Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted
March 2, 2025
Scripture: Matthew 5:10-12
Over the past weeks, we have looked at the first 7 beatitudes. Jesus had gone up on a mountainside, saw down and began to teach. He began by stating, Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). Divine blessing is coming to those who are spiritually bankrupt. You can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “That sounds great Jesus! I am poor in spirit, and I look forward to this kingdom. Tell us more.”
Jesus then says, Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted (Matthew 5:4). Jesus encourages those who are overwhelmed with sorrow, grief, or guilt over sin. He tells them that they shall be comforted! Again, you can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Thank you Jesus! Tell us more!”
Jesus said, Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. For those of you who are gentle spirited, who are humble, who submit, trust in the Lord, I have good news for you. The kingdom is open to you. Again, you can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Amen! I am meek most of the time. Tell us more!”
Jesus then said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. You can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Yes, I generally have a hunger and thirst, so fill me up Jesus! Tell us more!”
Jesus said, Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy. For those who are mercy givers, who show acts of kindness, they will be shown mercy. You can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Yes, I show mercy. In fact, I am going home to help somebody so God will show mercy to me. Tell us more!”
Jesus said, Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. You can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Whoa, I have some work to do in being pure in heart, but your right Jesus! Tell us more!”
Jesus then said, Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God. You can imagine many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Your right Jesus, we need to live in peace. I will try to live in peace with others. Tell us more!
Then Jesus took a turn, and really challenged them as he said, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Now, you can image many in the crowd thinking or saying, “Persecuted? Suffer because of you? Rejoice in persecution? You got to me kidding me Jesus! I don’t like this beatitude, this principle! It is not right! God is to bless if I do what is right, not suffer persecution!”
As Christians, we believe the words of Jesus are true, but this idea that persecution is a blessing seems incredibly far removed from our felt experience in America.
Yet, Jesus indicates that one is blessed, happy, as one is persecuted for the sake of righteousness! This occurs because of having a right relationship with the Lord, living for Jesus, doing His will, (I Peter 4:1, 2) and understanding and applying the previous beatitudes.
Please realize persecuted because of righteousness does not mean being fanatical, demanding, over-zealous, a nuisance, political prejudices or some other basically self-satisfying reason. It is to be because too much of Christ is manifested in you! So, please take to heart that this Beatitude does not call us to be persecuted. It calls us to pursue righteousness.
Yet, the believer who lives a righteous life there is going to be a negative reaction. Now, it is somewhat fascinating to me that the believer who lives and applies these Beatitudes will be both a peacemaker and one who creates persecution. The believer is to be peacemaker and yet the believer is one who stirs up strife. A peacemaker encourages others to have peace with God by the taking to heart the good news of Jesus and tries to live with peace with others. Yet, there are those who will not respond to this gospel of peace, who want their own selfish way, and consider the Lord’s peacemaker as a troublemaker, and the result is persecution.
The Apostle Peter explained to some extent why there is persecution in I Peter 4:3, 4, For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
The world does not understand and does not like a person who is living a righteous life in Christ. They think they are right, and you are wrong! When people are living in sin, they naturally will hate those living in righteousness. For instance, to be the honest person in a classroom where everybody is cheating and you speak out against the cheating, it will provoke persecution. When you tell people that they are sinners and the only way to have eternal life is through Jesus Christ, very well might cause some form of persecution.
Now, Christian persecution can come in several forms and can range from being mild to being severe. Jesus noted three forms of persecution in verse 11. He says, Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
There will be people who insult believers in Christ. To insult generally means speaking or treating a person with disrespect. It is to mock or shame people of faith. The same word later appeared to describe Jesus’ suffering on the cross (Matt. 27:38-44).
Over the years, I have had people insult me or verbally threaten me. Over the years, I have been laughed at, told off because of my beliefs, and doors slammed in my face. I even received a death threat on the church voice mail.
Jesus noted that there will be people who persecute you. This refers to physical abuse, imprisonment, or even death. This is evident by the persecution that has and is happening. It has been happening since the death and resurrection of Jesus! Christian persecution was rampant for the first 300 years. All Jesus disciples where persecuted to death in preaching Jesus’ death and resurrection, except for the Apostle John as he died in exile.
