Matthew 5:10-12 - There Is Blessing In Persecution For Righteousness.
Mat.5:10-12: There Is Blessing In Persecution For Righteousness.
Mat 5:10-12 (NLT) God blesses those who are persecuted because
they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. "God blesses
you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you
are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great
reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were
persecuted, too.
DEVOTIONAL PEARLS
The reproach we experience is the natural resentment in the
hearts of men toward all that is godly and righteous. This is the
cross we are to bear. This is why Christians are often persecuted...
Let us not forget that there is happiness and blessing in
persecution. As George MacDonald puts it, we become "hearty through
hardship."...
Our Lord instructs the persecuted to be happy. "Rejoice," He
said, "and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Mat.5:12).
The word joy has all but disappeared from our current Christian
vocabulary. One of the reasons is that we have thought that joy and
happiness were found in comfort, ease and luxury. James did not say,
"Count it all joy when you fall into an easy chair," but he said,
"Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations" (Jam.1:2).
The persecuted are happy because they are being processed for
heaven. Persecution is one of the natural consequences of living the
Christian life. It is to the Christian what "growing pains" are to the
growing child. No pain, no development. No suffering, no glory. No
struggle, no victory. No persecution, no reward! Jesus predicted that if
they persecuted Him, they would persecute you who follow Him, too.
[Billy Graham; Time with God devotional SB]
Many people see abundant spring rains as a great blessing to
farmers, especially if the rains come after the plants have sprouted and
are several inches tall. What they don't realize is that even a
short drought can have a devastating effect on a crop of seedlings
that has received too much rain.
Why? Because during frequent rains, the young plants are not
required to push their roots deeper into the soil in search of water. If
a drought occurs later, plants with shallow root systems will
quickly die.
We often receive abundance in our lives--rich fellowship, great
teaching, thorough "soakings" of spiritual blessings. Yet, when stress or
tragedy enters our lives, we may find ourselves thinking God has
abandoned us or is unfaithful. The fact is, we have allowed the "easiness"
of our lives to keep us from pushing our spiritual roots deeper. We
have allowed others to spoon-feed us, rather than develop our own
deep personal relationship with God through prayer and study of His
Word.
Only the deeply rooted are able to endure hard times without
wilting. The best advice is to enjoy the "rain" while seeking to grow
even closer to Him. [God's Little Devotional Bible re Rom.8:28]
Many of us cannot be used as food for the world's hunger because
we have yet to be broken in Christ's hands. "Grain must be ground
to make bread" and being a blessing of His often requires sorrow on
our part. Yet even sorrow is not too high a price to pay for the
privilege of touching other lives with Christ's blessings. The things that
are most precious to us today have come to us through tears and
pain. J. R. Miller
God has made me as bread for His chosen ones, and if it is
necessary for me to "be ground" in the teeth of lions in order to feed His
children, then blessed be the name of the Lord. Ignatius
To burn brightly our lives must first experience the flame. In
other words, we cease to bless others when we cease to bleed.
Poverty, hardship, and misfortune have propelled many a life to
moral heroism and spiritual greatness. Difficulties challenge our
energy and our perseverance but bring the strongest qualities of the
soul to life. It is the weights on the old grandfather clock that
keep it running. And many a sailor has faced a strong head wind yet
used it to make it to port. God has chosen opposition as a catalyst
to our faith and holy service.
The most prominent characters of the Bible were broken,
threshed, and ground into bread for the hungry. Because he stood at the
head of the class, enduring affliction while remaining obedient,
Abraham's diploma is now inscribed with these words: "The Father of
Faith."
Jacob, like wheat, suffered severe threshing and grinding.
Joseph was beaten and bruised, and was forced to endure Potiphar's
kitchen and Egypt's prison before coming to his throne.
David, hunted like an animal of prey through the mountains, was
bruised, weary, and footsore, and thereby ground into bread for a
kingdom. Paul could never have been bread for Caesar's household if he
had not endured the bruising of being whipped and stoned. He was
ground into fine flour for the Roman royal family.
Combat comes before victory. If God has chosen special trials
for you to endure, be assured He has kept a very special place in
His heart just for you. A badly bruised soul is one who is chosen.
[Streams in the Desert by Cowman]
THE FOLLOWING ARE FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Mat 5:10-12 (KJV) 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. Rejoice, and be exceeding
glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you.
Mat 5:10-12 (NLT) God blesses those who are persecuted because
they live for God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. "God blesses
you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you
are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great
reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were
persecuted, too.
