Persecution
Text: Matthew 5:10-12
Why the Sermon on the Mount? Jesus was sharing with the crowds a
revolutionary conception of reality.
He taught that the experiences of humanity,
including persecution, are not events to be feared or avoided, but rather accepted with peace of mind and a joyful spirit as a Kingdom citizen.
Persecution may come in various forms,
such as being…
Reproached Harassed Ridiculed
Insulted Disparaged Reviled
Mocked Impugned Pursued
Slandered Beaten Tormented
Tortured Killed Imprisoned
Footnotes:
In the Kingdom, those who are poor are rich,
Those who mourn are comforted,
Those who are meek are blessed,
Those who seek righteousness are satisfied
Those who show mercy also receive it
Those who are pure in heart see how God
really is
Those who are diligent to make peace earn
respect and honor
In Matthew 5:10 Jesus said, “Blessed are those
who have been persecuted for the sake of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.”
This is a word of encouragement to those
who have suffered BECAUSE OF THEIR FAITH.
This is NOT an encouragement to seek the
Kingdom by trying to be persecuted!
In verse 11 we read, “Blessed are you when
people insult you and persecute you, and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you
because of Me.”
This is a word of encouragement to those
who are experiencing negative repercussions
BECAUSE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST.
This is NOT an encouragement to be so
obnoxious about Jesus that people do not
like you!
Then verse 12 says, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets
who were before you.”
Jesus is encouraging the people to
consider that the eternal reward is
far greater than our worldly suffering
Persecution places you in good company.
Persecution is a historical reality for God’s faithful servants.
Why this message to these people?
Racial persecution was a common reality
in their daily lives under Roman occupation.
Jesus was considered a revolutionary and
His followers paid the price of religious
persecution from the Jews and the Romans.
Jesus was teaching that the reality of
Kingdom life was not to live in fear of
persecution, but to live with a sense of
abandonment to the things of this world.
Why this message to us?
Jesus taught that the Kingdom life does
not operate under fear, but rather it boldly
acknowledges an eternal reality in which
the matters of this world are largely.
Inconsequential.
Remember, in the Kingdom--
Those who are poor are rich,
Those who mourn are comforted,
Those who are meek are blessed,
Those who seek righteousness are satisfied
Those who show mercy also receive it
Those who are pure in heart “really get”
what God is all about
Those who work to make peace earn
respect and honor
Those who are persecuted because they
are Kingdom citizens rejoice and are glad.