Study in Matthew’s Gospel

1. Study in Matthew’s Gospel Presentation 16

2. Sermon On The Mount Persecution Chap 5 v1-12 Presentation 16

3. Introduction Does it seem strange that the beatitudes should end by moving from peace-making to persecution? From the work of reconciliation to the experience of hostility? Why is this be a logical sequence? No matter how hard Christians try to be at peace with some people, their response is one of constant war footing towards them. Because they have decided to reject Jesus, they cannot stand anyone who has placed themselves under Christ’s rule and who displays his righteousness. This is the only beatitude to be repeated with a simplified form in v10 and an expanded form in v11-12. Jesus under- lines a truth that is not immediately apparent - the man who is persecuted for righteousness sake is a truly blessed man. Presentation 16

4. The Inevitability Of Persecution We need to grasp that persecution is inevitable. Many young Christians think that if they are good enough, kind enough, loving enough they will be everyone’s friend. It comes as a great shock to them when this bubble is spectacularly burst. Jesus left his followers in no doubt that they would suffer persecution cf. Jn 15.18 Elsewhere Jesus says, ‘A man’s foes will be those of his own household, I have not come to bring peace but the sword.’ Matt.10v36. Some Christians have suffered physical harm and others have been torn into emotional strips by their family because of their commitment to Christ. Presentation 16

5. The Inevitability Of Persecution Jesus is not only saying that such persecution is inevitable but, and note this, it is as much an evidence of being his follower as is meekness or purity of heart. I am profoundly concerned when professing Christians say that they do not understand all this talk about persecution because they have never been given a hard time because of their faith. What does that suggest about the quality of their Christian profession? Are they ‘hiding their light under a basket’? Mk.4.31. A lack of persecution should cause us to ask deep and searching questions about the genuineness or quality of our commitment to Jesus. Presentation 16

6. The Inevitability Of Persecution Those who have put God first in their lives have always been the objects of hostility: Cain killed Able, Saul tried to kill David, Israel killed the prophets not to mention the response of the Jewish leaders to Jesus whom they crucified. Standing up for God, and his cause is a dangerous business. This was so evidently the case in the life of the early church. By the end of the C1st we find that the same Greek word, ‘marturios’ was used to describe both a ‘witness’ and a ‘martyr’. Why? Because those who sought to witness for Christ had a very real chance of becoming a martyr. Presentation 16

7. The Inevitability Of Persecution We could examine the persecutions of Nero, Trajan, Diocletian and Julian. Christians faced lions, they were sewn up in sacks and tossed into the sea others were torn apart by catapults. By the time of the Reformation, when many of the reformers were asking, what is the mark of the true church Luther was adamant that suffering should be seen as a mark of the true church. As he sought to define the church he said, ‘the church are those who are persecuted for the gospel’s sake’. Presentation 16

8. The Inevitability Of Persecution Why is persecution so inevitable? The beatitudes paint a picture of the Christian life that is quite different from what man is by nature. Christianity contradicts and clashes with the world’s values. Good and evil are mutually exclusive. Truth and deception are opposed to each other. Righteousness and wrongdoing are constantly at war with one another. The Christian doesn't fit into this world’s mould. The word the N.T. uses to describe the Christian is ‘hagios’ which is translated as ‘saint’but the word can also be translated as ‘holy’ the root meaning of which is being ‘altogether different’. When God says, ‘You are a holy people’ 1 Pet.1v16,he’s saying, ‘I have chosen you to be different’. Presentation 16

9. The Inevitability Of Persecution It is this ‘difference’ that makes the non-Christian feel so uncomfortable. He feels threatened and criticised by righteous behaviour. Not because the Christian goes about criticising or showing disapproval in either a self-conscious or self-righteous way. The Christian’s behaviour gets under the unbeliever’s skin just as Jesus got under some peoples’ skins. When Christians are accused of being ‘extreme’ and of ‘taking things too far’ that is another way of saying, ‘He makes me feel uncomfortable.’ Do we make others feel uncomfortable and are we persecuted as a result? Or, has ourChristianity been so diluted, has it sunk to such a level that the world doesn’t notice and does not feel under threat? Presentation 16

10. Persecuted For The Right Reasons When some Christian become aware that they are not being persecuted for their faith they determine to fix that, not by pursuing righteousness but by being as obnoxious as they can! But notice the all important qualifying clause we are to be persecuted for ‘righteousness sake’. We are not to court persecution. Schoolchildren often play a prank that involves sticking a sign on someone’s back which reads ‘kick me’. The target wonders why he is being kicked until he discovers the sign and tears it off. If the child were to place such a sign on his own back that would be very Strange. Indeed, we might think him to be inadequate, attention seeking or even masochistic. Presentation 16

11. Persecuted For The Right Reasons But there are some Christians who seem to behave in precisely this way. They do not wear a sign that welcomes abuse but by their foolish behaviour or speech they draw out persecution. A visiting university speaker often advocated bizarre behaviour. One suggestion was that Christians should put ‘Jesus loves you’ stickers on the toilet rolls in the public toilets. A practice that not only debased the gospel but caused those who did do to be ostracised for their behaviour. This did not deter the sticker communicators, they gloried in their persecution. They failed to see that they weren’t being persecuted for righteousness sake but for their foolishness! Presentation 16

