Matthew 5:10-12 (NASB)
[10] "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
[11] "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
[12] "Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
This series on the beatitudes has been hard to study. Looking at the individual beatitudes is difficult because it forces us to look deep into each beatitude and its application to our personal lives. The last beatitude is no exception.
The topic of persecution is especially hard because I don't believe we understand the meaning of persecution, at least not as it applies to us. We live in a country where we are free to worship and witness about our faith.
Because of this freedom, I don't think we recognize persecution for what it is, or what it might mean in our culture today. Keep in mind that everything Satan does to derail our relationship with God is persecution.
After my study this week, I have come to realize that persecution is all about the stand we take for the Kingdom of God in following Jesus. It has little to do with the degree or severity of the physical or emotional persecution we might suffer.
So, what does it mean to come under persecution and how is that applicable to you and I today?
First, a simple definition:
PERSECUTE: (G1377) from a Greek word that means, to pursue, prosecute, persecute, but also to pursue in a good sense. To prosecute, persecute, pursue with repeated acts of enmity. To follow after. To follow or press hard after, to pursue with earnestness and diligence in order to obtain, to go after with the desire of obtaining. (CWS-NT)
The English dictionary says: PERSECUTE: To pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently. To annoy or trouble persistently. (www.dictionary.com)
When you take a look at the Greek word for persecution, as it is used in the New Testament, you discover some interesting facts about it. I discovered two important things in my study.
What motivates some to persecute others? How is persecution used in both negative and positive ways in the New Testament?
Verse 10 of our text today says that persecution comes because of righteousness. This can be taken in two ways.
There are several passages that talk about the negative aspect of the word persecution.
People are persecuted for several reasons:
There are also passages that talk about the positive aspects of the word persecution.
The Greek word for persecution is used to talk about:
Persecution, although we rarely think of it in a positive way, is a word used to describe the passionate pursuit of a strong belief or feeling in both negative and positive connotations.
There is a very familiar passage that I want to read this morning because it uses the word persecution, which was a surprise to me.
Philippians 3:7-16 (NASB)
[7] But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
[8] More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
The point Paul is trying to make in these two verses, is the fact that the more valuable Christ became in his life, the less valuable the things of this world became.
[9] and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
[10] that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
[11] in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
[12] Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
The word press in this verse is the Greek word for persecution. Paul wants us to know that the energy and resources that people use to persecute those who they hate, is the same kind of energy and resource that we are to use to lay hold of that for which Christ has provided for us.
[13] Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
[14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Again, Paul uses the Greek word for persecution. He wants those who read his letter to understand the tenacity with which they are to pursue the goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ.
[15] Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
[16] however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
Notice his use of the word attitude in verse 15. The ability to have this tenacity to pursue Christ must be the attitude of our every day lifestyle.
Then in verse 16, there is a caution to keep to the proper standard. This is actually a warning not to let your guard down and slip back from the light the Holy Spirit has given you.
What form does persecution take? I am sure that the different ways in which someone can persecute another are only limited by the evil imaginations of the persecutors. The New Testament gives us many examples. Many of these forms of persecution are apparent in our culture and society today.
Mt 5:11 - Our text this morning talks about insults and lies as persecution. Other forms include:
In Paul's second letter to the Corinthian church, he talks about the different ways that he has been persecuted.
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NASB)
[23] Are they servants of Christ? - I speak as if insane - I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
[24] Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
[25] Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.
[26] I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
[27] I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
[28] Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.
[29] Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
Probably the hardest thing for us to imagine is how we might react when pressed with extreme persecution, especially if the persecution involved some kind of threat of physical pain. There are several passages that talk about the reactions we should have.
In his first letter to the Corinthian church, Paul talks about this in details that are important for us to grasp.
1 Corinthians 4:8-13 (NASB)
[8] You are already filled, you have already become rich, you have become kings without us; and indeed, I wish that you had become kings so that we also might reign with you.
[9] For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.
[10] We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.
[11] To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;
[12] and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;
[13] when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
Biblical accounts of persecution reach far back into the Old Testament. Able is the first person killed because of his telationship with God.
We see the stoning of Steven in the New Testament, and the history of the Christian church has volumes filled with accounts of persecution.
It is hard to read in one sitting but Foxe's Book of Martyrs gives an exhaustive accounting of the persecution of Christians. I want to read one of his accounts for you.
"Paul Garnier, a very pious Protestant, had his eyes put out, was then flayed alive, and being divided into four parts, his quarters were placed on four of the principal houses of Lucerne. He bore all his sufferings with the most exemplary patience, praised God as long as he could speak, and plainly evinced, what confidence and resignation a good conscience can inspire." (FOX, Ch. 6)
I could go on for hours quoting from this book and others, but I think you get the point. Persecution is a nasty business and shows the anger and hate that can be stirred out of people to abuse others. This anger and hate comes out of guilt, jealousy, and the perversion of the sinful nature within a man or a woman who has rejected God.
I believe there is also an attitude toward persecution. It is an attitude of faith in God who knows everything, including every little thing we go through. He knows how much we can take, and He will not let the persecution in our lives exceed that threshold.
2 Corinthians 4:7-18 (NASB)
[7] But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
[8] we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
[9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
[10] always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
[11] For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
[12] So death works in us, but life in you.
[13] But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE," we also believe, therefore we also speak,
[14] knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
[15] For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
[16] Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
[17] For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
[18] while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Paul wants the Corinthian church, and you and I, to have a faith that stands firm in an ever-maturing relationship with Jesus Christ in our personal lives. This stand we take must be the most important thing in our daily lives. That is the kind of faith that can endure any kind of persecution.
From the slightest lie or rumor, to the most intense physical pain, it is only our faith in Jesus Christ and His resurrection from the dead that gives us this kind of endurance during tough times.
Is this the kind of faith that your lifestyle exhibits on a daily basis?
Please stand. Let us pray...
CWS-NT - AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary - New Testament (CWS-NT). Cedar Rapids: Laridian Electronic Publishing, 2007.
FOX - Foxe, John, Foxe's Book of Martyrs. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/foxe/martyrs/files/begin.htm
NASB - New American Standard Bible (NASB). Cedar Rapids: Laridian, 2002.
I want to thank my research assistants, Debi Peck and Robyn Harper (HARPER), who do hours of research to provide some of my study resources. I also want to thank Vonda Watson-Bostick and Robyn Harper, who help me with editing.