Roman emperors demanded people proclaim Caesar was Lord. It was a way for the Roman empire to have unity. So once a year, people had to declare Caesar as Lord. If they made this public proclamation, they would receive a verifying certificate. Then they could continue to freely worship other gods. However, this was something faithful Christians refused to do. As a result, Christians were considered traitors. Since they refused, their property was confiscated; they lost their jobs; were put into prison, and often put to death.
We generally don’t experience Christian persecution in this country, but in other parts of the world it is running rampant. For instance, just over a week ago, it was reported that 70 Christians were found dead in a Democratic Republic of Congo church. They were tied up and then beheaded by Islamist militants.
This past Monday, February 24, 2025, it was reported by the Nigerian media that a gunmen severed a pastor’s fingers while abducting six worshipers from a Pentecostal church in the southern Delta state of Nigeria.
Open Doors notes that currently 14% of Christ followers across the globe, or one out of every seven, suffer high levels of persecution. In Africa that number is as high as 20%, or one out of every five Christians. Across Asia, the numbers are even worse, with 29% of believers (two out of every five) suffering for their faith.
According to the Open Doors watchlist, 2024 witnessed nearly 4500 Christians martyred, nearly 8000 churches or properties attacked, nearly 5000 detained or imprisoned, over 209,000 forced from their homes, and persecuted believers in excess of 380 million. Christianity faces more persecution right now than at any other point in history. The first 1900 years of church history recorded 25 million Christian martyrs who suffered for following Jesus. From 1900-2000, a total of 45 million died for their faith.
An honest assessment reveals that Jews and Christians are the most persecuted groups of people in the world. This is not surprising as Revelation 12 indicates the Dragon, Satan, goes after the Jewish people and then believers in Christ (Revelation 12:13-17).
Jesus also noted that persecution will come in the form of false or slanderous accusations. Jesus was the victim of false accusations. The religious leaders who were threatened by His teachings and popularity accused Him of blasphemy, claiming He was a threat to Roman authority, which ultimately led to His crucifixion (Matthew 26:59-66; Luke 23:1-2). In Acts 24, Paul was falsely accused by the Jewish leaders of being a troublemaker and stirring up riots among the Jews. It is still happening today.
So how can we develop or be prepared for persecution? Since we live in a culture that is rather spoiled, not really facing persecution, how can we develop or be prepared for persecution? How can we even look forward to persecution having joy and gladness (Matthew 5:12a).
First, if you are to live a righteous life in Christ, then be fully committed in doing God’s Will!!! Stand Firm!
Jesus said in Matthew 24:9-13, Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
I Peter 4:1, 2 states, Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
Peter goes on in I Peter 5:8, 9, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Jesus sets the example. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.… 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done… 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing (Matthew 26:39-44).
Jesus was committed to do his Father’s will! Even though he knew that it was going to be horrifying, Jesus was committed to die for the sins of humankind.
May we also be committed to doing the Father’s will! For as we do the right thing, act in God’s will, there is an inner joy and contentment. Even though Jesus faced tremendous persecution, he found a joy in being courageous/faithful in doing his Father’s will.
Secondly, if you are living a righteous life in Christ, then expect persecution!
In our culture, we generally don’t expect insults, false accusations or especially physical persecution. Yet, we need to expect it is going to happen! Scripture teaches that persecution is part of the Christian life.
Jesus said this in John 15:18-21, If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.
Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:12, In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
In other words, anybody who lives out the Christlike character is going to suffer some form of persecution. This might happen within the family (Matthew 10:34-36). It might be a wife who accepted Jesus as her Lord, but the husband refused. This can create some conflict. A child might come to know the Lord, but the parent or parents disagree with the child’s decision. As result, some believers were shunned, beaten, disowned, and possibly killed over their faith. This one guy who I met when pastoring in Chicago came to know the Lord. He was from an Islamic background. As a result of coming to know the Lord, his family shunned him.
Persecution might also manifest one’s social life. Some people simply not want you around because of your faith in Jesus. It can also manifest in one’s workplace.
