8 Rejoicing Through Persecution: Matthew 5:10-12; Acts 5:17-42
REJOICING THROUGH PERSECUTION
MATTHEW 5:10-12; ACTS 5:17-42
However hard we may try to make peace with some people, they refuse to live at peace with us. Not all attempts at reconciliation succeed. Indeed, some take the initiative to oppose us and in particular to slander us, not because of our foibles or idiosyncrasies but “because of righteousness” and “because of me” (Matthew 5:10-11). Persecution is simply the clash between two irreconcilable value systems. Thus, Jesus moves from peacemaking to persecution as the final topic of his Sermon on the Mount.
OPEN
Think of a time when you experienced insults because of Christ. How did you respond?
STUDY
How did Jesus expect his disciples to react under persecution? We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever nor to sulk like a child, nor to lick our wounds in self-pity like a dog, nor just to grin and bear it like a Stoic, still less to pretend we enjoy it like a masochist. Instead we are to “Rejoice and be glad”! Read Matthew 5:10-12.
1. What examples of types of persecution are mentioned here?
2. Which of those types of persecution have you experienced?
3. What forms of persecution do you see active in your own community?
4. What is the most subtle form of persecution you have experienced or seen aimed at other Christians?
Since all of the Beatitudes describe what every Christian disciple is intended to be, we conclude that the condition of being despised and rejected, slandered and persecuted, is as much a normal mark of Christian discipleship as being pure in heart or merciful. Every Christian is to be a peacemaker, and every Christian is to expect opposition. Those who hunger for righteousness will suffer for the righteousness they crave. We should not be surprised if anti-Christian hostility increases but rather be surprised if it does not.
5. Verse 12 points to our “reward in heaven,” a cause for joy in the midst of persecution. In contrast to rejoicing, what are our more natural reactions to persecution?
6. What reasons does Jesus give us to rejoice when we are persecuted?
7. Identify some differences between being persecuted for the sake of Christ and simply drawing fire for being obnoxious.
Summary: When we undergo persecution we are to rejoice as a Christian should rejoice and even to “leap for joy” (Luke 6:23). Why? Partly because “great is your reward in heaven.” We may lose everything on earth, but we shall inherit everything in heaven, not as a reward for merit but freely. We also rejoice partly because persecution is a token of genuineness, a certificate of Christian authenticity, since the prophets before us were persecuted. But the major reason why we should rejoice is because we are suffering “because of me” (Matthew 5:11), on account of our loyalty to Jesus and to his standards of truth and righteousness.
Read Acts 5:17-42. Here we see the apostles putting this teaching into practice. Having been beaten and threatened by the Sanhedrin, they left “rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name” (v. 41).
8. This event happened in Jerusalem very early in the life of the Christian church, even before the conversion of Paul. The church was meeting publicly and attracting more followers, which stirred up the jealousy of the Jewish religious leaders. What attempts did they make to silence the apostles (vv. 18, 26-28, 33, 40)?
9. What evidences do you see that God’s sovereignty upheld and protected the apostles (vv. 19-20, 34-40)?
10. In spite of the fact that God was with them, how did the apostles suffer (vv. 18, 27, 40)?
11. Looking back through the whole passage, in what ways do the disciples embody the character qualities in the Beatitudes?
CHARACTER QUALITY
DISCIPLES’ ACTIONS
Poor in spirit
Mourn (their sin)
Meek
Hunger for righteous
Merciful
Pure in heart
Peacemakers
Persecuted for righteousness
12. In this passage, how are those who are persecuted also blessed (vv. 41-42)?
Summary: The world considers “blessed” those who are secure and popular and live at ease, not those who have to suffer persecution. The Christian cannot expect to be thanked for being merciful or sincere or a peacemaker; instead we are opposed, slandered, insulted, and persecuted on account of the righteousness we stand for and the Christ we are identified with. Such is the man or woman who is blessed, that is, who has the approval of God and finds self-fulfillment as a human being.
APPLY
Consider ways that you have attracted insults on account of your Christian faith. Is it possible that any of those insults were for some reason other than Christ himself? Explain.
What is your usual attitude under persecution?
Look back over the list of character qualities (in question 11) that we have studied. How might growing in one of these areas help you to be ready to face persecution?
PRAY
With the first-century apostles, rejoice in the Lord’s presence that he considers you “worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.” If your attitude under persecution is something other than rejoicing, pray for a clearer understanding of your blessedness.