BLESSED
Each beatitude tells how to be blessed. "Blessed" means more
than happiness. It implies the fortunate or enviable state of those
who are in God's kingdom. The Beatitudes don't promise laughter,
pleasure, or earthly prosperity. To Jesus, "blessed" means the experience
of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. To find hope
and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what
the cost. [Life Application SB]
Blessed: The Greek word was used in Greek literature, in the
Septuagint, and in the New Testament to describe the kind of happiness that
comes from receiving divine favor. [Nelson SB]
The beatitudes in effect say, "O the bliss of being a Christian!
O the joy of following Christ! O the sheer happiness of knowing
Jesus Christ as Master, Saviour and Lord!" . . . In Christianity there
is a godlike joy.
The Greek for blesses describes that joy which has its secret
within itself, that joy which is serene and untouchable, and
self-contained, that joy which is completely independent of all the chances and
the changes of life. The English word happiness gives its own case
away. It contains the root hap which means chance. Human happiness is
something which is dependent on the chances and the changes of life,
something which life may give and which life may also destroy. The
Christian blessedness is completely untouchable and unassailable. "No
one," said Jesus, "will take your joy from you" (Jn 16:22). The
beatitudes speak of that joy which seeks us through our pain, that joy
which sorrow and loss, and pain and grief, are powerless to touch,
that joy which shines through tears, and which nothing in life or
death can take away.
The world can win its joys, and the world can equally well lose
its joys. A change in fortune, a collapse in health, the failure of
a plan, the disappointment of an ambition, even a change in the
weather, can take away the fickle joy the world can give. But the
Christian has the serene and untouchable joy which comes from walking for
ever in the company and in the presence of Jesus Christ. [Barclay]
PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS
The hatred and affliction that follows the witness and holy life
of God's people in a hostile world. (Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary)
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus announced blessings for citizens of His kingdom (5:1-12).
He expects citizens of His kingdom to do good deeds (vv. 13-16),
for He requires a righteousness that surpasses that of even the
zealous Pharisees (vv. 17-20). Christ looked behind the acts the Law
regulated to call for purity of heart (vv. 21-42) and that crowning
expression of kingdom righteousness: a love like the Heavenly Father's for
one's enemies (vv. 43-48). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
SECTION HEADINGS
Jesus Teaches the People
The Sermon on the Mount; The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes
5:3-12 There are nine blessings listed in vs. 3-11. But vs. 10,
11, refer to the same aspect of Christian experience, and are
therefore to be considered one beatitude, thus leaving eight rather than
nine beatitudes. [SDA Commentary]
On these precious Beatitudes, observe that though eight in
number, there are here but seven distinct features of character. The
eighth one-the "persecuted for righteousness' sake"-denotes merely the
possessors of the seven preceding features, on account of which they are
persecuted (2 Tim. 3:12). Accordingly, instead of any distinct promise to
this class, we have merely a repetition of the first promise. This
has been noticed by several critics, who by the sevenfold character
thus set forth have rightly observed that a complete character is
meant to be depicted, and by the sevenfold blessedness attached to it,
a perfect blessedness is intended. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown
Commentary]
There are at least four ways to understand the Beatitudes. (1)
They are a code of ethics for the disciples and a standard of conduct
for all believers. (2) They contrast kingdom values (what is
eternal) with worldly values (what is temporary). (3) They contrast the
superficial "faith" of the Pharisees with the real faith Christ wants. (4)
They show how the Old Testament expectations will be fulfilled in the
new kingdom. These beatitudes are not multiple choice--pick what you
like and leave the rest. They must be taken as a whole. They describe
what we should be like as Christ's followers. [Life Application SB]
The Beatitudes are comprised of three elements: a pronouncement
of blessing, a quality of life, and a reason why the recipient
should be considered blessed. The first element is found in the word
Blessed (see Ps. 1:1), which introduces each beatitude. The second
element does not describe different groups of people, but a composite
picture of the kind of person who will inherit Christ's kingdom. The
third element looks ahead to some aspect of the coming kingdom.
[Nelson SB]
Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which
represent to us the principal graces of a Christian [Matthew Henry
Commentary]
The Beatitudes are not primarily promises to the individual but
a description of him. They do not show a man how to be saved, but
describe the characteristics manifested by one who is born again.
