Sermon On The Mount IX: Blessed Are The Persecuted

by Lawrence Kelley

Jesus continues to speak in a manner that runs counter to our natural tendencies. After all, what good can come from being lied about, misrepresented, abused, tortured or killed? Yet, Jesus says to rejoice under these circumstances and, as His disciples, we are called to obey Him in this as much as anywhere else.

Persecution is severe opposition, but is not limited to beatings and loss of life. In verse eleven Jesus refers to insult and false accusation along side the word persecution. Persecution can be in the form of physical or verbal assault, political or economic sanctions or social ostracism. But be mindful of what the blessing does not mean. Christ does not say, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for being obnoxious." It is an error to suppose that if righteousness provokes persecution, nothing else can provoke it. We must heed the warning given by Peter, and it will help us avoid this error (1 Pet. 4:12-16).

Why is this beatitude placed at the end of the list? Consider the answer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer "Having reached the end of these beatitudes, we naturally ask if there is any place on this earth for the community which they describe. Clearly, there is one place, and only one"...it is the place where the one who lived them perfectly is to be found... "on the cross at Golgotha. The fellowship of the beatitudes is the fellowship of the crucified." Or, as John Stott summarizes, "Persecution for righteousness sake comes upon the believer because conflict is the inevitable outcome of two irreconcilable value systems." Because this is so, there is a sense in which this final beatitude is the evidence of whether or not we possess the others. As long as the world is worldly and Christians are Christlike there will be a clash (2 Tim 3:12-13; John 15:18-20). The theological term for this is the antithesis. The Biblical term is enmity (Gen 3:15). From the dawn of history to this day it is the nature of the godless and rebellious to persecute the righteous. Cain murders Able, Joseph is betrayed by his brothers, Saul hunts David, Jesus is persecuted by the high priest, Saul ravages Stephen...

The craziness of the biblical response to this. Jesus teaches that we are blessed in the circumstance of persecution. But He goes farther, and says that we are required to respond to persecution by rejoicing, and being exceedingly glad. The original rendered, "exceedingly glad" includes the idea of jumping up and down for joy. Similarly, James says to meet trials by "Counting it all joy . . ." (James 1:2). Persecution will result in soul-searching, and this is good. But when it is clear that you have received ill treatment on account of Christ, then you should settle into a state of exuberance (Acts 5:41).

How do you rejoice in the face of persecution? First, remember the company you are keeping. Persecution is a by product of walking with Able, the prophets, the Lord Jesus, the apostles and all the saints throughout the history of the church. Second, remember that it is through the blood of the martyrs that God raises up a plentiful harvest. The church has always been the most vigorous, faithful and evangelistic during times of persecution. Third, remember where following Jesus (the thing that got you into trouble) is taking you, "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in Heaven."

Finally, a corollary to this beatitude warns us against assuming that if a person has been accused of evil that there must be something to it. If, for instance, you had lived in Jesus time and only read the official reports coming out of the Jerusalem Times, you would have thought that Jesus was an exceedingly evil man, and of course you would have been utterly mistaken. Jesus was slandered, lied about and no doubt the accusations were framed in such a way as to make them quite believable to those who do not take care to guard themselves against falling for this kind of junk. This principle should be applied both to individuals and congregations.

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Sermon On The Mount
Beattitudes

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