The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand, 1:1-28:20

The Kings Decrees, 4:12-7:29

The Five Discourses, 5:1-

The First Discourse, 5:1-7:29

The Sermon On The Mount: The Beatitudes - Standards Of The Kingdom, 5:1-12 (All Saints Day)

Attitudes Essential To Maturing One’s Faith:, 5: 8-10

THE PERSECUTED

Mat. 5:10-12; Reading: Joh 15:18-21

Songs: Lead On, O King Eternal

INTRODUCTION

A. It is not unusual for any one of us to get aggravated when little, trivial things, go wrong such as the T.V. or dishwasher not function properly, the car failing to start, traffic problems and on the list could go. It is with difficulty we think of happiness while frustrated by the inconveniences of life. That being true, how can we possibly be expected to think of happy and positive things when under real trial, pain, suffering and persecution?

B. The Bible teaches us that God’s people are certain to meet with persecution, Mat 5:10-12; Joh 15:20-21; 2Ti 3:12. Jesus taught that trial and suffering are part of the triumph of Christian living, Mat 10:16,22; Joh 15:18-20; 2Ti 3:12. By recognizing as wicked people oppose God, we must recognize that they also will definitely oppose God’s servants, Mat 21:33-40.

C. We have taken a brief look at beatitudes as they relate to faith. We noticed how faith has its beginning in the poor in spirit, those who mourn and the meek. We looked at how it develops with those who hungering and thirsting after righteousness. In the merciful, the pure in heart and the peacemakers was described the maturing of faith. These attitudes are vastly different from that of that of the world which has never been able to tolerate obvious differences. The result is, those poor in spirit are disliked by the worldly, who live in pride (i.e. intellectual), arrogance and self-promotion. Those who mourn over their sin and repentant are disliked because they are thought foolish for not living it up in sin. The meek are run over in life and make them victims. Those who hungers and thirst after righteousness and live by a higher standard of values are label religious fanatics, narrow minded. The merciful receive laughter for not taking revenge. The pure in heart are considered puritan fools. Peacemaker are said not to understand real life.

D. In one way or another those who obviously want to follow God’s way, those who pattern the lives as close as possible to the kind of person that Jesus has described with his beatitudes, will receive opposition. The last beatitude for the Sermon on the Mount dealt with opposition.

BODY

II. THE PRINCIPLE, 5:10-12b.

10 Blessed <3107> are they [which are persecuted <1377> (5772) - KJV] that have been persecuted for <1752> righteousness' sake <1343>: for <3754> theirs <846> is <2076> (5748) the kingdom <932> of heaven <3772>.

11 Blessed <3107> are ye <2075> (5748), when <3752> men shall [revile - KJV] reproach <3679> (5661) you <5209>, and <2532> persecute <1377> (5661) you, and <2532> [shall- KJV] say <2036> (5632) all manner <3956> of evil <4190> <4487> against <2596> you <5216> falsely <5574> (5730), for my sake <1752> <1700>. [{falsely: Gr. lying} - KJV]

12 Rejoice <5463> (5720), and <2532> be exceeding glad <21> (5737): ...

10 makarioi <3107> oi <3588> dediwgmenoi <1377> (5772) eneken <1752> dikaiosunhj <1343> oti <3754> autwn <846> estin <2076> (5748) h <3588> basileia <932> twn <3588> ouranwn <3772>

11 makarioi <3107> este <2075> (5748) otan <3752> oneidiswsin <3679> (5661) umaj <5209> kai <2532> diwxwsin <1377> (5661) kai <2532> eipwsin <2036> (5632) pan <3956> ponhron <4190> kaq <2596> umwn <5216> yeudomenoi <5574> (5730) eneken <1752> emou <1700>

12 [Rejoice] cairete <5463> (5720) kai <2532> [be glad] agalliasqe <21> (5737)...

A. Blessed are they that have been:

1. persecuted, 1377 DIOKO {dee-o'-ko} a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; cf the base of 1169 and 1249); TDNT - 2:229,177; v AV - persecute 28, follow after 6, follow 4, suffer persecution 3, misc 3; 44 1) to make to run or flee, put to flight, drive away 2) to run swiftly in order to catch a person or thing, to run after 2a) to press on: figuratively of one who in a race runs swiftly to reach the goal 2b) to pursue (in a hostile manner) 3) in any way whatever to harass, trouble, molest one 3a) to persecute 3b) to be mistreated, suffer persecution on account of something 4) without the idea of hostility, to run after, follow after: someone 5) metaph., to pursue 5a) to seek after eagerly, earnestly endeavor to acquire

a. Persecution is not the same as having a bad day.

(1) You know it's going to be a bad day when:

(a) your boss tells you not to bother taking off your coat.

(b) the bird singing outside your bedroom window is a buzzard.

(d) These, jokingly, are signs of bad days but not days of persecution.