[Wycliffe Bible Commentary]
The Beatitudes describe what we should be like as Christ's
followers. [Life Application SB]
The Beatitudes: These qualities Jesus mentioned are internal.
These come only when one is properly related to God through faith,
when one places his complete trust in God. [Bible Knowledge
Commentary]
The Beatitudes describe the inner qualities of a follower of
Christ. [Ryrie SB]
The Beatitudes describe the character traits of those accepted
as citizens of the kingdom of God and set forth both the present
and future blessings of those whose lives portray these virtues.
[Believer's SB]
The Beatitudes refer to both present and future blessings of the
kingdom. [Disciple SB]
5:1-12 Eight Characteristics Of Kingdom Dwellers
The Beatitudes (5:1-12) revealed eight characteristics that
should be true of the righteous remnant in the promised kingdom. The
truths implied in these characteristics all reflect pervasive themes in
the Old Testament. They revealed to the listeners what the lives of
people in the process of repentance should be like and caused them to
reflect upon their own character in relation to the character of God.
The Beatitudes were built upon an if/then logic and hidden in each
Beatitude was an if/then relationship. For example, the first Beatitude
says in essence, "If you are poor in spirit, then you will receive
the kingdom of God" (5:3). The Beatitudes both describe and demand.
They demand good character as they describe the "blessed" results of
following the demands of kingdom living.
The attitudes of "poor in spirit," "mourning," and "meekness"
all draw upon Old Testament themes and underscore the need for human
responsibility and the work of divine grace. The basic element demanded by all
the Beatitudes was a right relationship with God. The Beatitudes
were intended to inspire Matthew's readers to think about the
character of the repentant person so that they also could follow the path
of repentance.
Matthew 5:3-16 should be seen as one single unit of thought. The
word "blessed" (5:3; etc.) literally means "happy." For "poor in
spirit" (5:3) see Psalms 40:17; 69:29-30, 33-34; and Isaiah 57:15; 61:1;
66:2, 5. This characteristic describes the inner attitude of a person
when confronted with the holy God and his demands. Being "poor in
spirit" means admitting that no one can have spiritual wealth in and of
themselves--that all are dependent on God alone for spiritual
salvation and daily
grace. Such a person aligns with God's will, even against the desires
of his own.
For the attitude of "mourning" (Matt. 5:4), see Isaiah 1:17, 23;
2:11, 17; 61:2. The afflicted were often seen as God's favorites in
contrast with the powerful. This "mourning" was a reaction to seeing all
that God had demanded for the kingdom and then seeing how far all of
mankind had fallen short.
For the attitude of "meekness" (Matt. 5:5) read Psalm 37:7-11
and Isaiah 57:15. Having the quality of "meekness" would result in
possession of the new heavens and new earth (cf. Isa. 66; Rev. 21-22). The
Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount as a whole continually looked
forward to the time of judgment and reward in the end times.
To "hunger and thirst for righteousness" (Matt. 5:6) was to seek
to live life as God intended for it to be lived. Concepts drawn
from Old Testament Wisdom Literature were being applied here (cf.
Prov. 8:22-36). For "pure in heart" (Matt. 5:8), see what it meant
under the old covenant (Deut. 6) as well as under the new covenant
(Jer. 31; Ezek. 36).
The "peacemakers" (Matt. 5:9) will be called "sons of God." They
will be heirs to God's kingdom of which "peace" will be an important
characteristic (cf. Isa. 9:6-7; 66:12-13; Mic. 4:3). Note the emphasis in 5:3,
4, 9, 10. In each of these verses, an implied contrast was being
made between those who would be blessed in the age to come and the
religious leaders of Jesus' day.
Those "persecuted because of righteousness" (5:10) would also be
heirs to the kingdom. This relates back to 5:3 regarding the kingdom
and to 5:6 regarding righteousness. The idea of this verse carried a
bit of irony. These people were being persecuted because they were
hungry and thirsty for righteousness. But their persecutors would be
the religious leaders of Israel, the ones who claimed to strictly
follow the way of righteousness.
Jesus made a personal elaboration (5:11-12) of the comments in
5:10. He would become the cause for the persecution of the righteous
("because of me," 5:11). The people who desired to be among the "blessed"
of the kingdom would not find their time on earth easy. Matthew
wrote for people who faced a time of persecution prior to the
establishment of the kingdom. There was a parallel drawn in 5:12 with the
prophets of the past who had suffered for the sake of righteousness. [New
Bible Companion]
Of all the virtues Christ commended in the Beatitudes, it is
significant that the first is humility being "poor in spirit" (v. 3). That
underlies all the others:
You cannot mourn (v 4) without appreciating how insufficient you
are to handle life in your own strength. That is humility.
