The Beatitudes
10 Truths
Blessed are you when people insult and persecute you (Matthew 5:11-12).
Matthew's Beatitude 9
Matthew 5:11-12
Blessed are you when they persecute you and persecute and say all kinds of evil against you falsely because of Me. Rejoice and be glad because your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you the same way.
Luke's Beatitude 4
Luke 6:22
Blessed are you when people hate you and exclude you and revile and slander your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and jump for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same things against the prophets.
We are still talking about persecution, but Matthew gives this last beatitude in a different way. It is like Luke’s fourth beatitude. Instead of talking about “those people,” Jesus talks about “you.” He expands the types of persecution people suffer. He also commands us to rejoice when we are persecuted.
Jesus offers the result of persecution as a great reward in heaven. This is a future reward rather than one we experience now. We are blessed because we suffer now for future glory.
Dealing with hatred
How do you deal with people who hate you because you are a Christian? Jesus calls us to love those who hate us and pray for them (Matthew 5:44). This is hard to do. It goes against our human nature. We must develop the nature of Christ, the new nature He gives to us (2 Corinthians 5:17).
When people eat you, you must return their hatred with blessing (Romans 12:17-21). Hatred is personal. Your persecutors do not distinguish between heating Jesus and hating you because you follow Him. Their attacks hurt emotionally, publicly, and even worse if they get violent.
Insults, reviling, and slander
These are specific forms of persecution. They involve lying about your character, making you a reproach, attacking your reputation, and slandering and attacking your name. I think in American culture, we endure this type of suffering more than physical suffering. You are like Daniel suffering in a foreign culture.
The Bible says we have not endured persecution to the point of shedding our own blood (Hebrews 12:4). Your persecutors will attack you, your family, your reputation and work ethic, and anything else they find. They will come after everything they can. You overcome the devil and this world by the word of your testimony in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 12:11)
Reviling your name and your person involve intense verbal abuse. You could suffer at work and in public. They will do everything they can to discredit you and make sure you cannot recover from it. This is social persecution.
Suffering for Christ
Paul tells us that if we suffer with Christ now we will share in His glory (Romans 8:17-18; 2 Corinthians 1:5-9; 4:8-12, 16-18; 12:19; Philippians 1:29; 3:10; 2 Timothy 1:8). The robust teaching between Jesus, Paul, and Peter alone on Christian suffering proves that we will endure trials, heartaches, tribulations, and persecution.
When we suffer for Jesus’s name, we also suffer personally. Do not look to be persecuted or look for suffering. We are not masochists. Persecution will come on its own. We don’t need to help you along.
We do not welcome persecution just as we should not welcome trials and suffering. But Jesus gives us the tools to deal with them when they come. You must rely on Jesus during persecution for strength, grace, and peace.
You can find suffering for Jesus throughout the New Testament. This prepares us for it in a way. We know it is coming, so we know what to expect. It will still surprise when it happens, but knowing it is coming, you can prepare your mind and heart to face it when it arrives.
Responding to insults and slander
How do you respond to persecution in Jesus’s name? Do not retaliate (Romans 12:17-21). Our first reaction to being abused, offended, and attacked is to retaliate. The Bible calls us to let God defend us instead of defending ourselves (Romans 12:17-21).
Refrain from wanting to explain yourself, defend your reputation, and get back at people. Instead, bless those who curse you (Romans 12:14). Let God come to your defense. His judgment and punishment for your persecutors is right, perfect, and complete.
If you defend yourself, you may succeed. However, if you try to return the favor to your persecutors, you may win a battle but lose the war. You cannot put your persecutors in their place or win for the long term. They will continue to persecute you.
Persecution for Jesus’s sake is part of living in this world system that is under Satan’s control. Your best example to your persecutors is not to defend yourself or lash out with them. It is to show them the love of Jesus despite their efforts to destroy you. Even if Jesus does not help you with them now, you will see ultimate victory in the judgment.
Rejoicing in persecution?
Jesus says a crazy thing next. He calls you to rejoice when you are persecuted! Do not focus on your persecution and suffering. Focus on the reward Jesus has for you in heaven. You have to have Kingdom focus and eternal perspective. When it happens, we rejoice because we have lived for Jesus, proclaimed His name, and suffered because of it.
The Bible calls you to consider trials and suffering Joy (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5). Persecution is a trial in itself. We do not rejoice because we enjoy it. We rejoice because Jesus is working His character in us when we face it.
Jesus will teach you how to endure persecution with joy. The way you react shows Kingdom of value in your heart and life. Your reward will be great, but you will not see it until the end. It will be evident to all when you receive it.
We do not suffer persecution to get the reward. We do it for Jesus out of love and gratitude for all that He has done for us. To represent Him well until He calls us home. Be prepared for persecution as you live for Jesus, and be prepared to receive your reward in glory.
The prophets
The Old Testament prophets were treated disrespectfully, openly attacked, and relegated to obscurity. Some of them suffered intense physical and social persecution. The writer of Hebrews describes how some of them were treated (Hebrews 11:32-34).
Just like them, you challenge your culture, expose the lies of this world, and get put on trial because of it. You have done well in representing Jesus and suffering for it.
Jesus our example
Jesus was persecuted more than anyone. He faced persecution with every time He taught and did miracles of heeling. They persecuted and he did Jesus before they persecute and hated Him before they hated you (John 15:18-20). He showed us all how to handle persecution and hatred of us. He will be with you as you endure persecution now. Pray and ask Him for His presence.
Life Change
- Have you suffered persecution for the cause of Christ? What have you experienced?
- How do you deal with insults, slandering of your name, and hatred towards you because of Christ?
- Are you suffering for Christ in your life right now? How can you suffer more for His name?
- Where are you suffering persecution for Christ? Is a network, at home, with your friends, or somewhere else?
- Does it help you to know you suffer for Christ is the prophets did? You are not alone in your suffering. Many have gone before you.
The character traits of the Beatitudes
The Beatitudes are a challenging way of life for every Christian. We will not always succeed, but we must continue trying to live up to the high standards Jesus has set.
By the Holy Spirit’s help, we will live out the Beatitudes in our life. Whether others notice, we have the will to do with Jesus has taught us to do. You can have the virtue of the Beatitudes. Be patient with yourself. It does not happen all at once.
My prayer for you
Lord Jesus, help us to live out the Beatitudes in our lives and serve You with excellence and poise. Pour out your Holy Spirit in us and lead us into your character and image. We want to represent You well.. Help us to seek this blessedness from Your hand alone. We want to please You and live the way You have taught us. Let everything we do, say, and think be to Your glory. Let them see You and us. In Your mighty name, amen.