(2) Persecution refers to pursuit to do you harm.

b. Beginning from the first century and for many centuries following, many Christians were murdered in horrendous ways. Nero wrapped them in pitch and set them alight as living torches to light his gardens. He sewed wild animal skins to theirs and set his hunting dogs upon them to tear the victims apart. They were tortured on the rack; they were scraped with pincers; hot molten lead was poured upon them; their eyes were torn out; their hands and feet were burned while cold water was poured over them to lengthen the agony.

(1) Stephen was stoned by an angry mob, Ac 7.

(2) James the apostle was killed by King Herod, Ac 12:2

(3) Paul suffered constantly because he was a Christian, 2Co 1:26-27

(4) A catalogue of persecution, He 11:36-38.

2. reproach [revile - KJV], 3679 ONEIDIZO {on-i-did'-zo} from 3681; TDNT - 5:239,693; v AV - upbraid 3, reproach 3, revile 2, cast in (one's) teeth 1, suffer reproach 1; 10 1) to reproach, upbraid, revile 1a) of deserved reproach 1b) of undeserved reproach, to revile 1c) to upbraid, cast (favors received) in one's teeth

a. Reproach means a cause or occasion of blame, discredit or disgrace; the act or action of reproaching or disgracing; an expression of rebuke or disapproval. To reproach another person means rebuke, revile, to speak abusively, to censure, or upbraid. It may include false statements invented and told because of prejudice and/or malice which led those who invent them that nothing is too evil to believe/tell against the object of their malice.

3. Is persecution or reproach relevant in these days? Hasn’t society become so tolerant that talk of persecution or reproach is outdated?

a. The answer is that this passage is very relevant and not at all outdated.

b. As long as people desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus they will face opposition, See Acts 14:22; John 15:20; Matthew 10:25; 2Ti 3:10-12.

c. The reason Jesus gave, was that those who love darkness hate the light which exposes their evil works, Joh 3:16-21; Lu 6:22-26.

4. Intolerance of the godly and prejudice towards them, will bring attack against God’s people in at least two ways:

a. Physical assault - “persecute” - material or physical loss or injury

b. Verbal insult," - “reproach” - Most of the attack in our country has shifted from scaffold, stake and whipping post to the tongue or pen in the classroom, gym, office and media, cp. Mat.26:67-68; Mat.11:19; Mar 15:29-3.

c. Life is tough when we don't conform to the worlds attitude and ways.

(1) Most people don't care if we go to of the church, study the Bible and pray. However, people get vocal if they perceive a difference between our living righteously and their wickedness which, stand out in contrast.

(a) Those who promote chastity are attacked by those who support sex without boundaries.

(b) Those who embrace temperance will be opposed by those who love of alcohol.

(2) In addition, our faithful adherence to God’s word will cause the religious, even among us, to label with phrases such as “Pharisee, closed or narrow minded,” 2Ti 4:1-3.

(3) Moses is a great example of one who took a stand in the face of persecution. He stood out against Egyptian society, He 11:23-26; cp. Lu 9:26.

(4) A Christian who accepted a new job position, knew that would bring him into the midst of several profane men. Consequently, he was very nervous about how he would be received. When he came home after the first day on the job, his wife asked how it had been. He replied, "Wonderful! They never guessed that I was a Christian."

(5) We'll get long fine with unbelievers as long as we live like an unbeliever or at least do nothing that would suggest we’re different from them. However when we begin to live in obedience to Christ, like described by his beatitudes, we will eventually share in Christ Jesus' reproach, both from the world and from disobedient brethren, Ja 4:4; 1Jo 2:15.

d. We won't have to look for persecution or reproaching in order to be happy, it will come on its own.

(1) Two ways to avoid it:

(a) First, approve the world's ethics - "live and let live."

(b) Second, accept the world's standards - i.e. in entertainment (movies, TV programs, books, magazines, comedians, talk shows)

i) To avoid upsetting anyone in the neighborhood, the church, when opportunity is given, we don't take a stand on blatant matters of morality etc. through voting etc. due to social pressures.

ii) As a result we fail to truly live for Christ.

(d) Then again, Christians incognito will not find themselves opposed by anyone except perhaps their own conscience and the Lord.

(2) However, for those who will not approve of the worlds ethics and live by its standards such a great tension will exist between the message, the way of life of Christians and the mind set and way of life of the world, that conflict is inevitable.

(3) Ask yourself, Am I letting my Christianity shine or hiding it.

Why are Christians willing to face persecution and reproaching? It has something to do with -

B. persecuted for righteousness' sake ... for my sake

1. Notice the passage doesn't say:

a. Blessed are those who are persecuted because they are objectionable or because they are difficult people.

b. Blessed are those who are persecuted because they are seriously lacking in wisdom (judgment, attitude), foolish and unwise in forcing their faith on others by getting right up in somebody’s faces.

(1) When you sprinkle salt on your meal you don’t dump the container onto it. When you turn on your light you don't shine it directly into the eyes of those near. If it is shining, they'll see it.

(2) We don't have hit people over the head with the gospel.