You cannot be meek (v 5) unless you have needed gentleness
yourself. Knowing that need is humility.
You cannot hunger and thirst for righteousness (v 6) if you
proudly think of yourself as already righteous. Longing to fill that
spiritual appetite demands humility. In a parable that Luke recorded, a
humble tax collector prayed, "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" He went
away justified, unlike a proud Pharisee who boasted of his
righteousness (Luke 18:13).
You cannot be merciful (Matt. 5:7) without recognizing your own
need for mercy. Jesus said that it's the person who is forgiven much
that loves much (Luke 7:47). To confess your sin and ask God and
others for forgiveness takes humility.
You cannot be pure in heart (Matt. 5:8) if your heart is filled
with pride. God promises to exalt the humble, not the proud (James
4:10).
You cannot be a peacemaker (Matt. 5:9) if you believe that you
are always right. To admit your own fallibility takes humility Peace
results when both warring parties move toward each other.
Finally identifying with Christ no matter what the reaction of
others (vv. 10-12) demands a certain death to yourself and a
renunciation of your own rights. Standing up under persecution demands
Christlike Humility. [Word In Life SB]
Is it possible to live up to these standards? (5:3-10)
Even though the Sermon on the Mount has been called the
constitution for citizens of the kingdom of God, we will never see flawed
human beings, though they are Christians, reach this level of
perfection. Jesus begins the Beatitudes, the preamble to this constitution,
with our inability in mind - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those who begin by admitting their
shortcomings are in the best position to experience God's blessing and enjoy
his kingdom.
Nevertheless, we cannot escape the fact that Jesus gave his
followers these lifestyle goals. Those who respond out of love for the
Lord, grateful for his grace in their lives, will better approach
these ideals. The Beatitudes are a model of perfection requiring our
declaration of dependence on God: we can't, but God can. Even when doing so
involves failure to follow perfectly, we're to press on in obedience.
The Beatitudes describe the quality of life God intended for
humanity from the beginning - a life of blessing. The word blessed can
also be translated happy, but it is something more than an emotion.
The closer we come to Jesus' standards, the more we experience the
blessing of God. [Quest SB]
When we first read the statements of Jesus they seem wonderfully
simple and unstartling, and they sink unobserved into our unconscious
minds. For instance, the Beatitudes seem merely mild and beautiful
precepts for all unworldly and useless people, but of very little
practical use in the stern workaday world in which we live. We soon find,
however, that the Beatitudes contain the dynamite of the Holy Ghost. They
explode, as it were, when the circumstances of our lives cause them to do
so. When the Holy Spirit brings to our remembrance one of these
Beatitudes we say--'What a startling statement that is!' and we have to
decide whether we will accept the tremendous spiritual upheaval that
will be produced in our circumstances if we obey His words. That is
the way the Spirit of God works. We do not need to be born again to
apply the Sermon on the Mount literally. The literal interpretation of
the Sermon on the Mount is child's play; the interpretation by the
Spirit of God as He applies Our Lord's statements to our circumstances
is the stern work of a saint. The teaching of Jesus is out of all
proportion to our natural way of looking at things, and it comes with
astonishing discomfort to begin with. We have slowly to form our walk and
conversation on the line of the precepts of Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit
applies them to our circumstances. The Sermon on the Mount is not a set
of rules and regulations: it is a statement of the life we will
live when the Holy Spirit is getting His way with us. [My Utmost for
His Highest by Oswald Chambers]
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
John 15:20 (KJV) Remember the word that I said unto you, The
servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep
yours also.
Romans 8:35-39 (KJV) Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are
killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him
that loved us. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ
Jesus our Lord.
2 Cor. 4:8-12 (KJV) We are troubled on every side, yet not
distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] Persecuted, but not
forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; [10] Always bearing about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might
be made manifest in our body. [11] For we which live are alway
delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be
made manifest in our mortal flesh. [12] So then death worketh in us,
but life in you.
2 Cor. 4:17 (KJV) For our light affliction, which is but for a
moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2 Tim. 2:12 (KJV) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us:
1 Peter 4:12-16 (KJV) Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing
happened unto you: [13] But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of
Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be
glad also with exceeding joy. [14] If ye be reproached for the name
of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth
upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is
glorified. [15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or
as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. [16] Yet
if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let
him glorify God on this behalf.
