Blessed are the Persecuted

“Blessed are the Persecuted”

Matthew 5:10-12

The first and last of the Beatitudes end with the promise “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. It must be said, however, that the last beatitude is the least desired. It describes what happens to those people who have kingdom character. When the world sees a spiritually poor, mourning, meek, hungry, merciful, pure, peace making person they will take advantage of that person. They will hate that person and they will persecute that person. Jesus last beatitude certainly does not sound like much preaching we hear today. He begins His sermon by telling the people how to behave and then warns them that they will be persecuted if they obey Him. Most sermons today tell us how to live and then promise that if we obey our life in this world will so much better. Why does Jesus begin His sermon this way?

* Because it is true. 2 Tim. 3:12

* Because it is necessary. Luke 14:25-27

Why are kingdom people persecuted?

We use the term rather loosely in our American churches. It may be that we do this because so little actual persecution takes place here. We must spiritualize most of our circumstances in order for them to qualify as persecution. That may be appropriate sometimes, but it probably is not what Jesus hearers thought of when they heard Him speak these words. The truth is that many times we call things persecution that are not persecution at all.

*Trials are not the same as persecution. Many things cause trials to come into our lives. A sinking economy, bad decisions, wayward children, etc. In fact, God sometimes sends trials our way to test and strengthen us (Genesis 22:1). We should not think that every time we face a trial we are being persecuted.

*Foolish behavior that invites attention is not the same as persecution. Some people have a martyr complex. In other words, they so desperately want to be perceived as persecuted that they look for ways to be persecuted. It could be through unholy confrontation. When a person proudfully denounces someone’s sin to their face they should not be surprised when they are cussed out, ridiculed, or even struck.

*Sinful actions that invite retribution are not the same as persecution. Some people decide that in the name of God they must do something sinful. They must burn down an abortion clinic or even kill a person for being, in their mind, “exceeding sinful”. As a result they go to prison.

The blessing of God is upon the person who is persecuted for righteousness sake. The world is an unrighteous place. As a result, it hates righteousness. Jesus made this clear.

* John 3:19-21

* John 15:20-23

The world hated Jesus because He is righteous. As a result, they persecuted Him. God is a threat to humanity because He is righteous and we are not. The response of the world toward a righteous God is to kill Him (Psalm 2:1-3).

Kingdom people are persecuted “for righteousness sake”. Maybe the reason we see so little persecution in America is because we have so little righteousness. We will suffer persecution when we determine to live the way Jesus lived. It is inevitable. When we please God we anger the world. When the world is angered it responds with persecution. If the world is always pleased with our actions, philosophies, and opinions something is wrong. It is a sad day when the world applauds and celebrates professed believers. James 4:4 says “friendship of the world is enmity with God”.

As we live in obedience to God we can expect to upset the world. Jesus certainly did. The early church did as well (Acts 17:6). When our righteous and humble behavior angers the world we can be sure we are pleasing God. We should not be ashamed during these times or give in. It is a privilege that reveals our righteousness (1 Peter 4:14-16).

How are kingdom persecuted?

Jesus describes the reaction of the world toward believers in three ways:

*They are reviled. This word means “to cast insults at”. As believers live righteously we can expect to be insulted. This was one of the ways Christ was persecuted. They called on Him to prophesy and tell them who was hitting Him while He was blindfolded (Matt. 27:68). While He was hanging on the cross people passed by and insulted Him (Matt. 27:39). They cried out “he saved others; Himself He cannot save” (Matt. 27:42). With this in mind Peter said in 1 Peter 2:23 of Jesus “When He was reviled, reviled not again.” Jesus responded to insults with silence.

As believers, we can expect to be insulted. It may be because of what we believe. We may be insulted for what we do. We may be insulted for what we refuse to do. These insults may come from strangers or they may come from family members. When we stand for righteousness it will invite insult. When we stand on the Word we should not expect the world will not understand. As we refuse to agree with them, they will often respond by insulting us. This is a type of persecution we may endure.

*They are persecuted. This word describes the physical aspect of persecution. It is the actual suffering of the body. It is rare to see this in our culture. However, in many places believers are still physically persecuted for their faith. They are beaten, imprisoned and sometimes killed for righteousness sake. I must admit that I feel unworthy to even attempt to discuss this because I certainly have never had to endure anything close to what many of the past and present day saints are enduring. It is at this point that faith is tested to the max. Those who endure such persecution prove that they love the Lord more than their own lives.

*They are falsely accused. In other words, they are lied about. “For my sake” means that as a result of our living for the Lord certain people will hate us so much that they tell lies about us. Jesus endured this as well (Matt. 26:61). As believers we will find ourselves the subject of gossip, slander and even lies. Sometimes this is done because a person does not want people to believe we are children of God. Sometimes they do not want others to follow us. When people tell lies about us it certainly hurts. When this is done because we are living for the Lord we can be sure that God will reward us for enduring such persecution.

What happens to kingdom people who are persecuted?

*The persecuted are commanded to rejoice. Jesus commands the persecuted to be “exceeding glad”. This phrase literally means “to leap for joy”. We are not to rejoice simply because we are persecuted. The motivator that Jesus gives us is the reward we will receive in heaven. Paul was able to endure suffering and rejoice because he knew that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). This age for us will end in either death or the return of Christ. At that point heaven will be our home for all eternity and suffering will be nothing but a memory (Rev. 21:4). We can rejoice in our present persecution because of the joy set before us (Heb. 12:2).

*The persecuted are in great company. If we want to be like Jesus in every way then we must experience persecution. He is our example. God’s people have always experienced persecution. Hebrews 11:36-38 describes the Old Testament saints who experienced great persecution at the hands of an evil world. The writer says that the world was not worthy of these men and women. As we endure persecution for the sake of righteousness we join a great company of past, present and future believers.

*The persecuted are blessed. This is the only beatitude that mentions two blessings for the same thing. As hard as it may seem, we should understand that it is an honor to suffer for the Lord (Acts 5:41). When the world curses us we should remember that it’s probably because God is blessing us.

We should neither seek persecution nor seek to avoid it. There is a sure way to avoid it. If we do what the world does, laugh at the world’s jokes, hide the truth in a jar, etc. the world will leave us alone. If we live righteously, however, persecution in some form will come. We should respond in brokenness toward our persecutors and in praise toward God when it arrives. As we do this we will say with Jesus “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake”.