(3) We must strike the balance between shying away and speaking conveniently to them about Christ.

c. He is also not saying that we will be blessed if we are persecuted because we stand for a cause.

(1) It may be a worthy social cause, however, it may not necessarily represent standing for Christ in persecution or reproach.

(2) In fact, some people have almost court martyrdom for the sake of their cause. - Green Peace putting their boats between whaling shift to save the whales; in Newfoundland, Canada people stepping out on ice flows to dye seal pup coats red so they wouldn’t be killed for fur coats; abortion, hunger, disarmament

d. Neither was Jesus talking in this passage about our being blessed because we are persecuted for being good.

(1) A person may do good but not be righteous.

(2) Even organized crime sometimes gets involved in doing good. - bike gangs and toy rides.

2. Two phrases together helps us understand the persecution to which Jesus was referring - “for righteousness sake”and "for my sake," cp. 1Pe 4:14-16.

3. righteousness sake, 1343 DIKAIOSUNE {dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay} from 1342; TDNT - 2:192,168; n f AV - righteousness 92; 92 1) in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God 1a) the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God 1b) integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting 2) in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due

What are we to do when we are persecuted or reproached? Do not yield to the temptation (Co 1:27; Ro 12:17-19) and do not become so discouraged, (give up the fight), Mar 4:16,17; 1Co 10:13. Instead,

C. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad, cp. Ja 1:2.

1. Jesus' call for us to rejoice, is not the usual advise one receives when under persecution.

2. How Do We Respond To Persecution? - rejoice and leap for joy? Did you say, "YEA RIGHT!" to yourself?

3. With fists clinched, the world yells, "Fight Back! We know our ‘rights’ and we’re not going to take it anymore!”

4. Too many of God’s people get caught up in this same attitude. They develop a political flavor rather than a biblical outlook on persecution.

a. No where in the New Testament did Jesus or any of the other writers, call on the slaves to break the shackles that bound.

b. In the face of outrages persecution of God’s people, the New Testament is silent on the call to rebellion.

c. I am not suggesting we just do nothing for those who are being persecuted for Christ's sake but prayer (as the church did for Peter while he was imprisoned) is the only mandate God has given us along with good influence. That of course does not exclude our right to vote or properly petition our politicians.

d. Jesus was more interested in service rather than in rights.

(1) Fighting for political rights is not God's way.

(2) Many of us will not want to hear that, its a revelation to me too.

Transition: Why would any one in the kingdom celebrate persecution or reproaching?

III. THE PROMISE, 5:12c-12d; 2Ti 2:12

12 ... for <3754> great <4183> is your <5216> reward <3408> in <1722> heaven <3772>: for <1063> so <3779> persecuted they <1377> (5656) the prophets <4396> [which <3588> - KJV] that were before <4253> you <5216>.

12 ... [because] oti <3754> [the] o <3588> [reward] misqoj <3408> [of you] umwn <5216> [much] poluj <4183> [in] en <1722> [the] toij <3588> [heavens] ouranoij <3772> {[for] outwj <3779> [thus] gar <1063>} [the persecuted] ediwxan <1377> (5656) [the] touj <3588> [prophets] profhtaj <4396> touj <3588> [before] pro <4253> [you] umwn <5216>

A. for great is your reward in heaven, Ro 8:18.

1. In addition, in verse 10 Jesus also stated, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

2. These are phrases of assurance both for life now and the part of life to come.

3. We don't live godly for the rewards, but knowing there are great rewards helps us endure, cp. He 12:2; cp. Joh 14:1-3.

B. for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you

1. When we are persecuted or reproached for righteousness, for Christ’s sake, we are in good company.

2. We join a long line of godly men and women of whom the world is not worthy, He 11:36-38.

Conclusion:

Persecution can take many forms. It can be physical pain, death, shunning by friends or family,

public scorn, etc. Any way that is used as punishment toward us because we are faithful Christians is persecution. However, when we are persecuted or reproached, let’s make certain it is only because we are Christians - for "righteousness sake," not because we have done something deserving of it, 1Pe 4:15. Most people have the Burger King Theology, "Have it your own way" and anything that bothers their conscience is in the way. It is the result of two irreconcilable value systems colliding against one another. When that occurs God’s people who choose to stand on the truth of God's Word can count on persecution and reproach.

J.B. Phillips paraphrased the Beatitudes as the non-Christian world would prefer them, and perhaps the Christian world too.

Happy are the "pushers": for they get on in the world.

Happy are the "hard-boiled": for they never let life hurt them.

Happy are they who complain: for they get their own way in the end.

Happy are the blase: for they never worry over their sins.

Happy are the slave-drivers: for they get results.

Happy are the knowledgeable men of the world: for they know their way around.

Happy are the trouble-makers: for they make people take notice of them.

Jesus offered a better way, Mat 5:3-12

Questions:

Why will those of the kingdom face persecution?

Why are a few types of persecution we face today?

How is it possible to rejoice those facing persecution?

What are several reasons the righteous are persecuted?

What are the blessings for the righteous who are persecuted?