Matthew 10:22 (KJV) And ye shall be hated of all men for my
name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matthew 10:39 (KJV) He that findeth his life shall lose it: and
he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mark 4:17 (KJV) And have no root in themselves, and so endure
but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth
for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
2 Cor. 4:11 (KJV) For we which live are alway delivered unto
death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our mortal flesh.
Luke 6:35 (KJV) But love ye your enemies, and do good, and
lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye
shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the
unthankful and to the evil.
Acts 5:41 (KJV) And they departed from the presence of the
council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his
name.
Romans 5:3 (KJV) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - EXPECT IT
They are happy who suffer, seems a strange saying: and that the
righteous should suffer, merely because they are such, seems as strange.
But such is the enmity of the human heart to everything of God and
goodness, that all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution in one form or other. (Adam Clarke Commentary)
Paul warned the believers that "through much tribulation" they
must "enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). Citizens of the
heavenly kingdom may expect to have tribulation in this world (John
16:33), for their characters, ideals, aspirations, and conduct all bear
silent witness against the evil of this present world (cf. 1 John
3:12). . . . "All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer
persecution" (2 Tim. 3:12). [SDA Commentary]
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - SEPARATES FALSE CHRISTIANS
Persecution would be a test of true discipleship. In the parable
of the Sower, He mentions this as one of the causes of defection
among those who are Christians in outward appearance only. When
affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately the
stony-ground hearers are offended (International Standard Bible
Encylopaedia, by Biblesoft)
Many people see abundant spring rains as a great blessing to
farmers, especially if the rains come after the plants have sprouted and
are several inches tall. What they don't realize is that even a
short drought can have a devastating effect on a crop of seedlings
that has received too much rain.
Why? Because during frequent rains, the young plants are not
required to push their roots deeper into the soil in search of water. If
a drought occurs later, plants with shallow root systems will
quickly die.
We often receive abundance in our lives--rich fellowship, great
teaching, thorough "soakings" of spiritual blessings. Yet, when stress or
tragedy enters our lives, we may find ourselves thinking God has
abandoned us or is unfaithful. The fact is, we have allowed the "easiness"
of our lives to keep us from pushing our spiritual roots deeper. We
have allowed others to spoon-feed us, rather than develop our own
deep personal relationship with God through prayer and study of His
Word.
Only the deeply rooted are able to endure hard times without
wilting. The best advice is to enjoy the "rain" while seeking to grow
even closer to Him. [God's Little Devotional Bible re Rom.8:28]
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - DEVELOPS CHRIST-LIKE CHARACTER
Persecution serves to purify the life and to purge the dross
from the character (cf. Job 23:10). [SDA Commentary]
Through trials and persecution, the glory--character--of God is
revealed in His chosen ones. . . they are purified in the furnace of
affliction. MB29-31
Many of us cannot be used as food for the world's hunger because
we have yet to be broken in Christ's hands. "Grain must be ground
to make bread" and being a blessing of His often requires sorrow on
our part. Yet even sorrow is not too high a price to pay for the
privilege of touching other lives with Christ's blessings. The things that
are most precious to us today have come to us through tears and
pain. J. R. Miller
God has made me as bread for His chosen ones, and if it is
necessary for me to "be ground" in the teeth of lions in order to feed His
children, then blessed be the name of the Lord. Ignatius
To burn brightly our lives must first experience the flame. In
other words, we cease to bless others when we cease to bleed.
Poverty, hardship, and misfortune have propelled many a life to
moral heroism and spiritual greatness. Difficulties challenge our
energy and our perseverance but bring the strongest qualities of the
soul to life. It is the weights on the old grandfather clock that
keep it running. And many a sailor has faced a strong head wind yet
used it to make it to port. God has chosen opposition as a catalyst
to our faith and holy service.
The most prominent characters of the Bible were broken,
threshed, and ground into bread for the hungry. Because he stood at the
head of the class, enduring affliction while remaining obedient,
Abraham's diploma is now inscribed with these words: "The Father of
Faith."
Jacob, like wheat, suffered severe threshing and grinding.
Joseph was beaten and bruised, and was forced to endure Potiphar's
kitchen and Egypt's prison before coming to his throne.
David, hunted like an animal of prey through the mountains, was
bruised, weary, and footsore, and thereby ground into bread for a
kingdom. Paul could never have been bread for Caesar's household if he
had not endured the bruising of being whipped and stoned. He was
ground into fine flour for the Roman royal family.
