Blessed are the persecuted (Matthew 5:10-11)

Sometimes a speaker delays his important point to the end of his address, or section of his address, and then describes it in different ways, especially if there is quite a contrast between his other points and his final one. We can see that there is contrast between the previous beatitudes and the last one. The previous ones have no indication of problems for his followers if they pursue what is described, but the last one is all about a problem, and a huge one at that, the problem of persecution. What makes it more problematic is that Jesus indicates that persecution is inevitable.

The last beatitude is mentioned twice, although there are differences between the descriptions. In verse 10, the description is a general one for all time, whereas in verse 11 the description is of the immediate disciples of Jesus and what was going to happen to them once they had commenced fulfilling their role as witnesses to Jesus. All of them would undergo persecution, with some of their experiences detailed in the Book of Acts (Peter and John were interrogated by the Sanhedrin, James was executed by Herod), and the one to survive the longest (John) underwent persecution on the island of Patmos.

 

Although verse 11 is directed at the initial disciples we are not to conclude that the details cannot be applied to ourselves, as if their response was to be different from what other Christians should do. In particular, we can observe the reviling of the opposers, the rejoicing of the disciples, the riches of the disciples, and the relationship that Jesus mentions between them and the Old Testament prophets. Before that, we can consider the necessary reasons for persecution, and two are given by Jesus in verse 10.

 

The reasons for persecution

In verse 10, Jesus says that persecution must be connected to righteous living. As a quick scan of his sermon will reveal, Jesus says a great deal about righteous living in the sermon, so it is not difficult to see that Jesus is forewarning his disciples regarding what living according to his rules will cause for them as they serve him. Concerning righteousness, Jesus says his followers will pursue it from the inside and not to be seen by others (unlike the Pharisees). They will hate sin, mortify sin and engage in holy living. Moreover, the opposition must be linked to the name of Jesus. No doubt, the two reasons are connected. They indicate that opposers identify believers by their behaviour and by their clear allegiance to Jesus.

 

Of course, it is possible to be opposed for reasons other than righteousness. A person can be opposed because he or she is a disagreeable, argumentative, manipulative, unreliable individual. When such are opposed, it is not persecution for the sake of Christ. Peter warned his readers not to suffer as evildoers.

 

Moreover, some can be willing to live and die for earthly causes as evidenced by those who participate in revolutions. There are some described in 1 Corinthians 13 who were willing to give their body to be burned, but whose desire was not an expression of love. Initially, we might find that hard to believe, but most causes have not been short of martyrs.

 

The reviling of the opposers

It is important to note that the antagonistic reaction here is mainly verbal, although there are aspects of physical assault included in their treatment of the disciples of Jesus. We tend to consider only physical ill-treatment as persecution whereas Jesus defines persecution in a much wider way. Of course, describing it as reviling indicates both intensity against and contempt for believers.

 

I recall the first time I saw it. I was in secondary school almost half a century ago. One morning, as I went to a classroom, I saw a group of girls surrounding another girl and shouting at her. It turned out that she had been converted on the previous day and there she was, undergoing persecution very quickly for her faith. I was not a Christian at that time, and was ambivalent about it all. But there was a Christian facing peers who were not ambivalent about here commitment and who were ready to revile her.

 

Jesus points out that opponents can say all kinds of evil things. In the first centuries of the Christian church there were ten general periods of persecution throughout the Roman Empire. What were the accusations made against the Christians? Among other things they were accused of cannibalism (the Lord’s Supper), of atheism (no visible gods), of disloyalty (against the government), as well as other falsehoods. They were regarded as the enemies of the human race, and not just by the political leaders.

 

There are many other examples from church history of persecution that could be mentioned, including from our own country at the Reformation and later during the Covenanting times. In addition, there are many reports of persecution today. As Paul reminded Timothy, ‘all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ (2 Tim. 3:12). Do we experience opposition for our faith? Has anyone ever derided us? If so, we are in good company. And Jesus goes on to make a surprising statement about how to respond to such experiences.

 

The rejoicing of the disciples

The instruction that Jesus gave to his disciples regarding what to do when they would be persecuted is very striking – they are to rejoice and be glad, not because the opposition is pleasant, but because there is a great reward for them in heaven. What does this detail from the King say to us?

