BEATITUDES - LESSON 5

Matthew 5:10-11 Blessed are they, which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Indeed, there seems to be nothing rightful, proper, or just about it, but Jesus tells us that in His kingdom, this is the way it will be. His followers, those who obediently become Christians - the poor in spirit, ...they that mourn, ...the meek, ...they, which hunger and thirst after righteousness, ...the merciful, ...the pure in heart, ...the peacemakers, they will be persecuted for righteousness' sake. Members of the body of Christ must know for sure that men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for My sake. However, they are to also know this - they shall be blessed by the heavenly Father, knowing that the kingdom of heaven is their reward for their obedience to His will.

Although Luke does not write about "The Sermon on the Mount" in compete detail, he does expand on the teaching found in the subject text regarding Children of God being persecuted for righteousness' sake. He wrote, blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets (Luke 6:22-23). Christians are assured of this fact: persecution will come to those that serve God and the cause of Christ. As His servants, we cannot expect to be treated differently than our Master, Jesus Christ. Jesus confirmed this when he said; the servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20). Who can deny the severe persecution of our Lord? Christians must expect to be persecuted if they conduct their lives according to the will of God through His Son, Jesus Christ. However, Christians must also remember the remainder of this verse:if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also. That is, if we teach salvation through Jesus Christ, it will be received by those with an open and receptive heart, just as those that gladly accepted the teaching of Jesus during his ministry on earth.

Christians are to expect persecution, but they are not to fear it nor are they to shun the work of the Lord to avoid it. Persecutors may hurt your pride, harm you financially, treat you scornfully, call you by names that are contemptuous, derisively abuse your character, ridicule you, and, possibly cause you physical harm. Yet we are assured that no one can harm our souls if we faithfully serve our Master. The apostle, Peter, assures Christians of this fact with this condition attached - if ye be followers of that which is good. He continues by telling us that we are to be happy even though we suffer for the sake of righteousness. Be not afraid of their (persecutor's) terror, neither be troubled; but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ (See 1 Peter 3:13-16). Christian work will bring persecution! A little later on in his inspired letter, Peter wrote, Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf (1 Peter 4:16).

Persecution of those doing the will of God is the work of God's enemies under the influence of Satan. God's friendsare Satan's enemies. Christians have no right to seek like retribution. God's children are not to offend or provoke those that oppose, and refuse to accept, the will God. It is hard to imagine that those bringing the hope of eternal salvation through Jesus Christ into a world would not be accepted with open arms. Yet it is generallytrue. Preaching God's Word, for the most part, seems to create hatred that results in persecution of those that faithfully teach His will, even though the soul of each persecutor is in jeopardy of eternal punishment. As Christians, be not surprised; persecution comes with righteousness. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12). Such is the cost of serving God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. But whatever the cost may be, inheriting the kingdom of heaven is worth it all. Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him (James 1:12). And in the verse following the lesson text, this is the Lord's promise: Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you (Matt. 5:12).