Combat comes before victory. If God has chosen special trials
for you to endure, be assured He has kept a very special place in
His heart just for you. A badly bruised soul is one who is chosen.
[Streams in the Desert by Cowman]
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - BRINGS JESUS SPECIAL PRESENCE
While the Lord has not promised His people exemption from
trials, He has promised that which is far better. He has said, "As thy
days, so shall thy strength be." "My grace is sufficient for thee: for
My strength is made perfect in weakness." Deuteronomy 33:25; 2
Corinthians 12:9. If you are called to go through the fiery furnace for His
sake, Jesus will be by your side even as He was with the faithful
three in Babylon. MB29-31
When a man has to suffer something for his faith, that is the
way to the closest possible companionship with Christ. [Barclay
Commentary]
Persecution made Christ very near and very precious to those who
suffered. Many of the martyrs bore witness, even when in the midst of the
most cruel torments, that they felt no pain, but that Christ was with
them. (International Standard Bible Encylopaedia, by Biblesoft)
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - CAUSES THE CHURCH TO GROW
Never was the church more free, never stronger, never more
flourishing, never more extensive in its growth, than in the days of
persecution. . . (International Standard Bible Encylopaedia)
A good statement of this is that of Tertullian: "The blood of
the martyrs is the seed of the Church." (Nelson's Illustrated Bible
Dictionary)
PERSECUTION FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS - BETTER ABLE TO APPRECIATE
CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS FOR US
Those who suffer most for Christ here are best able to
appreciate what He suffered for them. [SDA Commentary]
THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM
It is appropriate that the first and last beatitudes should
contain the assurance of membership in the kingdom. [SDA Commentary]
REJOICE
God does not expect us to enjoy suffering. Only days after
telling the disciples to pray that they might escape persecution, Jesus
himself asked God to spare him the agonies of the cross, if that was
God's will (Luke 22:41-42). It is abnormal to want to suffer, but as
Jesus' followers we should be willing to suffer if by doing so we can
help build God's kingdom. We have two wonderful promises to help us
as we suffer: God will always be with us (Matthew 28:20), and he
will one day rescue us and give us eternal life (Revelation 21:1-4).
[Life Application SB re Luk.21:36]
Whatever life may bring, the Christian is to rejoice (Phil.
4:4), knowing that God will work all things for his good (Rom. 8:28).
This is particularly true of temptation or trial (James 1:2-4),
because suffering develops patience and other traits of character
essential to citizens of the heavenly kingdom. [SDA Commentary]
Jesus said to rejoice when we're persecuted. Persecution can be
good because (1) it takes our eyes off earthly rewards, (2) it strips
away superficial belief, (3) it strengthens the faith of those who
endure, and (4) our attitude through it serves as an example to others
who follow. We can be comforted to know that God's greatest prophets
were persecuted (Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel). The fact that we are
being persecuted proves that we have been faithful; faithless people
would be unnoticed. In the future God will reward the faithful by
receiving them into his eternal kingdom where there is no more
persecution. [Life Application SB]
It was this joy that filled the hearts of Paul and Silas when
they prayed and sang praises to God at midnight in the Philippian
dungeon. Christ was beside them there, and the light of His presence
irradiated the gloom with the glory of the courts above. MB31-35
Satan could torture and kill the body, but he could not touch
the life that was hid with Christ in God. He could incarcerate in
prison walls, but he could not bind the spirit. They could look beyond
the gloom to the glory, MB29-31
God gives the grace to suffer, and then crowns that grace with
glory; (Adam Clarke Commentary)
SUMMARY STATEMENTS
Whatever life may bring, the Christian is to rejoice (Phil.
4:4), knowing that God will work all things for his good (Rom. 8:28).
This is particularly true of temptation or trial (James 1:2-4),
because suffering develops patience and other traits of character
essential to citizens of the heavenly kingdom. [SDA Commentary]
The reproach we experience is the natural resentment in the
hearts of men toward all that is godly and righteous. This is the
cross we are to bear. This is why Christians are often persecuted...
Let us not forget that there is happiness and blessing in
persecution. As George MacDonald puts it, we become "hearty through
hardship."...
Our Lord instructs the persecuted to be happy. "Rejoice," He
said, "and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for
so persecuted they the prophets which were before you" (Mat.5:12).
