BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE--MATTHEW 5:10-12

“BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS' SAKE"

MATTHEW 5:10-12

Introduction:

What is meant by “persecution?” The Greek word “to persecute,” signifies “to vex and molest,” sometimes “to arraign” (legal term), or “to pursue to the death.” Ezekiel describes a persecutor as a “pricking briar,” or a “grieving thorn.” Ezekiel 28:24, “And there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of Israel, nor any grieving thorn of all that are round about them, that despised them; and they shall know that I am the Lord GOD.”

A faithful believer in Christ can expect persecution. In fact, it will be a part of his life. Although life is full of roses in regard to the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it is full of thorns in regard to persecution.

The Jews persecuted Jesus for doing the will of the Father and we can expect no less, John 5:16, “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.” Jesus said in John 15:20, “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.”

I. CONSIDER THE VARIOUS KINDS OF PERSECUTION

A. Persecution of the hand, Acts 7:52, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:”

1. Paul was “accounted as sheep for the slaughter,” Romans 8:36, “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

2. Paul gained strength from the things he suffered, 2 Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

B. The Persecution of the Tongue.

1. Reproach; some do not take this as persecution:

a. Cruel mockings, Hebrews 11:36, “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:”

b. False accusations, Psalm 35:11,“False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.”

2. Slander: Paul was accused of preaching evil doctrine, Romans 3:8, “And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.”

II. THE PERSECUTION OF THE LORD’S MINISTERS

Remember who the Lord was talking to here in Matthew 5:1-2, “And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,”

A. The Lord warns his disciples, Matthew 5:11-12, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12-Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

1. The prophets are an example, James 5:10, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”

2. As soon as Paul entered the ministry the Lord told him what he was to suffer:

a. Great things, Acts 9:16, “For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

b. Bonds and afflictions, Acts 20:23, “Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.”

3. Paul was prepared for his suffering, 2 Timothy 4:6, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

B. The reasons why persecution has mainly fallen on the ministers of God:

1. They have their difficulties as others do, and lest they be lifted up “through the abundance of revelation,” God lets loose some “messenger of Satan” to vex and persecute them, 2 Corinthians 12:7, “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”

2. The minister is the ensign-bearer of the Lord’s colors, Philippians 1:16-17, “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17-But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”

a. Being at the battle front, they are shot at the most, Philippians 1:15-17, “Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16-The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17-But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.”

b. Paul pictures the ministers of Christ as soldiers, 2 Timothy 2:3-4, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4-No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

3. The malice of Satan is cast upon the ministers of God for he comes to destroy Satan’s kingdom, but the minister is prepared, 2 Corinthians 10:4, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)”

a. “It shows what a work the ministry is; though full of dignity, yet full of danger. The persecution of the tongue is the most gentle persecution can be expected. It is not possible (says Luther) to be a faithful preacher and not to meet with trials and oppositions.” ---Thomas Watson

b. It shows the corruption of man’s nature since the Fall.

1) Men will not endure to have their King, Sin, to be crucified by the preacher.

2) If the fury of the world is against the minister, than you that fear God need to pray much for God’s preachers, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2-And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith.”

III. THE PERSECUTION THAT MAKES ONE BLESSED

A. Suffering persecution that DOES NOT make us blessed.

1. When we put a “cross” on ourselves. “When men through precipitancy and rashness run themselves into trouble, it is a cross of their own making and not of God’s laying upon them.” ---Thomas Watson.

2. When we suffer for our own offences, 1 Peter 4:15, “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.”

3. When we suffer out of sinister respects such as leading a faction in the name of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 13:3b, “and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” There have been groups that have espoused a cause that they called “Christian,” but has not real basis in the Word of God. Some of these have even suffered death supposing themselves to be martyrs.

B. Suffering persecution that WILL make us blessed.

1. When we suffer for a good cause, Matthew 5:10, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

a. Paul, “for the hope of Israel,” Acts 28:20, “For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain.”

b. For the preaching of the Gospel, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

2. When we suffer with a good conscience, Acts 23:1, “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.”

3. When we have a good call and good ends to our suffering, Matthew 10:18, “And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.”

a. To establish and seal the truth, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

b. To show our love for Christ, 2 Corinthians 2:8-9, “Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.”

4. When you suffer as Christians:

a. Suffer with patience, James 5:10, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.”

b. Suffer with courage, Daniel 3:18, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

c. Suffer with cheerfulness, Acts 5:41, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

d. Suffer and pray, Luke 6:28, “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”

1) Our prayers may be a means to convert the persecutors, Acts 7:60, “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

2) Paul was definitely influenced by Steven’s prayer.

IV. LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM PERSECUTION

A. It shows that the true nature of Christianity is holiness joined with suffering, 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

1. Persecution is the legacy left by Christ to His people, John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2. Our Lord calls persecution “the cross,” Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

3. We will reign with our Lord, but suffering will come first, 2 Timothy 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

4. You can rejoice “inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings,” 1 Peter 4:12-13, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But 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.”

B. These persecutions are neither signs of anger God’s nor fruits of the curse of sin, but rather, they are proofs of our blessedness, Matthew 5:11, “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.”

CONCLUSION

Suffering for righteousness sake is to bring glory to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is our privilege to suffer for the One who suffered for us on the tree of Calvary.

Paul summed it up in Philippians 1:29, “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;”

Peter says that we will have “exceeding joy” having suffered for Christ, when Jesus comes again, 1 Peter 4:13, “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.”