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Welcome to week nine of my series on The Beatitudes.
The Sermon on the Mount teachings are a demonstration of what we should be living as Christ followers. Jesus set the tone early on in His ministry regarding what He was about and what it meant to be His disciple and have a Kingdom mindset. These teachings are the foundation for what Jesus modeled and would be doing for the next three years of His earthly ministry, and what He longs for us His followers to do as well.
The Beatitudes are the good news of the Gospel of the Kingdom that Jesus preached for the here and now and also for the Kingdom to come. I look forward to diving in deeper to each one of the 8 Beatitudes in the weeks to come.
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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10 NIV)
It’s was a cold, clear Friday night as I stood at the edge of the stadium bleachers, pretending to watch the game. I noticed a few of my friends huddled in a circle with a group of other people. Football wasn’t my thing, attending the games was more about socializing, than watching the action. When I approached the group of kids, the murmuring and whispers abruptly stopped. It was an awkward moment of silence and then I asked what they were talking about. The reply from one the kids was, “We can’t tell you!” I was shocked, “What? Why Not!” The reply came as even more of a shock, “Your a goodie-goodie Christian girl, and you will tell on us and then we will all get into trouble.” I protested until they relented and finally agreed to include me.
I use to think the kids teasing me for being a goodie-goodie Christian was persecution. However, now that I have more life experience, and I understand that it was the farthest thing from the truth. I know in my teenage mind, it sure felt like the persecution Jesus was talking about here in the Beatitudes, but as I look back, I understand I was a little naïve back then. I didn’t fully understand what persecution really meant. Truthfully, I am not sure any of us really can understand the fullness of what it means to be persecuted for our faith unless we have experienced it first hand or observed it with someone we are connected with.
There is a huge difference in reading about persecution of the early church, or even Christians today and it’s a completely different thing to experience it. In American, we have many freedoms. We even have the freedom of religion. We can meet regularly without worrying about persecution from the authorities. It doesn’t necessarily mean that, we won’t be persecuted, in other ways though.
To be persecuted means: to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, especially because of religious or political beliefs.[1]
As we look at Bible history, the New Testament Scriptures and world history, we can see the kind of persecution Jesus was talking about. Most of the disciples were put to death because they preached the Gospel of the Kingdom. Many in the early church were also persecuted unto death for their beliefs. They all however, were glad to do so. As Jesus sat on the mount that day speaking to the multitude, His disciples would have been the closest surrounding Him. He was speaking directly to them about what they were signing on for, as well as speaking to those who were following after Him.
As He spoke, Jesus was giving them a glimpse of what was to come, not just for himself, but for them as well. Before, Jesus death, they may not have understood the fullness of His words, but as they watched the events leading up and past His crucifixion, I am sure there was no doubt in their minds exactly what it meant to be persecuted for living a right and holy life unto God.
As Jesus wraps up this section on the beatitudes, “Blessed are the persecuted,” is the eighth one. However, He expands on this last one a little more than the others. Why? He wants them to fully understand the depth of what He is talking about and what it means to be persecuted. As we dive in deeper to these verses, we will see the spectrum of persecution Jesus was talking about. At one end of the spectrum is death. At the other end of the spectrum is people speaking insults.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12 NIV)
I don’t know about you, but I have had people insult me and say all kinds of untruths about me. These actions and words from others are hurtful, and yet, we are told to rejoice, and be glad.
Let’s look at these verses in a few other translations:
“How enriched you are when you bear the wounds of being persecuted for doing what is right For that is when you experience the realm of heaven’s kingdom. “How ecstatic you can be when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me! So leap for joy—since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you (Matthew 5:10-12 The Passion Translation).
The Passion Translation tells us not only will we be wounded and bear the marks, but that our lives will be enriched because of persecution. We are told to be ecstatic and leap for joy when people insult us and speak lies about us. Why? Because then we will experience heaven’s kingdom! The Message translation (see below) goes on to say, it is our commitment to God that will provoke the persecution. We may not like it, but Jesus does, because this persecution will drive us closer and deeper in relationship with Him.
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble. (Matthew 5:10-12 MSG)
Honestly, this is one of those times, where when I read some of the Scriptures I fully realize: Gods ways are definetly not my ways, nor are His thoughts my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). However, I choose to trust Him and press into Him.
Growing up in church, the question was often poised to us: Would you be willing to die for your belief in Jesus? As a teenager, I said yes, but I am not sure I fully understood the magnitude of the question. If asked that now, I would still say yes, and while I may not fully understand the gravity of that response, I do understand more now what it means to live for God and yet be persecuted. It’s not just about being put to death for what I believe. It’s also about being persecuted and ridiculed because I am following after Jesus with my whole heart. It is being persecuted and hated because I bring light into the darkness. It is being persecuted and talked bad about because I choose to speak truth in love and stand upon the foundation of Scripture.
What about you? Would you be willing to die for your belief in Jesus?
Are you willing to endure persecution, be talked about and endure hardships all because you pursue Jesus with your whole heart?
Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing (James 1:2-4 The Voice).
[1] Dictionary.com
This week, I’m at a conference so I wasn’t able to do the featured portion of #TuneInThursday this week.
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I think the persecution question is a very interesting one. As a Christian, I sometimes think that Christians go out of their way to look for persecution where there is none. Maybe this beatitude helps to explain that.
Laurie, I think you have an interesting point, and I think you may be right. This was one of the hardest beatitudes to write about, and also the one I found the least amount of research about.
We need so much help in learning that Kingdom mindset. In our economy, persecution is a bad thing, a thing to be most assiduously avoided, but Jesus calls the persecuted “blessed.” I have a long way to go in living this out.
Yes, Michele I agree. We do need more learning and understand about the Kingdom mindset. I too have a long way to go with living this idea of persecution being a blessings and walking out as well. Blessings
“all of heaven applauds” That’s the stuff! laurensparks.net
Yes Lauren, it most certainly is!!! 🙂
Sometimes I grow frustrated with how people complain about what’s going on with Christianity in America. It isn’t fair that there’s this double-standard of acceptance of all things except Jesus, yes, but I look at how people in other countries are being physically persecuted, and I’m reminded we have a wonderful, free country to live in while we live out our faith. I loved your reminder that Jesus tells us about persecution and how we must remember we are blessed when persecuted! So even with those in this country who verbally abuse us for our faith, we can remember why we accept that persecution.
Oh yes, Emily, I couldn’t agree with you more. Everything but Jesus is accepted and tolerated it seems – it is most definitely a double standard. Thank you so much for your comment and thoughts about this. I really value them. 🙂 Blessings
Thank you for this excellent, clear description of the persecution Jesus meant in the beatitudes.
you are most welcome Debbie!
I hope you had a special Memorial Day and a lovely week! Thanks for hosting!
Yes, Lisa, I did! I hope you did as well. thanks for always linking up 🙂
I don’t think the Church in America has a clue related to persecution. My own opinion. Years ago, Holy Spirit planted the word ENDURE deep within my spirit. I pray I do. xo
Susan, I couldn’t agree with you more! We (the American church) like to think we understand persecution, but truth be told, we have no idea how easy our persecution is to other countries. I pray I can endure when the time comes as well.
We here in America have no idea what persecution really is. I have a friend who was a missionary kid in Africa when she was little. The stories she can tell… scary and amazing!
Absolutely agree with you Danielle! I can only image your friends stories. I too have heard some doozies from missionaries as well.
Thank you for hosting! My offerings this week include a Baby Shower Popcorn, Cupcake Graduation Toppers, and a Banana Chocolate Chip Cake. Enjoy your week!
You are most welcome Marilyn – thanks for your offerings of tasty recipes!
I agree Debbie, the western church doesn’t know precaution yet… But slowly there’s an erosion of God’s principles that our nation’s were founded on is happening & it will come!
Sadly, personal persecution does happen… especially in the isolation of their only born again member. 🙁
Hope you enjoy the conference!:-)
Jennifer
Jennifer – you make a good point, and whole the majority of those in our nation have no idea, yes… there are personal persecutions that do occur. The conference was great – thanks 🙂
I pray like Stephen, to die a good death if it comes to being persecuted. I know that there is no way for me to do that in my own strength.
Thank you for a great message and for hosting!
Blessings,
Amy
Amy, that is a great and BOLD prayer – but one we as believers should all pray if the time comes. You are most welcome for the message and thanks for being here to comment and for your linkup as well.
I’ve been thinking more about persecution lately since I’ve been memorizing these verses. I know I have NO idea what real persecution is. We’ve been so blessed. Nonetheless, you’re right that we do still have persecutions of a sort. And to us, they are just as real. Thank God for his rewards and blessings through them.
Lisa, even though, I/we may have some stories on how I/we feel like when I/we have been persecuted, I/we really have NO idea either what it would mean or even feel like to experience real persecution first hand. But yes, they are just as real. Thank you for sharing your thoughts 🙂
I think the line in the sand has been drawn in our current culture. Being a believer is definitely looked down upon. Today’s youth have to face persecution is ways I never did.
Elizabeth – that is so true and you make a great point. What we experienced as persecution is completely different as our children experience and will continue to get worse with each passing generation… which makes me sad, but also, it is exactly what Jesus said would happen the closer to His return. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
So very true. I think things are changing in this country about people believer in God and it is not a good thing.
Yes Patrick, I do think things are changing, just as you said.
Thank you for this encouragement about persecution. Your words remind me of the verse where Jesus said, “In this life, we will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” I am stopping by from porch stories.
Jolene, you are most welcome for the post. Yes, that is such a great verse and it does go perfectly with this post … so glad to have you stop by.
I love digging into the Beatitudes. I also love comparing the different versions of a passage for perspective and richness that you don’t always get by just reading one account. Thank you for linking up at #TellHisStory
thanks Mary. I too love the different versions, it truly gives a whole new perspective on what was going on and opens us up to a deeper understanding. thanks for stopping by from your new linkup!