We need to expect persecution as we live and share the good news of Jesus Christ.
Thirdly, put on an eternal perspective!
Jesus noted in Matthew 5:10 that those who are persecuted for righteousness will be in the kingdom of heaven. He also notes in verse 12 that there will be a great reward in heaven for those who are persecuted.
Paul said in II Corinthians 4:17, 18, For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
It is important to take to heart that suffering for righteousness will be greatly rewarded in heaven!
Jim Elliot, an American missionary, was martyred in South American in 1956. Jim had an eternal perspective as he stated, "He is no fool who gives away what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. The quote reflects the idea that eternal values are more important than temporary possessions.
Chrysostom, a great Christian of ancient times, was summoned before the Roman Emperor Arcadius. He was threatened with banishment if he didn't cease to proclaim Jesus. Chrysostom responded, “Sire, you cannot banish me, for the world is my Father's house.” “Then I will slay you!” exclaimed the angered emperor. “Nay, but you cannot, for my life is hid with Christ in God.” “Your treasures will be confiscated!” came the fiery retort. “Sire, that cannot be; my treasures are in heaven, where none can break through and steal.” “But I will drive you from men, and you will have no friends left.”
“That you cannot do either, for I have a Friend in heaven who has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’” Ultimately, he was banished to Cucusus, on the edge of Armenia. Yet, he so continued to influence his friends by letters.
I encourage you to fix your eyes on what is eternal!
4. Follow the example of Jesus, the prophets and other godly men of the Christian faith who were persecuted!
Matthew 5:12, Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
We must remember that suffering for righteousness puts us in the company of our Lord Jesus and prophets. Elijah was hunted by Ahab and Jezebel. Jeremiah was imprisoned and tradition says stoned to death. Similarly, Isaiah was sawed in half. John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus was crucified. Stephen was stoned. All but one of the apostles was persecuted to death.
One of the examples for me that spoke to me years ago is the story of Polycarp. Persecution against Christians swept across the Roman Empire and came to the city of Smyrna in 155 A.D. The proconsul of Symrna, swept up in this persecution, put out an order that the Bishop of Symrna, Polycarp. was to be found, arrested, and brought to the public arena for execution. They found Polycarp and brought him before thousands of spectators screaming for blood. But the proconsul had compassion on this man who was almost a hundred years old. He signaled the crowd to silence. To Polycarp he said, "Curse the Christ and live." The crowd waited for the old man to answer. In an amazingly strong voice, Polycarp, who had been a disciple of the Apostle John, said, "Eighty and six years have I served him, and he has done me no wrong. How dare I blaspheme the name of my king and Lord!" With that Polycarp became a martyr.
5. Have courageous faith! Know God is Good, All the Time!
In the great faith chapter, Hebrews 11, the writer states at the end of the chapter,
I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
All of these people lived lives of courageous faith! Courage in persecution is deeply connected to the believer's faith and trust in God's sovereignty and faithfulness.
Let’s take to heart Paul’s words in Romans 8:35,37, Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
I encourage you as you face persecution, have courageous faith! Take to heart that God is good! All the time!!!
Please note Jesus commanded, used imperatives, as he said, Rejoice and be glad! So, as we apply these principles, we can be obedient as Jesus commanded to rejoice and be glad when facing persecution.
So let us rejoice, glory in our suffering as it will produce perseverance, character and hope in God (Romans 5:3-5). As we rejoice in our suffering, we experience God’s comfort and we become further equipped/mature in Christ (James 1:2-4; II Corinthians 1:3, 4). As we rejoice, we also display his power (II Corinthians 12:7, 8).
Let me close with this. When Charles Spurgeon was severely depressed over the criticism he received in his ministry, his wife printed all eight beatitudes on a large sheet of paper and tacked it on the ceiling above his bed. She wanted him to remember each of the beatitudes. She especially wanted him to read and reread that the righteous would be persecuted. There are no exceptions, and we must remember this as well.
My prayer is that each of you take to heart all these Beatitudes. I encourage you to learn them! Study them! Apply them!
Let’s pray!
