“Blessed Are Those Who are Persecuted” Matthew 5:10-12

The courtroom was packed with people, eager to hear the testimony of the defendant. He had been arrested for his heresy and slander against Moses and God. Now, the defendant stood in the docket. The charges were that he claimed Jesus would destroy the temple and change the customs Moses handed down.

The high priest, acting as judge in this court, turned to the defendant and asked him one question: “Are these charges true?”

All eyes turned to look at the defendant. The room became silent, and the defendant, known simply as Stephen, responded. He began by talking about Abraham, then moved to Joseph. Finally, he shared about Moses. His words were eloquent, compelling, and everyone in the room listened intently. He spoke of a prophet that God promised to send, one similar to Moses. Finally, he said to the court, “And now you have betrayed and murdered Him—you who have received the law that was put into effect through angels but have not obeyed it.”

Stephen’s words inflamed the crowd. Then Stephen said over the gathering din in the room, “Look, I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

These last words were too much for the audience. They screamed at him as they rushed toward him, dragging him out of the courtroom and the city. They began to stone him, the fitting sentence for such heresy.

As Stephen was being stoned to death, he prayed. “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then again, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” Then he died.

There was a time when speaking the truth about Jesus was reason enough to have a person killed. Martyrs died by the thousands under the reign of Nero for professing Jesus as Lord. Down through the ages, men and women have paid for their faith with their lives. Even today, it isn’t uncommon for people on the other side of the world facing genuine life-and-death decisions when they live out their belief in Jesus.

Here in America, our persecution, if there is any, consists of rolled eyes, snide comments and insults, if anything. We complain because the courts have ordered the end of state-sanctioned prayers in our schools and the removal of Christian symbols from government property. Never mind that the court only prohibits the state from endorsing one religion over another, which is consistent with the First Amendment.

The final of the Beatitudes speaks to us about what it truly means to be a follower of Christ. It speaks of paying the price in our world for standing for Him, and it promises us the blessing that we have the kingdom of heaven.

Central Truth: Walking in faithful obedience to Christ will bring persecution.

The persecuted:

Must be as a result of righteousness (10)

Jesus was very careful to qualify the reason for the persecution—“Blessed are they who are persecuted because of righteousness.” The person who is righteous is the one who stands for the truth as revealed in Christ Jesus. It is the person who demonstrates his or her love for God in the way he or she lives out life in obedience to Christ. The righteous lets the love of Christ be evident in them in the way they treat other people in a Christ-like manner. They let the words of 1 Corinthians 13 actually guide them in their demonstration of love for one another.

The righteous are those who are poor in spirit, who mourn, who hunger and thirst after righteousness. They are the ones who are merciful, who are pure in heart, and who are peacemakers. Because such people are consistent in letting Christ live through them, they find themselves in conflict with our world.

I personally have had people dismiss me because of my beliefs. They have figured me to be somewhat of a fool, or at best misguided, for my insistence in holding to the saving grace of God through Jesus Christ. I’ve had people all but laugh at me for my insistence that the Bible is accurate. I remember once, years ago in seminary, as we were taking prayer requests, that I requested prayer for rain, and someone behind me laughed out loud.

And I don’t mind that. Yes, I’d like to be taken seriously by others, but I understand when the world rejects me. After all, “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). If the world can crucify Jesus, why should I be upset that they roll their eyes at me and laugh at me?

The trouble comes when people are persecuted not for their righteousness, but because they’re being jerks for Christ. I think of the group of people who make up the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. They make a name for themselves because they protest loudly at the funerals of fallen soldiers. Their speech is filled with hate and judgment, and self-respecting people, Christian and non-Christian, feel strongly against them. They are persecuted, but not because of their righteousness. It is because of their unrighteousness.

It is possible to be insulted and ridiculed not because of righteousness but because we’re being a jerk for Christ. Being a jerk for Christ is presuming to know what God wants without ever really asking Him, who speak on His behalf without first finding out what He wants them to say, or even if He wants them to say anything at all. I think of those Jesus mentioned in Matthew 6, who pray in public places and give grandly in order for others to say how wonderful and spiritual they are. Being a jerk in Jesus’ name is not the same as being righteous. True righteousness comes from a life devoted to knowing and doing God’s will; self-righteousness is doing things in His name without the first clue of knowing Him or His will.

