence by the Bible.

Now, I’m not here to promote a political party. I have friends who are both democrats and republicans that are Christians. There are issues on both sides that can be motivated by biblical principles. So you need to know God’s word when approaching the world.

Persecute and utter all kind of evil against you falsely

But, when you do that, you will be met with resistance. You might be made fun of, you might lose friends, you might even encounter hostility.

Persecuted falsely on my account

I’ve been made fun of for refusing to do things that go against God’s word. I’ve had friend’s grades effected by standing for Jesus. And I’ve had friends arrested and kicked out of the country they were in for trying to share the gospel.

Don’t be surprised when the world pushed back.

How do we endure persecution

Knowing our reward is in heaven

Knowing nothing can separate us from God’s love

Romans 8:35 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?”

Our reaction

Pray for those who persecute you

Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.”

Keep your eyes on Jesus and the goal of sharing the gospel

1 Thessalonians 2:2 “But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.”

Look to our example: Jesus

1 Peter 2:19–21 “For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.”

On Screen Question:

Where do you need to live for Jesus, even if it means you might have resistance?

Questions

When there is conflict, do you tend to try to escape or attack? How can you try to be a peacemaker?

How do we react to persecution?

What are ways we can be bold for Christ?