Blessed are those who are Persecuted.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake,
for theirs is the
Mat 5:10-12
There are many people being persecuted today, including the unbelievers for doing something good. Are the scriptures talking of anyone being persecuted, they will receive great rewards in heaven? No. The context is on true Christian believers. Let us analyze the scriptures.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. The key is righteousness sake. If you have been following the previous sermons it goes along with one theme and one context. The duty of the Christians are to witness to unbelievers who are unrighteous so if it’s the will of God, God will bring those unbelievers who are unrighteousness to become righteous in Christ Jesus. Witnessing to unbelievers is the most righteous thing to do. So this is not talking of unbelievers but for the Christians who do show their Christianity outwardly to the unbelievers.
12 For the eyes of the LORD are on
the righteous,
And His ears
are open to their prayers;
But the face of the LORD is against
those who do evil.
Suffering for Right
and Wrong
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers
of what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’
sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be
troubled.”[c] 15 But
sanctify the Lord God[d] in your hearts, and always be ready
to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is
in you, with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 3:12-15)
Those who are witnessing to the unbelievers will receive the
Mat
The word revile means using evil, abusive filthy language. What Jesus is saying is when you are witnessing there are times the unbelievers would make fun and mock you, they will use filthy dirty language and they will persecute you, say thing falsely for ‘My sake’ means you are witnessing for Jesus, you are representing Jesus, you are witnessing in Jesus name. The Lord is saying here you will be blessed. Every time they curse you every time you will be blessed. They are not really persecuting you but Jesus as you carry the name of Jesus.
4 Then
he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are
you persecuting Me?” ’ (Acts 9: 4).
12. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The most natural thing is for you to be personally hurt, very sad and cry, go and tell your Christians and they feel sorry for you and they will pray that this will never happen again to you. This is the wrong concept as Jesus said just the opposite. Jesus said when they make fun, use filthy language and persecute you, rejoice! Be exceedingly glad. Do you see the difference?
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[d] On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. ( 1 Peter 4:12)
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but
because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore
the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than
his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. ( John 15:19-20)
Example of Apostle Paul
11 To the present
hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor,
working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
13 when
slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the
world, the refuse of all things. (1 Cor
10 You, however,
have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience,
my love, my steadfastness, 11 my
persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which
persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who
desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy
Pray for those who persecute you.
Instead of getting angry at those who are persecuting you,
you need to pray for them.
We suffer as Christians when
we suffer and pray. ' 28 bless those who curse you, and
pray for those who spitefully use you.’ (Luke 6: 28).
There are two reasons why we
should pray for our persecutors.
Because our
prayers may be a means to convert them. Stephen prayed for his persecutors: 'Lord, lay not this
sin to their charge’ (Acts 7: 60). And this prayer was effectual to some of
their conversions. One of the people who became a Christian
of Stephen’s prayer for Apostle Paul.
We should pray for our
persecutors because they do us good, although they are
mad and angry at us, every time they persecute us they are increasing our
reward in heaven. Their wickedness is adding blessedness to us. Every injury
they make against us they are making our heavenly crown heavier. It’s like every stone
which was thrown at Stephen was a precious stone which enriched him and made
him shine brighter in the kingdom of heaven.
Persecution is bitter. Oh but
it is blessed! 'Blessed is he that endure persecution.
The cross is heavy, but the sharper the cross, the brighter the crown.