The word joy has all but disappeared from our current Christian
vocabulary. One of the reasons is that we have thought that joy and
happiness were found in comfort, ease and luxury. James did not say,
"Count it all joy when you fall into an easy chair," but he said,
"Count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations" (Jam.1:2).
The persecuted are happy because they are being processed for
heaven. Persecution is one of the natural consequences of living the
Christian life. It is to the Christian what "growing pains" are to the
growing child. No pain, no development. No suffering, no glory. No
struggle, no victory. No persecution, no reward! Jesus predicted that if
they persecuted Him, they would persecute you who follow Him, too.
[Billy Graham; Time with God devotional SB]
Here is a secret to the spiritual strength that willingly
suffers wrong: accustom yourself in everything that happens to recognize
the hand and will of God. Whether it be some great wrong that is
done you, or some little offense that you meet in daily life, before
you consider the person who did it, first be still and remember, God
allows me to come into this trouble to see if I will glorify Him in it.
This trial, be it great or small, is allowed by God and is His
will concerning me. Let me first recognize and submit to God's will
in it. Then with the peace of God which this gives, I will receive
wisdom to know how to behave in it. With my eye turned from man to
God, suffering wrong takes on this new dimension.... Let the believer
follow Christ's example in this; it will give him such rest and peace.
Commit your right and your honor into God's keeping. Meet every
offense that man commits against you with the firm trust that God will
watch over and care for you. [Andrew Murray; Time with God devotional
SB]
MISCELLANEOUS STATEMENTS
Slander may blacken the reputation, it cannot stain the
character. MB31-35
EXAMPLE OF A MODERN DAY MARTYR
It was a weird question to ask - probably because the person
doing the asking held a semi automatic rifle in his hand and carried a
cadre of explosives.
Heretofore his target had been minorities and athletes, but he
was now face to face with Cassie. For a long time she was a nobody,
a simpleton. She attended her classes faithfully, was a good
student, and basically kept to herself. That is, until she accepted Jesus
into her heart as her Lord and Saviour.
People began to notice the changes in Cassie. She wore a
perpetual smile, as though she had discovered the secret to life. By all
accounts it was infectious. One of her friends at Colombine High School
in Littleton, Colorado, reported, "If you were feeling down, she
would always give you an encouraging word." The girl that everyone
proclaimed a "zero" had undergone a Jenny Jones makeover-minus the Jenny
Jones.
Perhaps the killer had heard about her newfound faith, because
he aimed his question-and his gun-right at Cassie Bernall. The
scene was manic. Bodies lay strewn around the library, several missing
faces and chunks of flesh. Screams of agony could be heard in the
hallways. Cassie was headed toward a certain martyrdom.
"Do you believe in God?" he screamed. In an instant a strange
assurance captivated Cassie as she looked into his eyes.
"Yes, I believe in God."
It would be her last words this side of heaven. The price of
truth was her life.
Two thousand years ago Jesus looked through prophetic eyes at
the world around him. Surveying the scene and the trials that would
overtake His people, He sought to calm their fears. "Blessed are those
who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven."
That Cassie was willing to pay such a high price for her faith
indicts many of us today. We shrink to tell people about the God we
serve. Yet God is ready and willing to empower us to speak a word for
Him. I remember one such incident. We were sitting around at a
friend's apartment-just shooting the breeze, as they say. My friends were
non Adventists, non Christians. They drank, smoked, cursed, the
works. I was at a new school, and I didn't want to be antisocial. I saw
in them a ministry.
For the next two hours I was like a fish in a fishbowl. They
couldn't really understand why I ate the way I did. Why I didn't go to
parties, didn't smoke or drink. After our little rap session, I took
solace in the fact that I stood up for what was right. I was also proud
of the fact that I was not antisocial. I managed to share my faith
in a nonthreatening way. From that day on my friends respected me.
I believe that one day soon we'll be able to swap such stories
with Cassie Bernall.
Check This Out
In the early days of the Christian movement many believers lost
their lives because they would not renounce their faith. Their blood
watered the tree of faith from which we now eat. One such martyr was
John Huss, a Roman Catholic priest who tried to reform the Catholic
Church. When he refused to recant his faith, he was burned at the stake.
One author wrote of the death of Huss and his friend Jerome: "When
the flames rose, they began to sing hymns; and scarce could the
vehemency of the fire stop their singing" (in The Great Controversy, p.
110). http://www.adventist.org/devotionals/
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