12. Persecuted For The Right Reasons If we are to be persecuted, it should be for the right reason. Jesus describes the Christian who becomes an object of hostility because he is a beatitude man. Hanging up in the gallery of his life are the characteristics outlined in these verses. And it is this that causes offence in the world. What does persecution involve? Persecution can be wide and varied. It can take the form of insult or caustic remark. It may mean being passed over for promotion at work. It can result in ostracisationbecause the believer is out of step with the language use in conversation. Presentation 16

13. Persecuted For The Right Reasons It might involve being cold shouldered by neighbours because they realise that we have no interest in becoming the sewers down which they long to pour their gossip. It can mean the loss of home or job. In some countries it means seeing our families being denied higher education. It can mean suffering, imprisonment and even death. For each person committed to Christ persecution can be very different as the world reacts to the righteousness of our lives. Presentation 16

14. The Value Of Persecution How are we to respond to persecution? The meek man will not retaliate. He will not sulk in a corner like a child who finds it hard to bear the terrible injustices of the world. Nor are we called upon to display the British stiff upper lip. Jesus tells us we are to leap with joy! That is the force of v12, ‘rejoice and be glad’. ‘Oh’, you say, ‘Come on that’s a unrealistic. Someone turns on the tap of vitriolic speech which leaves me feeling I’ve been flayed alive or plunged in a bath of acid and I’m to rejoice. I’m told for the sixth year in a row that I’ve been passed over for promotion and I know that it is because of my commitment to truth and I’m to get excited about that!’ Presentation 16

15. The Value Of Persecution I want to give you four reasons for being excited by persecution. First, because, persecution for righteousness sake authenticates our claim to be a disciple of Christ. If I am persecuted because the quality of my life has a disturbing effect on non-Christians then my own assurance of being God’s child is greatly strengthened. Sometimes all we can see is our sin and failure and of the many times we have let God down. The devil suggests we are foolish to believe that we truly have a place in God’s family but the world’s persecution tells a different story, it says, I am different - not perfect, I never will be down here, but the difference is real enough for others to notice. Presentation 16

16. The Value Of Persecution Jesus makes it quite clear that we have good cause to be concerned if men and women in the world think we are wonderful people. ‘Woe to you when all men speak well of you’. Lk. 6v26 If our lives are not making other people, who are hostile to God and his values, in any way uncomfortable, then there is good cause for some soul searching. But if the world insults and persecutes us we have good cause to be confident about the genuineness of our relationship with God. Presentation 16

17. The Value Of Persecution Secondly, persecution gives us the opportunity of identifying ourselves with Jesus. Are we able to see that it is the Jesus in us that is the cause of our mistreatment by the world. Our behaviour identifies us as Jesus’ ambassadors, we wear his colours, and represent his cause. During the Iranian Revolution, Americans living in Iran became the objects of hostility, not because they had behaved badly, but because of their nationality, they were treated as its ambassadors and therefore supporters of its foreign policy. Many Americans bore that hostility patiently seeing it as the price they had to pay for the land they loved. Persecution was for them a badge of honour. Presentation 16

18. The Value Of Persecution The world persecutes believers because of their association with Jesus his policies and values. Can we wear that persecution as a badge of honour? The early church did that, Acts 5v41-42. The apostles took comfort from their ability to identify with Jesus. In John Bunyan’s ‘Pilgrim’s Progress’ one of the characters, Mr.Standfast makes a speech just before his death … he bequeaths his armour to those who would benefit from it…but there was one thing he refused to part with as he prepared for heaven. He says, ‘My marks and scars I carry with me’. The wounds that he received as a result of following Jesus, he wore with honour for they were the medals of his conflict with the world. Presentation 16

19. The Value Of Persecution Thirdly, can we see our persecution as one way in which God’s kingdom is promoted. The world rejoices when things are going well, that is the natural human behaviour. But it is unnatural to rejoice in the midst of suffering and when we do some in the world will sit up and take notice. They long to know the source of this unnatural joy. On one occasion Paul and Silas had been beaten and imprisoned for their witness to Christ? What did they do? They took out their hymnbooks and began to sing! Their behaviour had a profound impression of the jailer and was surely one of the factors that subsequently contributed to his conversion. Acts 16v25-34 Presentation 16

20. The Value Of Persecution This pattern is repeated in church history. It figured in the thinking of the Reformers. In 1555 that when Bishops Latimer and Ridley were led out to be burned at the stake in Oxford, Latimer said, ‘be of good comfort Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle in England as shall never be put out.’ And he was right, there was a tremendous ingathering to the kingdom as a result of the resolve of these reformers. These examples may cause any persecution which we experience to pale into insignificance but nevertheless, the principle holds good. Some will be influenced for Christ by the way in which we are seen to act towards persecution. Presentation 16

21. The Value Of Persecution Finally, the Christian rejoices in persecution because his reward is in heaven. He knows that earth is not his permanent residence and is encouraged by this fact in the midst of suffering. Jesus also endured the cross for ‘the joy which was set before him’ Heb.12v2. This is not pie in the sky religion. Indeed, a foretaste of this very joy is often given to the Christian is the mist of his deepest anguish. God graciously provides a token of the joy that awaits those who suffer for Jesus’ sake. Persecution further reminds us that we have here no continuing city but are journeying towards a better place. Presentation 16

22. Conclusion Have we begun to grasp that persecution is an inevitable part of Christian experience? Is there any evidence of the persecution for righteousness sake in our lives? And if so have we learned to rejoice in it? Persecution may bring about the agony of the moment but it points to the glory of an eternity. “Never expect to find this world anything better than a wilderness.” JONATHAN EDWARDS Presentation 16