It is critical that we know the difference. We need to speak God’s truth to our world, including words of warning and judgment that will come, but we don’t have to be judgmental ourselves. We can and must speak of God’s judgment in the same manner of Christ—assured of the truth of our words but couched in the agape love of Christ.

Are identified with Jesus (11)

This verse veers away from the pattern of the other Beatitudes in that Jesus no longer addresses the blessings to “those,” but now speaks directly to His disciples. “Blessed are you” is spoken directly to us, and it reminds us that our persecution comes about because of Him.

Peter and John had gone to the temple to pray. As they entered the temple area, they came across a man that had been crippled from birth. The man was begging, something he did every day at the same place. This day, though, would be different for him, because this day, he would get Peter’s attention. Peter looked at the man and said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Peter helped him up, and the man was able to walk for the first time in his life. The Bible says the man entered the temple with Peter and John, walking and jumping. Peter and John used the opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ. They were arrested and warned not to preach about Jesus.

Later on, Peter and John were arrested again, for the same reason. This time, they were whipped and warned not to preach Christ. The Bible says, “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (Acts 5:41). The persecution didn’t stop the preaching and teaching in Jesus’ name.

I heard the testimony of a man from then-Communist eastern Europe, either Romania or Yugoslavia. He had been trained for ministry in England but had returned home to minister to his people. He was constantly harassed and arrested by the state police. One time, he was told, “We could kill you.” His reply was, “Please do. When you kill me, you will pour my blood on my message, and it will give power to the truths I wish to share with others. They will re-read my sermons and relisten to my tapes, because they will know that there is power there.” He was released shortly after that and was never bothered again.

The person who lives for Jesus, who is identified by the world as being with Jesus, will inevitably suffer a form of persecution. Jesus said, “If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20). This verse comes in a long lesson about the world’s rejection of Jesus and animosity toward Him and His followers. As we identify with Jesus, it is inevitable people will judge us and reject us as well.

We are persecuted because we are identified with Jesus.

Are rewarded for their faithfulness (12)

No one likes to be hated. No one likes to be treated poorly. And yet, we can endure a lot if we know that, somewhere down the line, it will all be worth it. Athletes endure hours upon hours of hard, grueling practice in order to perform at their best when it really matters. Musicians spend countless hours in repetitious practice in order to hone their skill and bring glorious music from their instruments. And on and on it goes. We endure because we know the hardship will ultimately be worth it.

So it is with persecution. Jesus reminds us that those who are persecuted for righteousness are in good company. He likens our persecution to the persecution endured by the prophets, and reminds us that our reward awaits us.

When we consider the great people of the Bible, more often than not we are thinking of prophets. Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel and on and on through John the Baptist. These men spoke God’s words with confidence and the assurance that what they said came from God and was consistent with God’s divine revelation and will. They acted in obedience to God’s calling and instructions. They weren’t always popular, but they knew what they said was true and right. They could be harsh, but they were never judgmental.

The reward we receive is with God. As we have looked at each of the Beatitudes, we realize that the promised blessings are not distant future blessing, but are present day, and that they are not earned, but are in conjunction with the way we respond to the Father through the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

We who are persecuted for righteousness are rewarded by God with blessings and assurance of His kingdom, both now and future.

Conclusion

Everyone wants to be liked and loved. Everybody wants to be respected and admired.

Unfortunately, none of is universally loved and admired. It is inevitable that someone, somewhere, just won’t appreciate us. And that’s okay. As long as we live our lives in obedience to God, as long as we follow the example of Christ, as long as we heed the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we will continue in God’s favor.

The world may hate us and dismiss us. It may want bad things to happen to us. It may try to ensure that bad things happen to us. But none of that matters. As long as we are where God wants us to be, then we have all we need. “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:32).

Walk with God, and let the persecutions roll off our backs. Rejoice in the Lord always, and trust in His ways. We shall endure and we shall conquer.

God promises it. Believe it.