 

An obvious deduction that we can make is that we should be happy people. This is a reminder that there is no situation in life that should deprive a Christian of spiritual joy. We are told about Peter and John that after they had been beaten by the Sanhedrin, ‘they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name’ (Acts 5:41).

 

James instructed his readers to ‘Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness’ (Jas. 1:2-3).  He knew that spiritual benefit resulted from difficulties if they were handled correctly. James is not saying that the outcome should be joy, although that would be likely. Rather he is saying that the initial reaction to trouble should be joy. Nor is he saying that joy should be the only response. But he did stress that it had to be the basic response.

 

How can a person react in this manner? Surely, it is connected to one’s view of providence. Providence is just another word for God’s control of everything. And with regard to everything, Paul reminds us that ‘we know that for those who love God all things work together for good’ (Rom. 8:28). Somehow, in all the intricacies of life God is constantly at work for the benefit of his people. We cannot understand how he does so, but he is active all the time. He overrules sinful actions and blesses holy actions. This is his constant activity, and for reasons we don’t know he allows his people to be persecuted. But they know that is the case, and they know that he can bring good out of it.

 

The obvious feature of the riches from an earthly perspective is that they are unlosable. Elsewhere in the sermon, Jesus urges his disciples, ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Matt. 6:19-21).

 

When should one realise this? It must be part of counting the cost at the beginning of the Christian life. In the parable of the sower, opposition is one of the reasons why people give up the faith, but such never thought about the inevitability of disapproval. Only then will professing Christians understand the words of Peter that they should not think it strange when they undergo fiery trials (1 Pet. 4:12).

 

The riches of the disciples

In verse 10, Jesus says that those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake have the kingdom of heaven. He is reminding his disciples that earthly loss does not mean heavenly loss. They may lose their earthly possessions, but they do not lose their heavenly possessions. In verse 11, he indicates that somehow their heavenly possessions actually increase as a consequence of their persecution.

 

The obvious deduction that can be made from such references to heaven is that believers should be heavenly-minded while living in this world. Paul urged the Colossians to ‘seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth’ (Col. 3:1-2). But how do we become heavenly minded in the sense of knowing our wealth? How should we think about it?

 

I think the answer to this question is to remind ourselves that we are heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus. Jesus is the heir of all things which suggests that his people in the next world will enjoy what he possesses. The inheritance is beyond description, but there is a sense in which we can contribute to our place in it by our faithfulness now for which we will get rewarded. Jesus used the illustration of ruling over cities in the world to come to depict something of the possessions that believers will have in heaven as their reward.

 

We could almost say that enduring a time of opposition is like going to a bank to increase the value of our account. Day after day reviling and abuse may occur, but through dependence on Christ it can be opportunities for becoming wealthy in our heavenly treasure vault. And when his people get to heaven they will be given a crown, not because their efforts were sinless, but because the Holy Spirit gave them grace day by day to persevere, even when the going became very tough and difficult.

 

The relationship that believers have

Jesus tells his disciples that their coming experience of persecution is the same experience that the Old Testament prophets underwent. We can think of some of them. Abel was persecuted by his brother Cain, David was chased round the country by his countrymen, Elijah was opposed by Ahab and Jezebel, Isaiah was slain by being sawn in two, Jeremiah was imprisoned for his faithfulness, Zechariah was killed at the temple. These were the historical connections of the disciples – they had been called to follow those who stood firm in their day.

 

To them we can add those who suffered in the early church as well as later on at the Reformation and the Covenanting times. We should identify with them as well as with the persecuted believers throughout the world today.

 

Application

What applications can we take from this beatitude? I would suggest three. First, there is certainty. There is the certainty of opposition, there is the certainty of heavenly riches, there is the certainty of divine resources connected to the kingdom of heaven, there is the certainty of Christ’s presence with his suffering people, and there is the certainty  of God’s Word (its promises and warnings).

 

Second, there is comfort from knowing that Jesus knows, that he knows what we will face even as he knew what the disciples would face in the years ahead, and from knowing that he will give us grace for whatever comes our way.

 

Third, there is the challenge of loyalty to Christ when the going gets tough.  There is also the challenge of praying for those who persecute us (Luke 6:28) as well as remembering to pray for those who are being persecuted today.